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Board debates diploma changes after state updates, asks for public input
Summary
North Santiam SD 29J directors discussed aligning district diploma options with Senate Bill 3, including a proposal to add a fourth math credit to the academic honors diploma; the board set a goal to decide diploma options by its December meeting and will host public engagement sessions.
The North Santiam SD 29J board spent a large portion of its meeting debating how to align local diplomas with recent state changes and whether the district should require four years of math for its academic honors diploma.
Superintendent (addressed by the board) summarized the district’s five diploma options and said the state’s changes under Senate Bill 3 now mirror many of the district’s long-standing requirements. "If a student in our system wants to go to a 4 year university, they really need to take 4 years of math," the Superintendent said, arguing the extra credit helps students be college-ready.
Several directors pushed back. One director said requiring a fourth math credit could force students who already demonstrated higher-level math proficiency into additional course work or into paying for outside classes, and urged flexibility so students could instead take an additional science or other rigorous elective. "I respectfully disagree with you," a member said, arguing that some students would be better served by advanced coursework in humanities or sciences.
Board members discussed implementation logistics, including whether the district has enough staff and class sections to offer additional advanced math or science courses, and whether costs to access community college classes (Chemeketa) would fall on families. The Superintendent said the district would cover such costs if students need to take external courses to meet diploma requirements.
The board asked for more data — including how many recent honor-diploma earners lack four years of math — and agreed to expand outreach. The district will host a community session (a "Soup with the Superintendent" event) on Oct. 6 to solicit feedback and will continue work with staff before a board decision is due in December so curriculum guides can be set on time.
The discussion did not produce a final policy change; directors framed the debate as continuing work rather than a vote. Next steps include community outreach, additional curriculum and capacity analysis, and a board decision targeted for the December meeting.
