School board approves course changes for next year

Two advanced classes are being added to the TCU High School course offerings for the 2013-14 school year, as approved at the regular meeting of the Tri-City United School Board on Monday, Feb. 11. One of the courses is in the Agricultural Science/Industrial Technology Department and the other is a science Foundation Course in Engineering.New Courses Students in grades 10-12 will now be able to take Introduction to Veterinary Science. High School Principal Alan Fitterer said they are hoping enough students will be interested so that it can be offered. He added that this course also lines up well with the Agricultural Academy that is being planned at TCU. Another exciting aspect to taking this class is the short job shadow project with a local veterinary clinic that will be required of all students. The second new class to be offered is PLTW (Project Lead the Way) Principals of Engineering for students who will be entering grade 9. Fitterer said this class is one of two Foundation Courses in the PLTW program. This yearlong course will cover mechanics, energy, statics, materials and kinematics. "We are waiting to hear back from PLTW to see if we are awarded the $35,000 grant to use over three years, which we need to help fund this course's teacher training, as well as the hardware and software needs," Fitterer said. "If we are awarded the grant, this course will be the first of three PLTW courses that we will be adding to TCU HS over the next three school years."Courses Removed The board also approved removing four classes from the offerings at TCU. The two University of Minnesota courses where students earn college credit and high school credit that will no longer be offered are Plant Propagation and Introductory Animal Science. Reasons for eliminating these selections are that TCU does not have a certified U of M teacher for the courses, and low registration numbers. Two other classes taken out of the registration guide are Drafting & CADD, and Outdoor Education. These courses also had low registration numbers. It was also noted at the meeting that Chemistry will be a required class by the state, starting with next year's juniors.Registration Students will be able to register for next school year's classes online throughout the month of March during Advisory time at school. Fitterer said that parents will be able to pick up a 2013-14 Course Registration Guide and a grade level course registration form early by attending parent-teacher conferences between 4:30-8 p.m. on February 26 and 28. Also during conferences, Fitterer and school guidance counselors will be showing a Power Point presentation at the K-8 buildings in Montgomery and Le Center for all current eighth grade students and their parents or guardians, to inform them about the course registration process for high school.Titan Pride The board recognized several individuals with Titan Pride awards during Monday's meeting. They include: Teacher Bruce Davis for his efforts as the DARE Program Coordinator; Teachers Sarah Mejia, Jen Davidson, Matt Flugum, Carolyn Harmeyer, Jessica Weller and Jackie Tulloch for their support and help in promoting the Montgomery Library Teen Read Week contest; District Media Services Coordinator Rebecca Carson, for her help in promoting Teen Week and for her willingness to work and communicate with the Montgomery Public Library; Students Matt Holicky, Kelly Nordling, Alex Turgeon, Brandon Turgeon for earning Eagle Scout honor; and Teacher Cris Young for her work in developing the Migrant Programs and for working on a special project that would bring an exchange teacher from Mexico to a local host family.Coach Re-Hires The final item on the agenda was the rehiring of coaches for next fall. The following were approved: Football- Head Coach Ken Helland, Assistants Pete Plut and Nick David, B-Squad Phil Campbell, C-Squad Adam Hanson and B & C Assistant Andrew Meier; Volleyball- Head Coach Becky Madison, Assistant Megan Pelowski; Tennis- Head Coach Phil Murry, Assistant Sarah Adams; Cross Country- Head Coach Brian Fogal, Assistant Chad Polson. The next meeting of the TCU School Board is a workshop scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25 in the band room at TCU High School at 6 p.m.