GRAND ISLAND — Grand Island Public Schools is relaunching their Academies and Pathway in 2024 with some paired down options that will allow the school to be, “more focused and efficient.”
Matt Fisher, Grand Island Public Schools Superintendent, noted that the district is planning to reduce spending by $5 million. This is due to an increase in property valuations, the school board lowering the tax levy and the amount of state aid coming to the district.
Fisher said as they have looked at how to be more financially efficient, they looked at everything, including the Academies and Pathways.
“Academies are small schools within a school designed to prepare students for their options after high school, whether it be college or career. The academy structure links students with peers, teachers and community partners in an environment centered around student interests to foster academic success,” per the GISH website.
Gilbertson said the Pathways exist within the Academies structure. Pathways are built in a three-course sequence and the students have a specific emphasis within that Pathway.
The timing of the changes already fits with GIPS commitment to evaluating course offerings, program opportunities and overall student experience every five years, Fisher said. All Academies launched initially in 2019.
Jeff Gilbertson, the GISH Executive Principal, said that the high school staff said their focus was to continue to provide learning that empowers students to be competitive in the job market and higher education institutions.
“We are extremely excited about the future of the Academies of Grand Island Senior High School. Our ability to provide careful self-examination and refinement will positively impact our students. With great responsibility, we are ensuring the improvement, efficiency, and high-quality education for all of our students,” Gilbertson said.
Gilbertson said it is always difficult when cuts must be made, but they are excited for the future. It was noted the review process started three months ago, with GISH administration reviewing all of the learning opportunities has offered since launch.
Beginning in August 2024, the GISH will offer an updated suite of learning opportunities through five Academies and 11 Pathways for all high school students. This is being reduced from 20 Pathways previously offered.
Not all Pathways were eliminated, some were included in a different avenue for students to access. These included:
- Ensuring and improving the quality of a career academy requires engaging in a regular cycle of improvement has been the focus throughout this process. The refinements the high school is making will strengthen its alignment to the National Career Academy Coalition and their National Standards of Practice.
- Continuing to offer Information Technology (IT) and Welding but as elective opportunities for students.
- Adding a Digital Arts class to the art department. Striv will still be an available activity. Also adding Yearbook into the Journalism program alongside the student newspaper. All these offerings will be strong opportunities for students interested in pursuing different multimedia.
- High school job shadowing, internship, and registered apprenticeship opportunities will continue as they always have.
When asked about any teaching positions that would be affected by the reduction, Gilbertson said they don’t have an exact number as students in each Pathway is decided later in the near and a master schedule is created after students have made their choice.
Going forward, sophomores enrolled in a Pathway no longer offered will have the opportunity to select another Pathway and will have their new top selection prioritized.
Additionally, juniors enrolled in a Pathway no longer offered will have the opportunity to take the Capstone Course during their senior year. This option allows current juniors to earn the credit required to graduate with their Pathway.
Gilbertson reiterated that this change will allow GIPS to still offer high quality education by being more focused and efficient.
Fisher said sustainability was a key issue to the school and the current model could not be sustained due to fiscal restraints. He said they must streamline, and they are confident in the new model they have decided upon.
