Proposal to reduce the number of classes required for Gatesville High School

A proposal to reduce the number of classes required for Gatesville High School students to graduate that would align with state requirements resulted in debate but was ultimately approved by the Gatesville Independent School District Board of Trustees during a recent meeting.

Shane Webb, assistant superintendent for academics for the district, said Gatesville ISD requires two additional credits beyond what the state requires, and proposed eliminating those requirements to allow for more flexibility for the students.

Those classes include health and speech. All eighth grade students in the district take health classes. However, students who move to the district when they reach high school often face a challenge of meeting that requirement because they missed the opportunity by transferring to the district later.

Speech could still be offered as an elective, but students would earn their speech credit after completing three high school English courses.

Board Vice President Charles Alderson said the credit requirements are based on an outdated schedule from when students had six classes per day, noting that in the current schedule students have eight class periods.

He said he did not understand reducing the requirements by two credits.

Webb said the change would allow students to take more career and technology education classes in place of the health and speech requirements.

"For the students who are at risk, we have an additional barrier that the state is not requiring," GISD Superintendent Barrett Pollard explained. "Our enrollment has dropped at the high school. We had 45 students withdraw to homeschool. How many of those students will legitimately pursue a homeschool course and how many will simply drop out?"

He said aligning GISD's graduation requirements with the state's requirements could help reduce the loss of high school students. 

"When they look at graduation plans, the students see obstacles," Pollard said. "We are going above and beyond what is being required by the state."

Webb recommended the changes begin with the 2022-23 school year.

"We are making it too easy," Alderson said. "I'd rather see us add two (credit requirements) than drop two."

Webb said by adopting the changes, students would be able to pursue more of the career and technical education classes that appeal to them and that would help prepare them for their future after high school.

Alderson said he agreed with the emphasis on CTE classes, which provide additional incentives for students to stay in school and prepare themselves for the workforce.