School board set to determine future graduation requirements

The Lovejoy Board of Trustees will meet in the administration building Tuesday to discuss a big agenda including future graduation requirements.

The Lovejoy Board of Trustees will meet in the administration building Tuesday to discuss a big agenda including future graduation requirements.

Michelle Stoddart, Managing Editor

The passage of House Bill 5  is forcing the school district to change the requirements for the Class of 2018 to graduate with the next stage to come at Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting. The meeting will be the third meeting for the purposes of clarifying the graduation requirements for the incoming freshman class.

Perhaps the biggest change is the implementation of five endorsements, a broad area of interest a student will choose that will guide their course selections throughout high school. The five choices are broadly categorized as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math); business and industry; arts and humanities; public services; and multidisciplinary studies.

Although House Bill 5 mandates new requirements for graduation, the state only sets a minimum with school districts being able to add to the plan set forth by Texas legislators.

Among other items on the agenda: approval of new school bus purchases, new hires, and pay raises for teachers and other staff members.

The public portion of the meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the boardroom of the district administration building.