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Schools

Chopping Block: School Board Cuts Classes, Approves Others

Board member Jim Gelbmann prompts board to keep some courses.

Hacking and slashing were on the docket for the South Washington County School Board Oct. 27, and some creation, too.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Assessment Rick Spicuzza and Keith Ryskoski, assistant superintendent for secondary education, presented the board with recommendations of course eliminations, modifications and additions. Courses proposed for elimination were:

  • keyboarding
  • black-and-white photography
  • creative writing II
  • FST math
  • problem solving math
  • human relations
  • creative sewing
  • mock trial
  • Microsoft Office applications
  • modern world novels
  • human relations
  • natural disasters
  • inquiry into contemporary issues
  • Civil War
  • gender studies
  • communication A & B
  • manufacturing technologies

Those courses did end up being eliminated, but not without an ample amount of discussion, led by board member Jim Gelbmann.

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Gelbmann said he saw value in many of the courses listed for elimination. In all, he asked for six courses to be taken off the elimination list, but each of those separate motions were voted down by the school board or died for lack of a second.

Board members who argued against keeping the six classes said the skills and information offered in those courses can be learned in other classes.

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"By eliminating these courses, it might sound like the kids have no opportunities,” board member Tracy Brunnette said. “But I’m sorry, I don’t believe it. I don’t believe that’s true.”

Even though the courses were nixed, Spicuzza said they could still be retooled and made available again in the future.

“Any of the courses that are eliminated can come back in an innovative way—in a process to be characterized in a new and relevant perspective,” he said.

New Classes

The school board accepted the staff recommendation to approve seven new courses.

Those courses include four math classes, College in the School Writing Studio, College in the Schools Public Speaking and Advanced Fine Arts Photography.

Course modifications include removing driver’s education from the instructional day and moving it to the Community Education Department, and revising and renaming “Jewelry Making” to “World Art Forms.”

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