Class changes recommended for Batavia High School

Adding a dual-credit course with Waubonsee, keeping early bird gym classes and rearranging the math curriculum are all recommendations of the Batavia High School staff for next year.

Teachers and administrators outlined the changes for the Batavia school board on Tuesday night.

High School Assistant Principal Lisa Hichens told the board that the new early bird and lifetime recreation games physical education classes had been very successful.

Some students used the early bird class to be able to take additional classes, and others who had failed a class previously were using it to have time to make up classes, she said.

She recommended that the lifetime recreation class be kept at the same size, but that early bird class., which starts at 6:30 a.m., be expanded to any junior or senior who would like to take it next year.

Principal Doug Drexler suggested starting a pilot program with Waubonsee Community College to offer dual-credit classes at the high school.

The classes would be taught by high school teachers who would have their curriculum approved by the college, Drexler said. The teachers would essentially become adjunct professors and get both high school and Waubonsee credit for the class.

He suggested choosing one class for the 2008-09 school year as a pilot program and expanding it if it is successful.

Math Department chair Brian Gamlin recommended changing the remedial math curriculum to include an advanced algebra class. That class seems to be a large component in performing well on PSAE and ACT tests, he said.

The recommendation would also change consumer math to an elective and allow remedial students to more easily move into the traditional curriculum.

The school board plans to approve the changes at its Jan. 8 meeting