The calendar, which includes a return to a two-week break at Christmas and the balancing of the school year to create two 90-day semesters, is available for viewing on the school system’s Web site under the school calendar tab of the public info section.
“I have received no additional comments,” said Dr. Terri Mosley, assistant superintendent, of the proposal following two 30-day periods which were made available for public comment.
“I think that coming off this break you can fully appreciate that time off,” said Brian Gates, board vice chair, of the decision to return to a two-week break in the final version of the calendar.
The board also approved a number of course changes for the 2010-11 school year. One of the biggest changes will be the start of an integrated math program for some students. The school system is bringing in people to train teachers on the new concept which, according to Pat Widdowson, assistant superintendent, is more hands-on and more applicable to life.
Integrated mathematics will take place in three courses and will replace the typical algebra path for students who would struggle in algebra II. Students would take the algebra I end-of-course test at the end of integrated math II and the algebra II EOC at the end of integrated math III. As of now, students would not have to take a geometry EOC.
“It’s just giving another option to our students,” said Widdowson.
“We hope there will be an avenue for everyone to meet the goal,” added Mosley.
Food II technology will be another new course for the coming school year. The course will focus on the labor market demands in that industry in regards to hospitality, food services and agriculture in relation to food technology.
“It’s the science aspect of foods and the employability of food,” said Mosley.
A health sciences class will see a pilot program at East Surry High School. It will be in addition to the health sciences class now offered but it will only take up one block of classtime rather than the two it now takes. The old class also includes a certified nursing assistant certification, which takes up that additional block of class time. The new class will allow students interested in the medical field but who do not want to get CNA certified to take a one-block class.
Other changes include the addition of agriculture production I and II and the deletion of agriscience applications, horticulture II landscaping, teen living and housing I and II.
Course modifications include changing the title of life to financial education, changing the title of construction I and II to carpentry I and II, changing the English IV course description to include the graduation project, removing biology as a prerequisite for chemistry and honors chemistry, changing the prerequisites to “none” for Army JROTC II, III and IV, changing the advanced students/internship I to work-based learning I and II and adding geometry as a prerequisite for pre-calculus.
The board tabled the suggested revision of policy 6140, which deals with student wellness, for the suggested 30-day period for public comment before approval. One of the big changes in the policy is that it now states that food brought to the school must be purchased from a commercial food entity. This refers to food that is brought to a class for consumption, not food packed in a lunch.
The board also approved a lease agreement with Surry Community College for five acres behind the Surry Central High School football stadium. The college uses that land as a vineyard and asked to change the terms of the lease from an 18-month rolling lease to a 5-year rolling lease.
According to Hinson, construction on the two new schools is moving along according to schedule.
“I’d say the brickwork is three-quarters complete at the middle school. They’re putting in glass in the cafeteria,” he said. “I came by the Dobson site and they’ve got that completely, I think, enclosed in insulation. They are working on getting the lot ready to pave.”
Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.
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