GEORGETOWN — Georgetown-Ridge Farm School Board members approved a first-reading of a policy Monday night that goes along with the new seven-period day at the high school.

The new policy increases the total amount of credits needed to graduate from the current 20.5 to 22. Board members increased the total daily number of periods for students in March, from the current six-period day, to a seven-period day.

Beginning with the incoming 2009-10 freshman class, students will need to work towards a greater amount of credits to be considered a sophomore. The amount increased by a half, from 5 credits to 5.5 needed. They will have the extra class-period a day to gain the additional requirement, which is the reason an increase to the overall credits was made.

Every class will need an extra half-credit more than what is currently required to be jumped to the next grade level, beginning next year, once the final policy is adopted.

Also under the policy, students must attend at least seven semesters of high school before they can apply for graduation. This disclaimer will prevent any student who accumulates enough credits earlier than December of their senior year to not be able to leave school earlier than that.

An early graduation option is offered at the high school for seniors who meet requirements, and can show proof that they will either be entering the workforce or going to a secondary school immediately.

High School Principal Steve Sliva said an average of eight to 12 students take the option each year. He said he will be surveying other schools to see who else offers such an option.

Sliva said with the extended period day, students who have already signed up for classes have had more options to choose from. A volunteerism class that is being offered for the first time has at least one section filled.

The class will require students to complete community service in and out of class time and also to possibly tutor at the other district schools.

The policy changing graduation credit requirements and early graduation limits will be on display for 30 days before a second-reading and final approval is made.

In other business, board members:

-- Welcomed new board member Lisa Coburn to the meeting, who was attending, but will be seated after votes are canvassed later this month or early in May.

Coburn is the technology coordinator in the Westville School District. She said she is excited to get involved on the board.

“I just want to be involved in the community,” said Coburn.

Three board members seats, Carla Pollman, Kevin Metheney and Janet Martin, were open this past election. Pollman and Coburn ran uncontested for two of those seats, while the third will remain vacant for 45 days until the new board can appoint a replacement.

-- Purchased a 1987 Ford F700 dump truck from the city of Georgetown for $1. Superintendent Kevin Tate said the city has loaned the truck to the district before and they have also shared equipment with the city.

-- “It’s a good working relationship with the city of Georgetown,” said Tate.

-- Accepted the resignation of Lenora Willhite as a special education teacher at Mary Miller Junior High effective at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.

-- Accepted the resignation of Dennis Lucas as lunchroom supervisor at Mary Miller Junior High effective May 4 due to his recent election win as mayor of Georgetown. He will continue to be co-coordinator of Destination Imagination.

-- Set the last regular day of school for students as May 29. A teacher in-service will occur on June 1 and report card day will be June 2.



WHAT’S NEXT

The Georgetown-Ridge Farm School Board will meet at 7 p.m. April 27 at the superintendent’s office.