November 14, 2018 at 5:15 p.m.
SA preps for requirements
Incoming freshman class will face new pathways
SA preps for requirements
By Rose Skelly-
BERNE — High school graduation requirements will be undergoing a change for Indiana’s current eighth graders.
South Adams School Board learned Tuesday what will be required from the state’s new graduation pathways and how the school is preparing for the guidelines.
It also heard a brief update how e-learning days will be implemented.
Chris Gilbert, the high school’s guidance counselor, presented an overview of the new graduation pathways system the Indiana Department of Education adopted last year. The guidelines were released this summer, and the school has been preparing to implement them beginning in the 2019-20 school year for high school freshmen.
Until now and continuing for current high school students, there have been two requirements for high school seniors to receive a diploma: taking the Core 40 classes and passing a graduation exam — this year, the ISTEP. If a student did not pass the test they could receive a waiver, but that’s an often laborious process that takes time away from elective classes, Gilbert said.
For students currently in eighth grade, there will be more steps to graduate, but also more flexibility. In addition to taking the Core 40, they will have to show they have employability skills and are ready for life after graduation. Employability through workplace or social skills can be documented and demonstrated through a project-based, service-based or work-based experience.
The third requirement is what Gilbert is most excited about. In the past, students either passed the test or went through the waiver application. Now, there are more options for students. Reaching benchmark scores on the SAT, ACT or the ASVAB, the military entrance exam, would fulfill post-secondary readiness requirement. Other possibilities are achieving an honors diploma or taking AP classes.
Students can also opt to pursue technical education by taking a sequence of six classes or by receiving a state-approved industry certification. South Adams has six “concentrator” options, in which a sequence of at least six classes are available. They are agriculture, computer science, machine technology, fire and rescue, engineering, and auto and diesel.
Making sure students get the classes they want and that they are in a logical order will complicate the school schedule and will take collaboration from teachers, administrators and students, Gilbert said. But she views the new requirements as a step in the right direction for Indiana’s high schoolers.
“Philosophically, I believe in this, because it’s less about testing and more about preparing students for some practical skill that they can do after high school,” Gilbert said. “I feel like it’s more about the outcome.”
Also on Monday, the board heard about the plans to implement e-learning on days the school is closed for bad weather.
South Adams School Board learned Tuesday what will be required from the state’s new graduation pathways and how the school is preparing for the guidelines.
It also heard a brief update how e-learning days will be implemented.
Chris Gilbert, the high school’s guidance counselor, presented an overview of the new graduation pathways system the Indiana Department of Education adopted last year. The guidelines were released this summer, and the school has been preparing to implement them beginning in the 2019-20 school year for high school freshmen.
Until now and continuing for current high school students, there have been two requirements for high school seniors to receive a diploma: taking the Core 40 classes and passing a graduation exam — this year, the ISTEP. If a student did not pass the test they could receive a waiver, but that’s an often laborious process that takes time away from elective classes, Gilbert said.
For students currently in eighth grade, there will be more steps to graduate, but also more flexibility. In addition to taking the Core 40, they will have to show they have employability skills and are ready for life after graduation. Employability through workplace or social skills can be documented and demonstrated through a project-based, service-based or work-based experience.
The third requirement is what Gilbert is most excited about. In the past, students either passed the test or went through the waiver application. Now, there are more options for students. Reaching benchmark scores on the SAT, ACT or the ASVAB, the military entrance exam, would fulfill post-secondary readiness requirement. Other possibilities are achieving an honors diploma or taking AP classes.
Students can also opt to pursue technical education by taking a sequence of six classes or by receiving a state-approved industry certification. South Adams has six “concentrator” options, in which a sequence of at least six classes are available. They are agriculture, computer science, machine technology, fire and rescue, engineering, and auto and diesel.
Making sure students get the classes they want and that they are in a logical order will complicate the school schedule and will take collaboration from teachers, administrators and students, Gilbert said. But she views the new requirements as a step in the right direction for Indiana’s high schoolers.
“Philosophically, I believe in this, because it’s less about testing and more about preparing students for some practical skill that they can do after high school,” Gilbert said. “I feel like it’s more about the outcome.”
Also on Monday, the board heard about the plans to implement e-learning on days the school is closed for bad weather.
The department of education approved the use of online learning for the school. It will usually be used for snow days, but not necessarily every snow day, superintendent Scott Litwiller said.
“Our primary objective is to maintain the momentum of learning,” Litwiller said. “It’s not to make up the missed school day.”
In other business, board members Arlene Amstutz, John Mann, Landon Patterson, John Buckingham, Mitch Sprunger and Amy Orr, absent Julie Mansfield:
•Learned the school corporation is now receiving bids for the baseball concessions building. Bids will be accepted until Nov. 20.
•Were informed that the pool’s boiler had broken but was repaired at an estimated cost of $10,000 to $12,000.
•Heard how teachers and administrators ranked for certified evaluations. Of the 98 certified staff in 2017-18, 82 were rated highly effective, 14 were effective, and two were not finalized because of retirement or resignation.
•Declared surplus equipment. Three laptops from the spare supply will be donated to a school in Haiti, miscellaneous classroom equipment will be sold and a U.S. Army forklift will be sold with a public sealed bid process.
•Approved the October 2019 fifth grade trip to Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Michigan, and four FFA trips.
•Accepted the following donations: $315 from an anonymous donor to the cross-country program; $500 from Berne Community Markets and Fresh Encounters, to be split between the elementary, middle and high school’s extra-curricular funds; $600 from the PTO for the fifth grade camping trip; and $1,000 from Secure Auto for purchase practice gear for the high school boys’ basketball program.
•Approved a leave of absence for Roxanne Crider.
•Accepted the resignations of Jean Lehman as a bus aide, Korinna Schindler as an assistant high school swim coach and Josh Roby as the boys’ freshmen basketball coach.
“Our primary objective is to maintain the momentum of learning,” Litwiller said. “It’s not to make up the missed school day.”
In other business, board members Arlene Amstutz, John Mann, Landon Patterson, John Buckingham, Mitch Sprunger and Amy Orr, absent Julie Mansfield:
•Learned the school corporation is now receiving bids for the baseball concessions building. Bids will be accepted until Nov. 20.
•Were informed that the pool’s boiler had broken but was repaired at an estimated cost of $10,000 to $12,000.
•Heard how teachers and administrators ranked for certified evaluations. Of the 98 certified staff in 2017-18, 82 were rated highly effective, 14 were effective, and two were not finalized because of retirement or resignation.
•Declared surplus equipment. Three laptops from the spare supply will be donated to a school in Haiti, miscellaneous classroom equipment will be sold and a U.S. Army forklift will be sold with a public sealed bid process.
•Approved the October 2019 fifth grade trip to Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Michigan, and four FFA trips.
•Accepted the following donations: $315 from an anonymous donor to the cross-country program; $500 from Berne Community Markets and Fresh Encounters, to be split between the elementary, middle and high school’s extra-curricular funds; $600 from the PTO for the fifth grade camping trip; and $1,000 from Secure Auto for purchase practice gear for the high school boys’ basketball program.
•Approved a leave of absence for Roxanne Crider.
•Accepted the resignations of Jean Lehman as a bus aide, Korinna Schindler as an assistant high school swim coach and Josh Roby as the boys’ freshmen basketball coach.
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