Waterville High School students in twelfth grade English classes endorsed some of the proposed grading recommendations.
At last week’s Waterville Central School Board of Education meeting feedback from students and the community was reviewed over the recommendations.
A Grading Committee made several proposals which are being considered.
WCS Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Spring went over the student feedback at last week’s Board of Education meeting.
The final decision will come from the Board of Education.
Students strongly agreed with giving more weight to the grade point average for harder classes like Advanced Placement and college credit.
Students also agreed the third marking period, not the second, should be used to determine class rankings for seniors.
While the committee supports having classes in band, music and physical education count toward the GPA, students did not agree.
Students have to leave class to attend music lessons. When they miss a lesson they have to attend a structured study hall, but are still required to take their music lessons during class time.
Students said it would be too stressful to miss classes for their lessons.
They also suggested having phys ed become pass/fail as they said it is hard to gauge effort made in the class.
They pointed out it was easier for the boys to change into phys ed class attire than it is for the girls.
Students did not agree with the recommendation to use Regents exams and the class midterm for 10 percent (each) of the final grade.
Students proposed replacing exams with projects and using the midterm and Regents to factor into that marking period grade.
Students agreed with doing away with a Top 10 academic ranking as classes were becoming smaller and the grading is inconsistent.
Students do want to keep the rank of valedictorian and salutatorian.
Students suggested rather than abolish the Top 10 starting next year, it be phased out after the current ninth graders are seniors.
They supported not publishing the class ranking on college transcripts.
A volunteer community survey through the District’s website had similar results.
Spring said 191 people participated, about half of them identifying themselves as parents.
Survey takers supported weighted classes toward the GPA and there was reluctance to do away with the Top 10.
Board member Steve Stanton asked when the Top 10 ranking began, saying he needed to know its history to make a decision.
The survey showed support for keeping the valedictorian and salutatorian designations and for not publishing or putting on transcripts class ranking.
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