SYRACUSE — Proposed changes to high school diploma requirements are pending before the state board of education. During the regular monthly meeting of the school board for the Wawasee Community School Corp. Tuesday evening, Oct. 13, in Syracuse, the board heard a report from Joy Goshert, director of instruction and curriculum.

Goshert noted what is now known as the general diploma would become the workforce ready diploma. The Core 40 diploma would become the college and career ready diploma and the academic honors diploma would become the college and career ready diploma with honors.

Upon entering high school as freshmen, students would be required to choose a career pathway. The college and career ready diploma would require a minimum of 44 credits to obtain. Wawasee High School presently requires 42 credits to obtain a Core 40 diploma, Goshert said.

She said a big change involves more math credits being added to the diploma requirements. For example, the workforce ready diploma would require a minimum of six to eight credits, while Wawasee only requires four math credits now. In addition, students obtaining this diploma would be required to have at least one of the following: complete an industry-recognized certification, one-year certificate or state approved alternative, complete a project based capstone or work-based learning experience or earn at least three transcripted college credits.

There are some concerns about the proposed changes, Goshert said. Students would have fewer elective choices and it would hurt those students in band, choir, theater and-or visual arts. And it would also affect those students who need the most academic support to succeed. “Currently, in order to get an academic honors diploma, students don’t have to choose a career pathway,” she added.

If the proposed changes are approved, they would go into effect with the class of 2022, the year current sixth-graders would graduate. Goshert noted a public meeting with the state board of education is supposed to be held Oct. 28 in Indianapolis, but no other specific details were provided about the meeting.

Also during her student learning report, Goshert said spring 2015 ISTEP+ results will tentatively be released Nov. 9. That same day, a five-day window opens for parents to request rescores for their children. In the past, parents would let the school know if they wanted a rescore, but now parents must do it. Also, the five-day window is shorter than in the past.

Testing results are projected to be available in an online format Dec. 22.

Goshert also noted during her report a plan is being worked on to have a 1:1 technology initiative in place by the start of the 2016-17 school year. A technology focus group has been meeting and plans to have a full day strategic planning meeting Monday, Nov. 2. It is hoped a recommendation can be submitted to the school board during the January 2016 meeting.

In other business, the board approved the renewal of the contract for Dr. Tom Edington, superintendent, until June 30, 2018. He will receive a 3.5 percent increase in his base salary, which will become $117,931 per year. The agreement is effective Oct. 20. There were no public comments and no board members commented.

A 3.5 percent pay raise was also approved for substitute employees in the school corporation.