CFMS students concerned with electives

Two Copley-Fairlawn Middle School (CFMS) students spoke at the Feb. 15 Copley-Fairlawn City Schools Board of Education meeting, urging district leaders to reconsider a plan to reduce the number of seventh- and eighth-grade elective classes from three to two in the 2022-23 school year.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, student Jill Saris said the change would “ruin some plans” for many students who want to take more than a single elective.
“In many cases, electives are only [one] semester,” she added. “If you take away one elective, this [actually] takes away two electives that could have been taken that year.”
Student Rachel Sutphin said reducing the number of electives would also lead to extended “flex time” for students.
“I counted today and half of my flex class time I am not doing school work,” she said. “This is not helpful to academic growth.”
She also noted that the proposed change could impact students wanting to take a foreign language in their senior year, since four credits of a foreign language prior to senior year is required.
School board President Paul Cevasco said the board would take the students’ concerns into consideration, and Superintendent Brian Poe added the students brought up many good points.
“Sometimes when we are making a schedule, there are very difficult decisions to make,” Poe said. “We are very aware of the concerns you have.”
Poe also met with the students after the meeting to discuss the issue further.
The board also approved:
• Copley High School and CFMS’s membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for the 2022-23 school year;
• memorandums of understanding with Stark State College and Kent State University for College Credit Plus classes;
• an agreement with LLA Therapy for students with unique needs; and
• nine athletic coach contracts and a contract with Michael Pine to direct the Copley High School spring play, with details and a date yet to be announced.
The board next will meet March 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the main office conference room at Copley High School, 3807 Ridgewood Road.