SCHOOL BOARD ACCEPTS CURRICULUM REVISIONS

JACKSON -- Jackson students may go into college with up to 24 hours of credit under a curriculum approved for next year by the Jackson R-2 School Board.

On Tuesday, the board added English Literature II and advanced placement biology to the list of high school classes for 1995-96. The English course is a semester long and worth half a credit unit, but the year-long biology course will be worth a whole credit.

"Advanced placement is a trend in high schools," said Vernon Huck, Jackson High School principal. "Students take a course, and if they get a three out of five on the AP exam at the end of the year, they get college credit. A lot of juniors and seniors take them to save money and get a head start on college."

Board member Jack Knowlan Jr. said parents had approached him about adding more Spanish classes to the curriculum. Jackson's program currently ends with Spanish II, but assistant superintendent Fred Jones said he would look into the possibility of adding another section next year.

The board will hear Jones' report at its next meeting.

In other action, board members voted to let Dr. Howard Jones, superintendent, work out a plan with the National Guard to get an outdoor activity area at Orchard Elementary.

The Guard is allowed to do engineering and building work for public schools. The only cost to the school is fuel for the equipment, and Dr. Jones said that money would come from a PTO fundraiser.

If it accepts the project, the Guard will create two flat areas for recess and physical education.