At the Dec. 2 curriculum and technology committee meeting, board members received an update on high school course enrollment.

On average, most class sizes have approximately 20 students in the class.

There are 27 students in journalism, 55 students in yearbook (two classes), 34 students in honors gifted seminar (two classes), 44 students in media management (two classes) 65 students in American Cultures 1 (three classes) and 106 students in World Cultures II (five classes).

Forty-six students take Spanish I, 78 students take Spanish II, 59 students take Spanish III and 70 students take Spanish IV.

In German, nine students take German I, 20 students take German II, 22 students take German III and 19 students take German IV.

Seventy-nine students participate in chorus.

Board members were interested in the semester classes most recently added to the curriculum and were pleased the students were interested in the courses offered.

Classical mythology has 85 students, Ancient and Classical Empires has 87 students, Rebels, Robbers and Rogues has 95 students, Concepts of Small Business has 79 students, Photography I has 118 students, Concepts of Food has 115 students, beginning keyboarding/piano and advance instrumental has 73 students, 114 students are in food and culture and 40 students are in the textiles class.

In other curriculum news, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Lynn Fuini-Hetten presented two course proposals: biology and beyond and math applications to help students with graduation requirements.

Beginning in 2017, students must pass the algebra, literature and biology Keystone exams or must complete a project based assessment in order to graduate.

Initially these courses would be offered in the 2016-2017 school year to seniors who did not pass the Keystone tests.

“Students have two or three opportunities to pass the Keystone exams,” Fuini-Hetten said. “Each student is looked at individually and there are a lot of variables involved.”

These courses would help the students with the project based assessments. Fuini-Hetten said no additional staff would be needed. “These will take the place of another section. This is a priority-- they need to graduate,” Fuini-Hetten said. For literature, the content can be integrated into the student’s current classes.

Fuini-Hetten said, although she was looking for approval to proceed with the classes, there is legislation “on the table delaying the graduation requirement for two years.”

If Senate Bill 880 passes, the Keystone exam requirement would be delayed for two years and the Pennsylvania Department of Education would have six months to develop an alternative plan for students to demonstrate proficiency for graduation.

Senate Bill 880 was passed in the House Nov. 24 and has now been sent to the Senate for review.

Fuini-Hetten said the proposed courses will not be implemented if Senate Bill 880 passes.

The required graduation project for all students ended with the 2016 graduating seniors once the Keystone exam requirements were introduced.

Director Mary Ziegler said should the Keystone exam graduation requirement be placed on hold, the board may re-examine the graduation project requirement.

Board Director George Gatanis said he continues to be concerned with the class sizes at Harry S Truman Elementary School and Western Salisbury Elementary School and if there is a correlation between class sizes and test results. “We must keep this in our mind to straighten this out,” Gatanis said.

“We will definitely be having more discussion on this,” Ziegler said.