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LARWILL - The Whitko School Board discussed changes to the diploma for freshmen students during a work session on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The state of Indiana has a new diploma, and the freshmen are on the Indiana Diploma; while the sophomores, juniors, and seniors are on the Core 40.
Whitko High School Principal Kathy Longenbaugh told the board that the new Indiana diploma will require students to have 42 credits to graduate. Some of the changes that will be taking effect with the new diploma are: the dropping of geometry from math; making biology a sophomore requirement, instead of having students take it their freshman year for science; allowing students to choose between world perspectives and government for social studies; and taking only one physical education credit instead of the required two.
Longenbaugh asked the board to consider requiring classes like geometry because of its practical applications, and with it being on the PSAT and SAT it will give students a leg up.
“Kids are going to get U.S. history and government, and that will be it. I want to propose U.S. history, government, econ, and possibly world history or geography, so our kids are more well-rounded,” stated Longenbaugh.
“Whitko is on an eight-period day, and in the course of a year, our students can get 16 credits. Adding additional electives will ensure that our kids are not done in three years,” Longenbaugh told the board. “I think being in high school for four years is very important, and you never get your senior year back.”
Longenbaugh stated that they would end up with a total of 67 credits, not just the 42 that the state will be requiring. Along with the Career Academy, it allows the eighth-graders to find which path they want to go down as far as which diploma to obtain.
“I think this raises the bar and rigor for our kids, and says just because the state doesn’t see geometry, econ or geography as important, that Whitko High School does,” stated Longenbaugh.
Board member Lynn Studebaker disputed Longenbaugh by saying, “If kids want to graduate in three years, why deny them that?”
Longenbaugh retorted that if a student wants to graduate early in their junior year, then she wants that student to tell her what they plan on doing, whether it be going to college or having a job already lined up. She also stated that since she has been there, most students, because of the Career Academy, have a capstone or career track that they are on and enjoying.
Superintendent Amy Korus brought up the vet science program that they were going to add to the Career Academy, and that they would be able to have students not just from Whitko, but also Columbia City attend. This program will be for juniors and seniors, and for right now, will be a part-time job in the morning for the certified vet technician that they hire on. Korus did state that this is still in the works.
Korus also mentioned that they are reading over the policies and working on the last portion. She answered a question about administration contracts, and that they will be up by the end of the year.
The regular board meeting for Whitko will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 at the Career Academy.
