After a discussion from various departments, Park staff decided to create more options for students by adding new electives next school year, according to Principal Scott Meyers.

Junior Ari Vlodaver said she noticed new electives while registering for new courses.

“I’m going to take sociology because it ties into (psychology), which is cool and it gets me a different perspective on people,” Vlodaver said.

According to social studies department head Carley Kregness, sociology is one of the new history electives being offered.

Kregness said the department added sociology and two other new electives in hopes of teaching topics important to students.

“Understanding the world today and our country (is important),” Kregness said. “I hope it communicates to the public that we care about those things. We (choose new classes) because our students care and we do too.”

Meyers said students should consider class requirements when registering for electives.

“There’s various reasons why we might choose a class. There are graduation requirements we consider. We just don’t offer any course — we have to make sure a student can fit it with the graduation requirements,” Meyers said.

Meyers said when the teachers and department heads plan to add new courses, they have to consider students’ future career pathways.

“Other factors (to consider when deciding on electives are) career pathways or experiences (and) opportunities,” Meyers said. (Sometimes the departments) have to match with what students see in their postsecondary experiences.”

Vlodaver said she also chose to take sociology next year because of her career interests.

“I want to be a an education teacher, so it will help me learn about different people,” Vlodaver said.

Meyers said raising money for new electives is not a huge issue.

“When we look at a brand new class, especially in the digital age, there is not always a need to buy, (for example), classroom textbooks,” Meyers said. “If there are costs that are inducted, then we work with the resources.”

Meyers said the district tests electives as demos before introducing them.

“(We) would want to see if (the class) runs first before we invest a lot in the training and the materials,” Meyers said.

Meyers said he hopes the new electives achieve Park standards.

“In terms of an evaluation measure, we hope all of our classes would hold up to an evaluation externally, (which) is something I think we have built into our processes.”