Board members listened as Deputy Superintendent David Reschke informed them on the updated curriculum changes he is working toward for the 8-9 building.
Clarkston Community Schools will require all students in grades 8-12 to earn academic credit. The eighth and ninth graders at Clarkston Junior High School will earn core competency points, which will serve the same as academic credit. The 8-9 students will be required to earn eight core competency points in language arts, science, math and social studies.
Those who falter are required to express full knowledge of these core credits by repeating or passing those classes they failed. The students also have the opportunity to pass an alternative related class that meets the core competency requirement. If students are at high risk for losing credit, they may be required to transfer out of elective classes into a required core competency course or support class.
Ninth graders who fail core competency courses will not be able to enroll at Clarkston High School until those credits are fulfilled. If the students still cannot gain these core competency credits, they will be required to partake in an Academic Core Progress review, which is held by the counseling department and involves the student’s parents. These ninth graders will convert their core competency credits into graduation credits as part of a four-year high school transcript. If approved, these changes will become effective the 2005-06 school years.
Also, work is underway to add classes. Art Intro I and Art Intro II are examples of new course names for the eighth grade. Current elective courses, which students are accustomed to having, will be eliminated with exceptions. For example, students will no longer have the ability to register for a student aide elective. These positions will only be available for those students who are recommended by faculty.
For the eighth grade class, there are still many decisions to be made, such as the technology curriculum, which will be addressed at a later time.
The ninth grade curriculum will experience changes within the physical education department. In the past, the SWEAT course has been a full year requirement. For the future, SWEAT will be a semester requirement for the ninth grade with the choice to take it anytime grades 9-12. SWEAT has a second semester, which calls for a swimming course, and is still undecided. Like the eighth grade, technology is still undetermined.
There are still loose ends to tie and decisions to make. Reschke will approach the board at the Dec. 13 board meeting with further information.