Teachers ask to drop weighted grades

Columbia Falls High School teachers want to discontinue use of the weighted grading system while retaining advanced placement classes.

Gene Marcille, an English teacher at the high school and president of the teachers' union, said the purpose of the weighted grading system, instituted more than a decade ago, was to encourage students to take more difficult classes without jeopardizing their grade point averages. Students have not responded to this incentive, Marcille told the School District 6 Board of Trustees Monday.

"It is my belief it didn't really accomplish what we'd hoped to do," he said.

Marcille claimed that the weighted grade system — if a student earns an A in an advanced placement class, that grade is worth five points instead of four, as in a regular class — is actually detrimental to students. He said that there are a number of students who deserve to share the class rank of No. 1, especially for scholarship purposes. Marcille also mentioned that a guidance counselor at the high school conducted a survey of students about the supposed incentive of a weighted grading system and found that few students took advanced placement classes for weighted grades.

Board chair Jill Rocksund asked for a study of the merits of the system.

Few colleges and universities accept weighted GPAs, preferring to use unweighted averages to determine their acceptance of students.

"I've never been a proponent of weighted grades because I've seen what it does at the college level," said Trustee Barb Riley.

High school principal Alan Robbins suggested exploring alternatives to weighted grades, such as diploma classifications. Students receiving high marks in advanced classes could earn a diploma with honors.

Separately, the board of trustees approved a memorandum of agreement for extra/co-curricular transportation with Kalispell Public Schools, Bigfork Public Schools, West Valley Public Schools and Whitefish Public Schools.

This agreement allows students from each of the schools to share district-funded transportation to away meets, games and events, which administrators hope will save money for all school districts.

"I think it's a great thing," Riley said. "We're all struggling financially."

Trustee Scott Emmerich agreed.

"It breaks down barriers between schools," he said.

In addition, the board also elected Gail Pauley and Scott Emmerich back to the board by acclamation, as their seats were uncontested. Pauley will serve for another three years. Emmerich will serve for one.

There are two contested seats in the May 4 trustees election, which is the first in 10 years. Trustees Larry Wilson and Barb Riley are running as incumbents. Cassandra Schmidt, Melanie White and Brandee Padgham all seek first terms on the school board.

In other news:

- Construction on the new district track will begin this summer at Columbia Falls Junior High School. The total cost of the 10-lane track oval and field event areas is $178,197.17.

High school physics teacher and athletic director John Thompson said the new track will allow Columbia Falls to host division meets.

"On Saturday we had 179 kids run the 100 (meter dash)," he said. "That's 29 heats. It was our first invitational track meet in three years. A new track will spark interest."

Thompson also asked permission of the board to chaperone his physics class for a trip to Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho, where the students will learn about gravitational forces and have fun riding roller coasters. The board approved the trip, which has occurred annually for three years and will cost the school $760.

"It's a very educational day," Thompson said. "It allows kids to experience what we've talked about in class and enjoy the changes in inertia to their bodies."

Additional coverage of Monday's school board only in print.