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Board begins review of valedictorian rules after Running Start student qualifies without on-campus attendance
Summary
District leaders opened a review of valedictorian and salutatorian eligibility after a Running Start/home-school student who had limited on-campus attendance would have qualified under current handbook language; staff will propose handbook language to balance honoring college-earned achievements with on-campus engagement.
School administrators brought proposed handbook language and background research about how neighboring districts handle valedictorian and salutatorian honors when Running Start and homeschool-plus students are involved.
Brenda King and staff described a case where a student who had never stepped on the Forks High School campus but had accrued Running Start credits would have been eligible as valedictorian under the existing handbook timing. The district is considering options used elsewhere: requiring a full-year on-campus enrollment, tightening residency rules, or recognizing college-credit achievements with an alternative recognition model (e.g., Latin honors or a biographical recognition while reserving high-school valedictory honors for students who attended on campus). "If a student never attends here, why are they getting a Forks High School award?" a board member asked.
Board members asked staff to draft specific handbook language for a future meeting so changes, if any, would not penalize current seniors but would apply to future classes as needed.
