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Board questions point system for valedictorian, refers policy back to committee
Summary
The policy committee recommended continuing to use cumulative GPA to identify the valedictorian; board members expressed concern that a proposed point system could reward minimal coursework and asked the policy committee to add guardrails before any change.
The Mobridge‑Pollock School Board spent a substantial portion of its meeting debating how the district identifies its valedictorian. The policy committee recommended keeping the current approach — using cumulative GPA — but board members and residents raised objections to a proposed point‑system alternative.
A committee representative summarized the recommendation: the committee would "stay the course" and allow cumulative GPA to remain the primary, equitable measure. Board members criticized a draft point system that, in examples presented, could allow a student with more study halls and fewer advanced courses to top a student who took more rigorous coursework. One board member said the example ‘‘doesn’t sit well with us’’ and called that a "major flaw."
Several members suggested possible fixes rather than an immediate policy change. Board member Dustin proposed limiting any point‑system alternative to students who already hold a 4.0 GPA or narrowing recognition to the top 5 percent; another board member recommended referring the issue back to the policy committee for further study and recommended guardrails be defined before any change.
Public speakers and parents who had raised the topic earlier urged the board to act before graduation deadlines if changes were to be made, noting banquet and graduation logistics. Board members agreed that changing the formula in the middle of the school year would be difficult and that review by the policy committee was the prudent next step.
Outcome: The board agreed to refer the question back to the policy committee for further study and possible recommendation before any change is adopted.
