The Plymouth School Board met on Tuesday, February 2 for a regular monthly meeting. The regular meeting followed an executive session.
The board reviewed a list of proposed new courses to be offered at Plymouth High School for the 2021-2022 school year. Superintendent Andy Hartley briefly explained that the courses are aligned with the state’s Career Pathways offering and will allow flexibility and opportunities for students. General categories for offerings include Human Services, Information Technology, Arts, AV Tech and Communications, Business Management and Administration, Marketing, Education and Training, Hospitality and Tourism, Advance Manufacturing, Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and Architecture and Construction. Hartley indicated that he doesn’t anticipate any budget concerns with adopting the new courses. The State of Indiana does offer additional funding for vocational courses and other courses. According to Hartley, the state’s funding formula is due to be released this week. Some of the courses being considered could fall within dual-credit guidelines.
The school corporation will be adopting a new Social Studies curriculum for the 2021-2022 school year for grades 5-12. At this point, each of the schools where changes will be made has had an opportunity to review various materials and forward their selections to the administration. The final choices will be presented to the board at their March 2 meeting for adoption. The public can also review the materials being considered by contacting the schools and arranging times for viewing.
The board voted unanimously to allow voiding checks that had been written to individuals or businesses in 2018 but never cashed. The amount of the checks will be returned to the corporation funds. It was noted that attempts had been made to contact those who held outstanding checks.
During the Legislative portion of the agenda, Hartley said he was watching House Bill 1005. The bill was introduced at the state level on January 14, 2021, and referred to the Committee on Education. If passed, the bill would allow parents or emancipated students to establish an education savings account that could be used for non-public or education-related expense.
Carol Anders Correspondent
