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Board hears world‑language and social‑studies course revisions; handbooks updated for kindergarten age, volunteer checks and AI policies
Summary
District staff presented proposed course‑of‑study updates for world language and social studies and reviewed handbook changes, including a kindergarten start‑date adjustment to the first instructional day (08/19/2026), volunteer background‑check language, and modest fee adjustments; textbook adoptions are planned for summer.
At the March 19 meeting, district curriculum leaders presented proposed updates to world‑language and social‑studies courses of study and summarized handbook and fee revisions for the coming year.
Director Arnie explained that elementary fees were largely unchanged but that the middle school had two small course‑related fee changes, a $1 increase to align CTE materials with standards, and a $2 increase for paper and ink supplies. She said the high school removed some fees, will reintroduce a drama course (with a fee), and noted uncertainty on final College Board AP exam pricing; "if I remember right, it was $100 last year — we've dropped to $99 is what we believe it to be," she said, flagging this as an estimate pending College Board confirmation. Arnie also said handbook updates add volunteer background‑check language and guidance on AI, name/image/likeness, and harassment policies; staff recommended treating the handbooks as "living documents" and updating contact information on the website in real time.
Mr. Caudill, high‑school social‑studies department chair, said the high school retains three state‑mandated required classes and nine electives on the books, though AP Government and AP U.S. History remain listed but are not currently run because College Credit Plus (CCP) offerings have supplanted them in practice. He encouraged students who plan to study out of state to consider AP testing because AP credit may transfer more readily between states than CCP credit.
Staff said the courses of study were posted online for review and that textbook purchases are planned for the summer after finalizing the scope and vendor selections; Vista Higher Learning was identified as the planned vendor for French and Spanish at the high school. The board was told social‑studies course revisions will proceed through the normal second‑reading and adoption cycle, with further presentations expected in May and curriculum purchases to follow this summer.
