GSB discusses student-developed courses

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville school board members Monday night reviewed an innovative program that would allow high school students to develop and teach their own courses. Superintendent Merrianne Dyer said student-created courses supervised by gifted teachers are growing out of charter school innovations.

"It is an idea where the time has come," she said. "The students said it best, if they're interested in something they're going to be motivated and a teacher can facilitate tying the learning standards to that. It's something we're really excited about and the students have the ideas."

Dr. Dyer said the supervising teachers are certified gifted education teachers but any student may participate.

The Board heard two student-created course presentations from Gainesville High School juniors Jacob McConnell, who proposed a course on sports, and Isaac Hopkins, who has an idea for a student-led creative writing course.

NEW YEAR ENROLLMENT

The school system saw a four percent enrollment growth for the new school year according to Dr. Dyer. She said there could be several reasons including returning students.

"We're analyzing to see why that is, it's probably a variety of factors," Dr. Dyer said. "Most of all out students returned to us, even some who had left for the summer, came back to us and we were glad to see the numbers."

Dr. Dyer said Gainesville Elementary School on Gainesville's west side had 120 more students than opening day last year; that called for some staff and class adjustments.

"That's a school that serves a wide area of newly annexed properties and newly constructed neighborhoods," Dyer said. "That school is more crowded than the others. We've moved extra staff there and we're moving the Pre-K classes to open some space up."

http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/8/231501