KINGDOM CITY - North Callaway R-1 will now be able to celebrate more of its graduating seniors for their excellence in the classroom.
The North Callaway R-1 Board of Education voted 6-1 to implement the laude graduation system effective immediately during its regular meeting Thursday night in the high school's media center.
The idea of the possible change to the Latin honors system was first presented to board members at their February meeting by High School Principal Brian Jobe and school counselor Melissa Head.
North Callaway students have previously been ranked based on grade-point average from highest to lowest - using a weighted system - and the top 10 percent of students earn a distinction.
With the cum laude system, students are recognized by their GPAs but it doesn't rank them. A student with a 4.0 GPA or higher receives the "highest distinction," summa cum laude.
A GPA from 3.87-3.99 earns a magna cum laude, with "great distinction." Students with a GPA from 3.75-3.86 graduate cum laude, with "distinction."
Head noted there are 25 students in this year's graduating class that would be honored in the new system - nine summa cum laude, five magna cum laude and 11 cum laude.
"We're going to recognize more students and that will give them more opportunities," she said.
In addition, students can earn the distinction "with honors" by completing at least six semesters of taking at least one honors or dual-credit course. That achievement would reward students who opt for a tougher course load.
Jobe reminded the board Thursday night the high school will continue to select a valedictorian and a salutatorian under the laude system.
"We could have both," board President Sandy Lavy said. "It works, and it would continue to work."
Jobe added the top 10 percent in this year's graduating class will still receive a distinction.
In other business Thursday night, board members received a report from Tia Neal on a Bright Futures Callaway partnership with Fulton Public Schools.
"(The program) makes sure any need of a student is met," said Neal, who is the director of the school district's T-Bird Learning Center. "We want to make sure that when they're at school, they're ready to learn and in a good environment.
"Starting with Fulton and North Callaway, hopefully we can get the other Callaway County schools to join us."
Board vice president Amy Reinhard likes seeing county school districts work together.
"Joining with Fulton makes great sense," Reinhard said.
The board also approved the change-out of LED light bulbs at Central Office, TLC, North Callaway Middle School in Auxvasse and four phases at the high school. The total cost of the project for the district after a credit is applied will be $851.
Meanwhile, board members approved a pair of amendments to the 2020-21 school calendar. The time of the eighth-grade graduation will be changed from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, while the time of the high school graduation will be moved from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 27.
The board also scheduled a special meeting for 7 p.m. Monday, March 29, in the high school's media center to discuss CARES Act funding.