After two years of discussions with stakeholders from within and outside Durango School District 9-R, the school board approved new graduation guidelines for the Class of 2021 at its meeting Tuesday.

The new guidelines include requiring competencies in science and social studies, which the state does not require, as well as requiring a fourth year of math and one year of foreign language.

“Our language classes right now spend too much time conjugating verbs,” said Dan Snowberger, 9-R superintendent. “This year will focus on providing more cultural competence and conversational skills if someone wants to go work in a restaurant.”

Kenna Willis, the student representative on the board, liked the one-year foreign language requirement, because it would allow students who change their minds late in high school to attend college to pick up the second year of study most colleges require. But she wondered if some block scheduling might be considered.

“I loved the block schedule my freshman year,” she said. “It gave us a lot more focused time for things like science labs. Now, in AP (Advanced Placement) science labs, we have to go back and finish the labs later because there’s not enough time in class.”

The district would accept math electives such as accounting or math for construction for the fourth year of math.

“If you guarantee that we’ll offer math electives that are substantial and meaningful, I’ll vote for this,” Board Vice President Nancy Stubbs said. “And you have to agree that they’re not cut if we have tight finances again.”

abutler@durangoherald.com

Draft graduation guidelines (PDF)

Graduation guidelines letter (PDF)