NR-S officials consider new graduation requirements

At their regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, the New Rockford-Sheyenne school board took a first step towards significant changes to the school’s graduation requirements.

Attending the school board meeting to present the proposed changes were high school principal Avolt Baumbach, Dean of Students Tasha Skogen, NR-S faculty member Tyler Cook and Chelsea Swart, the parent of three students attending NR-S.

They are members of the graduation requirements committee, along with a number of other faculty members, parents and even a few students, who have been looking at changes to the district’s graduation requirements, which haven’t been updated since 2014.

Since their first meeting in the fall, the committee has had multiple discussions and ultimately decided on a number of recommendations for the board’s consideration.

The first recommendation would be to require each high school senior to complete a “capstone project” before the end of their senior year.

“This capstone project would be presented to a team of at least three teachers and would show what the student has learned at NR-S and in the community,” states a narrative from the committee about their recommendations. “... This would be a chance for the student to personalize his or her educational experience at NR-S and make it their own.”

The narrative goes on to explain that if a capstone project did not meet the requirements, the student would simply be asked to make the necessary changes and re-submit.

The committee’s second recommendation would be a simple addition to the policy that says NR-S will comply with N.D. Century Code. Currently, NR-S policy is that all students must earn 24 credits to graduate.

However, Baumbach said century code states that students can graduate with only 21 credits if they’re in the bottom 20 percent of their class in their last two years of high school, or if it is recommended by school leadership and the parents sign a written letter.

“Since century code trumps district policy, this would be an update to comply with state law,” states the committee’s narrative.

The third recommendation was to require that students take at least one online class in their high school career.

“The committee is recommending that students be required to take one online class during their high school career, as a way of helping them be choice ready, as online learning exists in post-secondary learning, the workforce and military,” states the narrative.

Baumbach also told board members on Monday that most students already take online classes. In fact, he added, only one student from the class of 2022 did not take at least one online class throughout their high school career.

The fourth and final recommendation got the most praise from school board members.

“In the past students have not been exposed to what they were interested in and perhaps started on a course in education or work that did not suit them,” the narrative states. “We want students to realize the broad spectrum of jobs and careers available to them in the world today.

“Based on these ideas the committee also recommends that each student, each academic year, complete a required job shadow.”

Tyler Cook, the student engagement specialist at NR-S, has already begun taking students to job shadows recently. He reported to the board how beneficial they’ve been to students, even for those that discovered they disliked a job they thought they’d enjoy.

The board unanimously passed a first reading of the proposed changes to NR-S graduation requirements, and a second and final reading is due to occur at their next regular board meeting. Changes would not apply to this year’s seniors.

Also at their meeting, board members approved the first reading of a new policy that would allow local businesses to submit proposals to the school board for students to participate in a work/study experience at their business.

The proposed policy states, “The board recognizes that while traditional classroom learning is important, students have the ability to learn through a variety of experiences and develop knowledge and skills in a hands-on way outside the classroom.

“Pursuant to state law and in accordance with applicable administrative rules, the District may allow students enrolled in grades six through twelve to earn course credit through education opportunities with an eligible sponsoring entity.”

The rest of the proposed policy, which includes requirements for businesses wishing to submit a proposal, can be read on the district’s website by clicking on the Feb. 13, 2023 Agenda under the district info and school board tabs.

A first reading of the policy was approved unanimously by the board.

Before adjourning, the school board also held discussion on a plan to build a structure for bus storage. Plans are not final and there is no official cost estimate, but the board decided to commit to building an eventual “bus barn,” and a motion was carried to move forward with a request for qualification for architectural services.

The board also made a motion to purchase Lot 21 of Block 19 in New Rockford, located between the Eddy County Courthouse and 5th Street North - one of the locations the board is considering for the bus barn.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 13 at 7 p.m.