Northport schools

To help students meet graduation requirements starting with the Class of 2011, the Northport Board of Education approved a change in Algebra 1 credits.

At its meeting Thursday, March 8, the board approved 5-1, with member Alan Woods opposed and member Sue Cordes absent, allowing students to apply the Algebra I class they take in the eighth grade as one of four credits required in math to graduate.

To use the 8th grade Algebra 1 credit a student must earn a final overall grade of at least a B- and pass the Middle School Michigan Education Assessment Program Math test with a level 1 or 2 assessment.

Superintendent Tyrus Wessell said the board approved graduation requirements in the spring of 2006 for seniors starting with the 2006-07 class to meet new standards set by the state. One of the new requirements was having four credits of math. Wessell said by allowing students to use their 8th grade Algebra credit as one of the four credits, those students may focus on other areas of learning.

In other business, the board:

• Heard a presentation from school information specialist Jeanne Gross on programs for “March is Reading Month” offered through the school library. As part of the presentation, fourth graders Jerry Woods and Autumn Huck read from a unit on poetry the fourth grade class recently completed. Woods read an original piece, Co-operation, and Huck read the poem Trees by Joyce Kilmer.

• Heard a report from senior Lauren Browning on plans for the senior class trip to Chicago planned May 4-6. Browning said seniors and their chaperon would leave Northport early on Friday, May 4, in a school bus to Grand Rapids, then catch a train to Chicago. Seniors will visit Chinatown, the Shedd Aquarium and the Lincoln Park Zoo. The senior class has raised $8,303, including $1,300 at a community salad luncheon held on Thursday, March 8 at the school. Browning said the class has raised more than enough money to cover the costs for all 22 seniors to go on the trip. The Northport board is expected to approve the trip at its April 12 meeting.

• Heard a report from Wessell of ongoing and possible future school activities. He said a community survey has been distributed and encouraged everyone to complete the form. He announced plans to establish a parent group similar to a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) group that would work with the existing School Improvement Committee. He said he would like to hold an informal meeting today.

• Denied a motion on a 6-1 vote, with Woods the lone supporting vote, to hire a full-time music teacher for the 2007-08 school year. Opposing board members said they would like to see the school have a more formal music program, but wanted to view budget information before making a decision.