By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education members got details Monday about a new state mandate requiring students to complete a graduation project before getting their high school diplomas.
The project is in addition to end-of-course tests and will apply for the first time to students who are sophomore this academic year.
Dr. Becky Smith, Rowan-Salisbury Schools assistant superintendent for curriculum, said the project is comprised of a research paper, a product, a portfolio, an oral presentation, along with letters and related forms.
According to an outline that was presented at Monday’s meeting, students can explore a potential career or college major; personal interest or hobby; or a topic that shows an impact on the community ó elderly care or children in poverty for example.
Students will identify topics in their junior year and continue developing that topic and other research throughout their senior year in school.
The topic will be reviewed by the Graduation Project Committee.
Kathy McDuffie, director of secondary education, gave examples of types of projects that have been done in other districts. They included a student whose project was based on restoring an old car.
Essentially, the project is based on a student’s interests, McDuffie explained.
Each student is also required to have a mentor, the school officials said. The mentor cannot be a parent of the student, but must be someone with expertise in the area the student is exploring for his or her project.
The mentor must meet with parents’ approval. Smith said school officials want parents to have input because the school system is not paying to have mentors go through a background check.
Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom said the difficult part of the project could be in finding people from the community to mentor students.
Board member Patty Williams wanted to know if a plan is in place in case the student does not pass. McDuffie said the only way the student could fail the project is by not trying.
“It’s a coaching project. If we assess them along the way, they can’t fail,” McDuffie said.
Williams said some parents may see the project as another thing their child has to do. But McDuffie said students could see it as an opportunity.
“This is the first time a child gets to control their learning,” McDuffie said.
Board attorney
In other business, and after much debate, members of school board agreed that they want an attorney present for all meetings and plan to seek a proposal for attorney services and fees.
Under existing policy, attorney Don Sayers doesn’t attend all meetings. He attended a closed session at the beginning of Monday’s meeting then left.
Board members have debated whether to have an attorney present throughout the meetings and continued that discussion Monday. They also discussed whether to retain longtime attorney Sayers or seek new counsel.
The consensus Monday was to have an attorney present during the entire meeting to make sure the board adheres to the law. Members also want an attorney to attend closed sessions and bond forfeiture court hearings.
Board member Bryce Beard said he thinks the attorney should attend the meeting, but doesn’t want to have an attorney waste time.
But Williams said she wants an attorney at the meeting, “whether he wastes his time or ours.” She also wants the attorney to “speak up on a few issues,” which she said was not the case at Monday’s meeting.
Beard said he understood that the attorney speaks up when asked a specific question.
Sayers’ firm is paid $1,000 a month.
“What do we want our attorney to do? Are we satisfied with the status quo or do we want to pursue other options?” board member Karen South Carpenter asked fellow board members.
Board member Kay Wright Norman suggested looking at a firm that specializes in education law. Williams added that she didn’t have any ill feelings toward Sayers, but wanted the board to “explore what’s out there.”
The board also agreed to continue holding any required closed sessions at the beginning of meetings, followed by a 6 p.m. regular meeting.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.