By CARA LORELLO
Staff Reporter
School board members unanimously approved district policy and procedural changes for Medical Lake schools on July 24 to reflect recent legislative changes for graduation requirements.
The changes adjust current requirements to include a senior culminating project and a “high school and beyond” plan in state-approved courses, as well as waiver eligibility for Washington state history and government courses required for graduation.
Changes also include adjustments in subjects and credits approved for satisfying the subject area requirements as established by the state board of education.
Students will now be required to take a minimum of four credits in English (raised from three credits), three credits in social studies (lowered from three and half credits), and six and a half credits in elective courses (raised from six credits). The added culmination project is a half credit granted to seniors upon completion.
A two-credit health-and fitness-requirement was changed from one course to separate courses with the same number of credits between the two. Communication and career choices courses were eliminated from the approved courses, however the new policy states freshmen students “are required to take career choices as a .5 elective credit.”
District Superintendent Pam Veltri said the adjustments wouldn't really change subject requirements needed for graduation.
“All this really reflects are the major changes from the last legislative session,” Veltri said, explaining reasons for the one addition with the culminating project. “You really need the part for the culminating project, which starts freshman year in advisory. But you can come in as a junior and still be able to get the half credit.”
Additions were made to the waiver of graduation requirements section of the policy procedure to include two new eligibility rules for students, who now have the option to waive Washington history and government courses if they meet either of the following criteria:
completed and passed a state history and government courses in another state during grades seven through 12 and fulfilled study of the state constitution through a principal-approved experience, or; after completion of 10th grade, prior to commencement of the 11th grade, 11th and 12th grade students transferred from another state that have or will earn two social studies credits by graduation who can't graduate without the waiver.
School board members also approved a budget extension for the 2006-2007 year on recommendation from district finance director Don Johnson, who explained the current budget was too tight to cover some unexpected costs and required a $400,000 extension.
“We're spending more than we have in our budget right now…I don't like having to do [an extension] but that's how it worked out this way this year,” he said, adding that he doesn't expect the district will spend all of the extension amount, the main purpose for which is to give the district a financial cushion at this time.
The biggest unbudgeted costs this year came from supplies and contractual services, including fuel and transportation.
Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]
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