By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

After much discussion at both last week's work session and Tuesday's regular meeting, the Garden City Board of Education took an informal vote and decided to eliminate the Global History 10 Honors course beginning in September, 2009. A formal vote is expected to take place at the next meeting scheduled for January 21st in the library of the Garden City High School.

"They have looked at this from many, many angles: from the teaching angle, from the student experience angle to what other similar schools are doing, to what the colleges want," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen. "They have looked at this from many angles and wherever there was a question in the program, they have great answers."

Dr. Feirsen was referring to Jeannette Balantic, social studies curriculum coordinator, and Nanine Cuttitta, high school principal, who attended the meeting to address concerns from the Board and public. "We genuinely think that this is good for kids," said Balantic.

Currently the district offers Global 9 Regents and Global 9 Honors for ninth-graders; Global 10R, Global 10H and World Advanced Placement for tenth-graders; US History 11R and US History AP for eleventh-graders; and Economics/Government R and Economics AP or US Government AP for twelfth-graders. If the proposed change passes as expected, those who enter tenth grade in September will be offered the option to take Global 10R or World AP.

Data shows that the majority of students who are currently taking Global 9H will take World AP. "I firmly believe that the children who are in 9H now are doing the first half of AP World," said Balantic.

In addition, curriculum work will be done by teachers over the summer to help promote a higher level of rigor for the 10R course. These measures are being taken to increase the probability of success for more students as college admissions officers place a greater emphasis on more challenging coursework.

"I have actually heard that honors, and this is a controversial statement, really isn't honors," said School Board President Colleen Foley. "It's just a Regents level, and Regents has been lowered down. So I'm glad to see that there's some attempt at increasing the bar."

Garden City resident Liz Menges said she was concerned that the "borderline kids" would have fewer opportunities if the change is implemented. She was specifically referring to students in the current 9R class who would not be ready to take the leap into the AP course in 10th grade, but would benefit by taking an Honors course. Having an Honors course on their transcript would look better to college admissions officers, but starting next year, they will not have that opportunity if the change is passed.

Balantic responded that when World AP was introduced, a third track was created where none ever existed since it was just Regents and Honors. The number of students in the H and AP levels is close; currently there are 60 in the H level course and 72 in the AP level course. "The whole program is out of alignment, or at least the 9, 10, 11 connection is out of alignment," said Balantic. "We feel that those kids who were and have been in Honors are better served by this two-year program. I think the level of expectation is clearer and the lines of demarcation between the levels are clearer."

Cuttitta explained that having an Honors course actually might hurt students. Guidance counselors cannot tell colleges that the student opted for the most challenging course when AP is offered. "We feel that in the bigger picture, that it's better for the child if they have the H or the AP choice to choose the AP, as long as we have done our work to prepare them for success. The last thing that any of us wants to see is some child reaching in a place where no matter how hard they try they couldn't be successful. That's not what we would want to do."

Another parent asked why the district can't wait one year before implementing the change. Dr. Feirsen said the district is ready; the district can prepare in the next few months and over the summer. He said he wants to eliminate the confusion that exists between 10R and 10H in regard to the curriculum.

Foley said one of the responsibilities of curriculum coordinators, who were hired a few years ago, is to implement changes. "For me, to have this come to this level and delay it, it's just not a good thing for me to see at this point in time," she said.

All five board members informally voted for the change, but said they want to see a progress report in a year.