New course offerings coming to BHS

Baldwin High School students will have some added options when they plan their 2015-16 schedules after the Board of Education unanimously approved 13 new courses for next school year at its Feb. 11 meeting.

The new class offerings are simply taking the place of already offered courses, Superintendent Dr. Shari Camhi explained, so they do not impact the budget or require additional teachers to be hired. Instead, the new courses will offer students more diversity in their schedules and in some cases, the potential to earn college credit.

“We looked at the academy program and are adding courses more aligned with college pathway,” Camhi said. “In addition, we replaced some high school courses with similar college credit-bearing courses, which will provide students the opportunity to accrue college credits while still in high school that will be accepted at the college they choose to attend.”

According to Cynthia Seniuk, assistant superintendent for curriculum, each of the new courses were reviewed and found to be consistent with the district’s long-term curricular goals at the high school. Also, since these courses do not require the expansion of faculty to implement, no additional staff is needed. “The curriculum for each of these courses already exists,” she said, “and therefore the district will not incur additional curriculum development costs.”