The Ripon Unified school board recently voted for students at Ripon High to have three years of science as a graduation requirement.
The recommendation came on behalf of the Science Department – in conjunction with the Next Generation Science Standard Curriculum – using the three-year model that integrates the Earth and Space Science standards into the traditional high school disciplines of Physics in the Universe, The Living Earth and Chemistry in the Earth System.
Trustees voted 5-0 on the plan effectively starting with the RHS Class of 2022.
Science teachers Ann Pendleton and Daniel Gilman were on the NGSS three-year model.
“Most students take four to five science classes by the time they graduate,” said Pendleton.
The Science Department made the recommendation, stating the plan “to best prepare our students for college, career and the California Science Test.”
In other agenda happenings from the Feb. 12 meeting:
uEnrollment report for the fifth month (Nov. 11 through Dec. 22) dipped to 3,140, which was 33 fewer students from the previous month and five fewer from that of a year ago. Ripon High’s tally was 899 (first time this year under 900), and was followed by Ripon Elementary (470) Park View (461), Colony Oak (428), Ripona (421) and Weston (421). Harvest High and the Independent Study program had an enrollment of 26 and 14, respectively.
uTrustees recognized the RHS cheer squad coached by Alisha Vasche and Tara Kriletich for recently placing first in the Deer Valley and Del Campo Regional competitions. Members included Gracyn Adolfson, Danielle Fontillas, Hailey Gushrowski, Jasleena Herrera, Maci Herrin, Skyler Kahan, Barbara McCrory, Stevie McIntosh, Cyanne McKibben, Maiya Perez, Maliah Rodriguez, Mursal Sarwar, Kali Spade, and Jianna Velez.
uChief Operation Officer Frank Jerome provided a presentation on the academic calendars for the next three years. A committee consisting of certificated, classified, administrators and unrepresented staff members met several times throughout the past few months on the process, gathering input from all. Both unions (RUDTA and CSEA) also provided received the final drafts necessary for voting. In each of the proposals, the majority favored for the start of school to begin one week later with no October breaks.