PENDLETON — The incorporation of computer science into the Pendleton Heights High School curriculum will begin during the 2020-21 school year.
The first course offered will be Introduction to Computer Science, with other courses to be offered in subsequent years.
“Right now, we’re ahead of the curve. We’re just trying to get some things in place,” Dr. Mark Hall, assistant superintendent for secondary curriculum, instruction and college and career readiness, told the South Madison Community School Corp. board recently. “We probably have more questions than answers right now.”
The Indiana General Assembly passed into law in 2018 a requirement that all high schools offer computer science curriculum starting in the 2021-22 school year.
Computer science is the study of computers and related systems and includes areas of study such as artificial intelligence, security, database systems, human computer interaction, programming languages and software engineering.
Hall proposed to the board at its Dec. 12 meeting what the Pendleton Heights curriculum would look like.
The one-semester introductory class for next school year would be a lead-in for the required offerings of Computer Science I and Computer Science II in 2021-22.
The board unanimously approved the recommendation of the suggested courses.
Hall said he, Dr. Laura Miller, assistant superintendent for elementary curriculum and instruction; Pendleton Heights Principal Connie Rickert; and Pendleton Heights Middle School Principal Jennifer Chestnut went to a workshop in December to learn more about the field of study.
He said there are plans at the middle school to gear computer application classes more toward computer science.
The district has staff to cover the introductory course next year, according to Hall.
He added that measures were made for licensing flexibility so business, science, math and industrial tech teachers, with some additional training, would be eligible to teach the classes.
“I can’t say 100 percent that we wouldn’t need more staff. Enrollment will dictate that,” Hall said. “We really don’t know two years out.
“We wanted to get it on the books and get the intro course going next year so we would have some sort of feeder program going into the year it is required.”
Maple Ridge acknowledges students, contributors
As part of the board’s academic spotlight awards, Maple Ridge Elementary School Principal Valerie Steger recognized six students, one for each of the school’s six pillars of character.
Morgan Bricker (caring), Jazlin Riley (citizenship), Cailen Newsom (fairness), Mallory Cox (respect), Declan Dummel (responsibility) and Brooklyn Bruce (trustworthiness) were honored at the meeting.
Steger acknowledged two others for their work at the school.
Jill Mohr, an instructional coach, received an Above and Beyond Award.
QT Expressions was recipient of the Community Partnership Award.
Check presentation
Tom Bannon, vice president of community engagement and chief foundation officer for Community Hospital Anderson, presented a check for $11,500 to South Madison schools.
Proceeds were from the Community Chefs project that raises money for the Community Hospital Anderson Foundation; 50% goes to Madison County schools.
The fundraiser raised $106,000 with $53,000 going to county schools. It is divided into school systems that include a high school and by enrollment. South Madison schools were second to Anderson Community schools in enrollment in the county.
Personnel
The board also approved the:
• Resignation of Jay Leibovitz as a special education instructional assistant at Pendleton Heights High School.
• Hiring of Kylee Bulington at Maple Ridge Elementary School and Lavon Bustos at Pendleton Elementary Primary School as special education instructional assistants. Holly Clem, also at Pendleton Elementary Primary School, was approved as an instructional assistant.
• Transfer of Susan Gray as a special education instructional assistant from Maple Ridge to Pendleton Elementary Primary.
• Resignations of Pendleton Heights Middle School diving coach Lauren Reifel and Pendleton Heights High School assistant swim coach Jake Childress.
• Naming of Holly Williams as career and technical education director at the high school and Michele Crehan as an assistant swim/diving coach at the middle school.
• Leave request for high school Spanish teacher Rachel Lauermann.