Elective course offerings amended for next year

While the Investing in Innovation (i3) grant has yet to be fully implemented, students like Isabel Pastoor are already beginning to understand the impact of the school-wide renovation.

Pastoor found a smaller selection of electives for next year when she was unable to register for painting I, which was cut.

In order to reallocate teachers to a new introductory art class for freshmen, which will be taught by Erik Adolphson, painting I will not run next year.

Additionally, a performing arts class, taught by Jodi Hatzenbeller and Peter Redmond will be available to freshmen. Also, six other art courses have also been removed from the course offerings.

Like some of her classmates, Pastoor is upset about the added classes from the i3 grant, which have prompted changes to the course offerings for the coming year.

“I’m really angry about the new classes because I have to change my schedule,” she said. “I wanted to take art electives like painting I and now I can’t.”

Art tech teacher David Becker said he disagrees with the decision to cut classes in order to create an introductory art course for freshmen.

“It comes down to an issue of equity and misplaced priorities,” Becker said. “I see it as our administrators not seeing the value that art education brings to this school.”

However, art courses are not the only classes being cut for next year. Six English electives will not run next year, along with two business courses, IB psychology SL and  IB Hebrew SL.

The classes are being cut partly because of small class sizes, and also to accommodate courses added for next year.

Principal Rob Metz said he believes the new courses will benefit freshman looking to explore a variety of interests.

“The classes being created will fill the gap left by any courses not offered next year,” Metz said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the creativity brought by the new classes, and I’ll be really listening to students and staff reactions in the fall.”

Academy coordinator Greg Goddard said the goal of the foundation courses is to help develop interests in career focused areas.

“There is so much potential both with future careers and education if students can delve into these classes.”

Sophomore Eli Payton said while he is displeased courses like argumentation, which he took last year, will not be offered next year, he appreciates the opportunities created by the new electives.

“I thought argumentation was a great class, but I do see the overlap with the classes being designed for freshman,” he said. “It all makes sense, it’s just making the school better.”