Board approves new high school courses

The Superior School Board approved five new high school courses for the 2013-14 school year at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Three of the courses — elements of game design, web design and introduction to business — fall under the purview of the business education department and will fill gaps in Superior High School’s technology course offerings.

“It just makes sense to add these courses,” said board member Christina Kintop. Many students may be considering careers in the web or video game industry, she said. “These are jobs that didn’t even exist 15 or 20 years ago.”

A web design course was previously available to SHS students through the district’s Wisconsin Virtual School partnership. Principal Kent Bergum said 10 to 13 students were enrolled in the class, which costs the district $325 per half-credit.

Along with the three half-credit business education classes, the School Board also approved the addition of AP English language and composition, a one-credit class, and medical terminology, a half-credit class.

SHS is in the process of articulating the medical terminology course with Lake Superior College or Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College so students can earn college credit.

The five new courses will not require additional staff at SHS and will cost the district $14,000-$15,000 for course materials.

The web design class has the largest price tag of the new courses, with $4,664 budgeted for course materials.

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