High school to use weighted grade system

JONESPORT — Students entering Jonesport-Beals High School next fall will begin to earn academic credits in accordance with a “weighted grading system” that will be used to compute class placements for each graduating senior in June 1993.

Supt. Bruce Crowley said Monday that the weighted grading system recognizes “the degree of difficulty” of a course. All courses offered at J-BHS will carry one of four different grade “weights.” Those credits are: 1.05; 1.10; 1.15 and 1.20.

Although the concept will be new for Jonesport-Beals students, it is not new to secondary education in Washington County.

Headmaster Roger Lachance of Washington Academy in East Machias said Monday that his school is in its third year of offering weighted grades for all courses. “It makes more sense that way,” he said.

William Prescott, principal at Machias Memorial High School, said MMHS students began earning weighted grade scores in 1986.

Narraguagus High School at Harrington was the other high school in the western part if the county to have had the weighted grade system in place for several years.

Crowley said the Moosabec Community School District’s directors approved the grading system Thursday night, after several years of consideration. “The faculty produced a grade system that they all agreed would be appropriate, so the school committee approved it.”

He said he had previously computed academic grades for about eight different graduating classes at J-BHS, including traditional and weighted grading systems. “I found very little difference in the class placements.”

One of the major advantages of the weighted system, he said, was that it provides a class placement system that can be viewed by schools and universities that are searching for students with proven abilities for handling “difficult” courses. Schools that offer engineering and other highly technical training study class placements, use the weighted system as one means of determining a student’s acceptability.

On other issues, Moosabec’s directors took no action on a proposal by the Class of 1992 for an outdoor graduation at Snare Creek, Jonesport. Members of the class presented their proposal in a letter that was retained by the directors.

Principal Nancy Vasquez described a kiln project for drying wood to be used by students in Arnold K. Smith’s Industrial Arts class.

The principal and teacher were encouraged by Crowley and the directors to continue seeking a grant of funds adequate to purchase all or part of the kiln.

Pam Smith presented a proposal to conduct an informational and educational workshop on the reality of AIDS, to benefit students in the school’s health classes or the entire student body.

The directors accepted Crowley’s recommendation that Smith’s proposal for organizing an AIDS panel discussion for all students be conducted. Guest speakers may include representation from the Down East AIDS Network.

Thomas Simmons was hired as assistant varsity softball coach and coach for jayvee softball for the 1991-92 school year; Blaine Steeves, probationary part-time physical education teacher for the 1992-93 school year; and Charles Lakeman, drivers education instructor for the 1992-93 school year.

Richard Trahan was hired as a substitute bus driver pending a license examination.