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Board hears course catalog updates, new career-tech offerings and summer school plans
Summary
District staff outlined 2026–27 course catalog changes including updated middle-school social studies codes, a new algebra with finance option for seniors, renamed career-tech pathways and a new Emergency Fire Management program in partnership with Huntsville Fire; summer school and driver's education schedules were also presented and graduation venue cost estimates were provided.
District staff reviewed updates to the 2026–27 course catalog and related academic logistics, telling the board the changes are largely administrative but include a few substantive additions intended to strengthen pathways to work and postsecondary education.
The presenter said middle-school social studies courses were updated to align with the State Department’s 2024 course codes and descriptions. For high schools, the district elaborated the diploma option B (workforce pathway) and added algebra with finance as a fourth-year math option requested by some high schools to provide practical financial topics for seniors.
Career-technical changes included renaming Building Science to Construction Technology and changing Additive Manufacturing to Engineering Design. The board heard about a new Emergency Fire Management program that will begin as a partnership with Huntsville Fire, serving juniors and seniors in a small cohort (fewer than 30 students) and combining on-campus coursework with hands-on training at an off-site station.
Staff outlined summer school for secondary students: June 1–26, Monday–Thursday 8:00–2:30 for most online courses, with driver’s education held at Lee High and requiring in-person driving sessions; parents are responsible for transportation and registration windows were announced.
The presenter also summarized a proposed two-day rental agreement for high school graduations at the Von Braun Center, listing which schools will be on which day and providing an estimated cost breakdown for equipment rental, production technicians and event security that totaled approximately $50,460.36 under current assumptions.
Board members asked questions about course content, whether algebra with finance satisfies financial literacy graduation requirements (it does not), where hard copies of the catalog are available, and logistical details for virtual summer-school participants who need devices. Staff said district laptops are available to Huntsville City School students for summer courses and noted links are posted online for registration.
