Shawnee Heights to review high-school math sequencing; board approves middle-school "History of Film" elective

Board discussion focused on secondary mathematics sequencing and curriculum planning for the district, and the board unanimously approved a proposed middle-school elective described as a history-of-film course.

Board members and administrators discussed a district review of high-school math sequencing. Stacy Bell summarized committee conversations and said the district committee recommended returning to an algebra 1 → geometry → algebra 2 sequence instead of the integrated math model. Bell said the Kansas Board of Regents has been reviewing mathematics expectations for college and career fields and that the Regents’ work led the district to consider whether Algebra 2 should be required for all students or whether alternative applied or statistics pathways should be offered. Bell described the Regents’ view in the meeting record: that about 80% of colleges expect or require college algebra, while a smaller share of career fields require calculus or college algebra; colleges are exploring alternate pathways such as statistics or contemporary mathematics for some students.

Separately, a district presenter identified as Cece described the proposed middle-school elective for eighth graders as a course called “History of Film,” which would combine English language arts and social studies by examining how film production and audiences changed across historical periods, including wartime and the pandemic.

The board voted to approve the middle-school course proposal unanimously (recorded in the transcript as 7 yes, 0 no). Board staff said secondary math committee work will continue and that the district will bring draft calendar and curriculum maps for further board review in coming meetings.

No final policy changes on graduation requirements or course mandates were adopted at this meeting; the discussion was presented as committee work that will inform future recommendations.