An update on a proposed 8-period schedule and alignment of class offerings with the state's new graduation requirements was presented to the Glen Lake Board of Education Monday night.

Secondary Principal Kevin Kelly reported that a proposal to increase the number of class periods from seven to eight had been informally endorsed by the Glen Lake Federation of Teachers, 28-0.

Kelly explained that he and union representatives still need to sit down and hammer out a “letter of understanding” for consideration by the Board of Education at its May meeting.

The increase in periods is part of a county collaborative effort to align periods and schedules to allow the sharing of staff to increase efficiencies and expand offerings to students. Another factor in the schedule change is increased graduation requirements adopted by the state, which will begin with the Class of 2011. All students in Michigan are now required to take four years of math and successfully pass Algebra II.

“The state is raising the bar,” Kelly said. “We have to be sure we have plans in place to deal with remediation.”

Another increased requirement is resulting in the addition of another social studies requirement, economics, which will be offered to freshmen beginning next fall. Kelly and secondary history teach Kris Herman discussed the class with board members Monday night.

In other business during the nearly 3-hour meeting the board:

• Approved the school’s team’s trip to Lexington, Mich., May 3-4 to demonstrate their knowledge of ecology and science in competition.

• Approved a trip to Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City May 20-21 for North by Northwest , the high school instrumental and vocal music ensemble.

• Gave its blessing to the annual fourth-grade trip to Lansing in mid-May.