District 25 cuts cooking, changes other classes in favor of tech
After hearing hours of strong opposition from parents, students and staff members Thursday night, the Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 school board voted to change its creative arts curriculum, eliminating family and consumer sciences and consolidating other classes to make room for more high-tech options.
The change, which will be implemented starting next school year, was approved by a vote of 5-1, with board member Chuck Williams voting against.
Under the new curriculum, family and consumer science - which taught skills such as sewing and cooking - would be cut from the rotation of classes students take at Thomas and South middle schools. The industrial technology or applied technology course will be transformed into a STEM - science, technology, engineering and math - class.
A broadcast journalism class at Thomas and computers class at South will transform into offerings of Communication Media Arts and Graphic Design. Global Perspectives and World Cultures classes will be absorbed into the social studies curriculum and the career connections class will also be eliminated.
Art, music and drama would remain part of the creative arts rotating curriculum.
"I feel like our schools need to continue to evolve to meet the needs of our students and provide the opportunities that best prepare them for the 21st century," said board member Denise Glasgow.
The board's opinion was not popular with the more than 100 parents who attended Thursday's meeting. More than a dozen spoke against the changes. A student shared a petition with more than 230 signatures, and an online petition at Change.org had more than 1,000 names as of Thursday night.
Some parents said the school is forgetting about the importance of practical skills, and others were unhappy that parents and staff did not have a role in the curriculum change process until the end.
Parent Carrie Dwyer said her daughter will miss the hands-on experiences in her family and consumer science class.
"No 'A' has given her the sense of pride she has when she cooks us a meal and we enjoy it. I think that's a really powerful thing," she said.
Officials said the new classes will be very hands-on and interactive. The district will buy the new curriculum from Creative Learning Systems, including furniture and technology to build SmartLabs in each middle school. There would be a total one-time cost of $845,000 to $885,000.
"I believe strongly this is the right thing for our kids. I believe these changes are in the best interest of our students and will best prepare them for their future," said Eric Olson, assistant superintendent for student learning. "I would want my own children to have these opportunities."