The Norman Public Schools Board of Education discussed a proposal to change graduation requirements and approved a resolution calling for the Office 1 election at its meeting Monday.
Approval for annual election
The news: The board unanimously approved a resolution calling for an election for the Office 1 seat.
Dirk O’Hara, the current Office 1 board member, has served in the seat since his election in 2014. He ran unopposed in 2016 and again against Pixie Quigley in 2021.
"I'm excited to run again and hope to continue to try to serve with my board members,” O’Hara said.
Individuals may file for candidacy from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Dec. 1 to 3 at the Cleveland County Election Board.
The approval informs candidates they can file for the position .
The election for the seat will take place April 7.
Graduation requirements changes
The news: Holly McKinney, NPS executive director of Teaching and Learning, outlined new requirements in accordance to House Bill 3278, which modifies high school graduation curriculum requirements beginning with the class of 2030.
With the new requirements, McKinney said math credits will increase from three required units to four.
“However, if (students) take a high school math (course) in eighth grade, it will count as one of their (required) units,” McKinney said.
World language or computer science, and fine arts units will no longer be required and will be condensed into “pathway units.”
Pathway units are part of the Individual Career Academic Plan, or ICAP, which identifies student interests and skills to create a plan that caters to students' post-graduation goals and needs, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Education website.
McKinney said students can also choose three additional electives outside of pathway courses, including sports or physical education.
English, language arts, science and social studies unit requirements will remain the same, McKinney said. The new requirements add up to 23 units, which remains the same number of credits required to graduate.
What they are saying: Office 3 board member Annette Price asked if math classes students take in middle school could count toward the 23 unit requirement. McKinney said that any high school level class taken in eighth grade can count, but not other grades.
Price also asked what distinguishes an elective class from a pathway class. McKinney said pathways classes are specialized elective courses that align with a student’s post-high school interest. Other courses, such as physical education or band, would go toward elective credit requirements.
Office 2 board member Alex Ruggiers asked how the district would encourage students to enroll in world languages classes with the new requirements. McKinney said world language classes are required in all pathways and highly recommended for students.
Ruggiers also asked if NPS could expect to hire more math teachers due to the change in requirements.
“Right now, we don't anticipate that,” McKinney said, “but we are always adjusting and reevaluating based on students' needs.”
Price said the board will discuss these requirements at a future meeting.
This story was edited by Thomas Pablo and Ana Barboza. Ryan Little and Gretchen Schultz copy edited this story.
