Each year the administration at H-F High School proposes changes to the curriculum. The courses will be on the syllabus as options. Whether the courses will be officially offered depends on how many students enroll.
The Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 school board approved the addition of four new courses for the 2020-21 school year, despite objections from member Beth Larocca.
Each year the administration at H-F High School proposes changes to the curriculum. The courses will be on the syllabus as options. Whether the courses will be officially offered depends on how many students enroll.
Larocca asked the board to table the proposal, saying she didn’t have enough information and the administration didn’t present the costs of the four courses.
“I don’t think we should be approving agenda items without a cost on them,” Larocca said. She also asked if the board would consider dropping a current course for every new course being offered.
“Not every course is offered every semester. A new course does not equal new tax dollars,” member Debbie Berman said. “New courses mean new opportunities so that we’re meeting (students’) needs, and to be continually evaluating what we’re offering.”
Board president Steve Anderson called for a vote. The proposal passed 6-1 with Larocca casting the “no” vote.
The four courses are:
- Careers in Education — designed to help H-F build a Teacher Cadet program, similar to one in North Carolina. It is also a goal of the district’s five-year strategic plan.
- AP Research — the second course of the AP Capstone program, giving students skills to effectively conduct independent, original research and develop evidence-based arguments.
- Speech: Principle of Communication — an elective for students who will be part of the Early College Pathway Program offered jointly by H-F, Prairie State College and Western Illinois University.
- Intervention for Success Leadership — a summer curriculum class for juniors and seniors it will offer students interested in teaching the opportunity to work directly with students needing assistance.
Nancy Spaniak, director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, said two of the courses are meant to be part of a “grow your own” teacher corps.