By Crystal Hayduk
The Chelsea School District Board of Education unanimously approved the curriculum council’s recommendations for updates to the K-12 English Language Arts curriculum at a cost of $98,359.
Changes to the high school’s chemistry curriculum were also approved at a cost of $7,250. (Board member Greg Rhodes was absent.)
The board also approved travel for two award-winning students to attend the #HouseOfCode event in Washington, D.C. The students were part of a group of four who took first place in Michigan’s 7th District Congressional App Challenge. (See related story here.)
During the superintendent’s report, Julie Helber commended the schools for “… helping with the student-initiated walkout on March 14.” She said that she attended the “purposeful” event at Chelsea High School (CHS), at which three students spoke and there was a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the shooting in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, which claimed the lives of 17 students and teachers.
“I commend the students for exercising their First Amendment rights in a safe manner,” said Helber. “Nobody left the buildings.”
In other board news:
During communications, Helber announced that Band Director Rick Catherman has been approved for renewal of national board certification. She said certification is a compliment to his accomplishments.
Helber said that “… a good contingent of teachers represented Chelsea School District at the MACUL [Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning] Conference in Grand Rapids on March 8-9.”
Board President Anne Mann noted CHS Principal Mike Kapolka’s written report that 276 students are registered to take 534 Advanced Placement exams this spring – the highest number of tests ever taken.
The board commended senior wrestler Corbyn Munson for winning the Division 2 state championship. Munson is one of only four undefeated state champions in Chelsea’s history, finishing the season 54-0. He plans to wrestle at Central Michigan University next year.
Upcoming dates:
There will be no school for spring break from March 26-30.
The next school board meeting will be on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at North Creek Elementary School, 699 McKinley St.
