Graduation requirements for juniors, sophomores and freshman currently enrolled in Alpena Public Schools finally have been approved by Alpena Public Schools Board of Education.
During Monday's meeting, board members voted unanimously to require the class of 2011 to obtain 24.5 of 27 possible credits, the class of 2012 to obtain 26 of 28.5 possible credits and the class of 2013-16 and beyond to obtain 28 of 30 possible credits.
"It's a very rigorous schedule and we hope that our students will achieve that," Joyce McCoy, director of secondary education and CTE, said of the credit requirements for the class of 2013 and beyond.
McCoy said several groups were involved in the process of determining the credit requirements including the Alpena High School improvement team and the board's curriculum committee. In the end, the curriculum committee lowered the credit recommendations from the AHS improvement team by a half credit for the classes of 2011 and 2012.
The high school's switch to trimesters has forced the board to reconsider the number of credits high school students would need to obtain before they graduate. The board approved graduation requirements for high school seniors at a special board meeting in October, but board members could not agree upon the number of credits necessary for underclassmen.
The board has the ability to review and change graduation requirements at any time.
Also during the meeting, the board unanimously approved Superintendent Brent Holcomb's annual evaluation with a one-year contract extension through June 30, 2012, that includes a wage freeze along with the elimination of the superintendent's mileage allowance. His insurance coverage continues at PPO-2, down from PPO-1 provided in 2008.
Board member Susan Bowen said it's important for the public to be aware Holcomb has never taken a raise and was the first administrator to move to the PPO-2 insurance, setting the precedent of allowing the district to save money.
The board traditionally rates the superintendent either "good" or "needs improvement" and gave Holcomb a rating that far exceeds "good" for the third straight year.
"At a time when the state of Michigan's financial difficulties have put school districts across the state in the position of emptying savings accounts, declaring bankruptcy or cutting important programs and services, a leader who is able to make hard choices, protect the district's most basic mission of education and yet face the community with compassion, is a great asset," President Diane Shields read from Holcomb's evaluation.
Holcomb said he was happy and thanked the board for the good remarks.
"As much as that makes me feel really good, it's a credit to a lot of other people," he said, attributing his success to the board, his leadership team and the district's numerous employee groups.
In other business:
- the board approved Ogemaw Heights as a new member to the Big North Conference.
- the next regular board meeting will be held April 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Gerry Ludwig Board Room in the Central Office building.
Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.