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Cabarrus County Schools to tweak graduation projects

By Jessica Groover | Independent Tribune

Published: August 2, 2009

HARRISBURG — With a little revision, the graduation project will be something everybody will be happier with, said Holly Blackwelder, chairwoman for the Cabarrus County Board of Education.

The school board continued its discussion on the project at Thursday night's work session at Hickory Ridge High School. This time, high school principals and graduate project coordinators joined in.

The project is a part of the English IV curriculum for seniors and requires writing a research paper, spending time with a mentor, completing a portfolio and presenting to a panel.

"We began this because it was going to be a state mandate," said Chris Lowder, director of high school curriculum for the school system. "After having implemented it for two years, I am convinced it's once of the best assessments we use in high school."

Lowder and other school system staff members had been asked by the school board to answer some of the questions and concerns board members and the community had about the project. The graduation project has already been approved by the board for the 2009-10 school year but could be brought up for a vote again by a board member, Blackwelder said.

Lowder and Colleen Sain, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, presented to the board and were joined by high school principals and graduate project coordinators.

"High school principals never agree on anything," Lowder said. "They all agree this is something we should keep."

One of the major concerns among school board members was that juniors were going to write the research paper for the first time this year and complete the presentation during their senior year.

After hearing concerns from board about this new schedule, Lowder said it would be changed back to the original format of having all components completed during the senior year.

Another major concern addressed was the pass-or-fail grading system for the project.

What board members learned was that certain components of the project were given a letter grade.

The presentation and the overall product are the only aspects graded by passing or failing a student.

Blackwelder had previously said she did not support that component of the project but said she felt better to hear that parts of the project had a weighted grade.

Staff for the school system cautioned against taking away all pass-or-fail components so that students would not settle for a lesser grade and would strive to do well. They also said that students are given several opportunities to redo their presentation so they pass.

"I have no problem with assigned grades, and I have no problem with pass or fail because nobody fails," said Wayne Williams, vice chairman for the school board.

Another concern among board members was the amount of time spent with a mentor, something that seemed to be too long and potentially costly when meeting with mentors who were farther away.

To address that concern, students will be required this year to have four meetings with mentors and not be restricted to a certain amount of hours.

Principals and graduate project coordinators also said if students have a difficult time meeting with mentors, they will be possibly paired with school faculty members, be advised to pick a different mentor or address the issue in another way.

School board members were also concerned that parents felt much of the pressure from the project.

"Part of the problem may be that parents are commented to, instead of having a dialogue with," said school board member Cindy Fertenbaugh.

She recommended having several bullet points in a graduate project handbook that list expectations for the parents and ways they can help students succeed.

Sain said that it could be done.

Fertenbaugh also brought up the cost of the project, which is more than $201,000.

Williams responded that $169,000 of that total was to pay for the teachers' salaries anyway.

As board members voiced their opinions on the project, Tim Furr said he still did not favor it because of the cost for families.

"In reality, a lot of people are spending a lot of money to do these (projects) whether they have to or not," Furr said.

After addressing the board and hearing more feedback, staff for the school system will now make changes to the project and present them at a future board meeting, Blackwelder said.