ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- In the first regular Rochester School Board meeting of the new year, three new members took the oath of office, and the board elected Gary Smith as the new board chair.
In perhaps the most significant action for students, the board also approved six new classes for the upcoming school year.
Students interested in engineering will have the option to take a Robotics class.
Two high level math classes, Advanced Placement Computer Science and Multivariable and Vector Calculus, will also be added. The calculus course will be concurrent with RCTC so students can earn college credit
Students will also be able to take Human Body Systems, an honors course, and Advanced Placement Environmental Science.
The only non-STEM class added is American Sign Language, an alternative language class that is often faster to learn than foreign languages.
Students will soon get the chance to select these classes which will determine which schools they will be held in.
"If there are a large number of students that are interested in two of the three high schools, that's where we would locate instructors, and that's where we'd host the courses, but they'd be open to students from all high schools," said Jean Lubke, the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Rochester Public Schools.
School board members expressed enthusiasm for the new higher level options.
"I hope you're overrun with students wanting this. I really do," said school board member Terry Throndson. "I'd like to thank the technical college and our college out there for working with the school district in education and doing this for the kids."
