POINT PLEASANT — Changes in policies regarding grading and class rank were approved at a Mason County Board of Education meeting on Thursday.

Director of Curriculum/Technology Greg Martin noted the changes made to policy 5421-Grading and policy 5430-Class Rank for board members. Regarding grading, Martin noted the change in weighted grades for Advanced Placement (AP) classes and honors classes and how they figured in with students’ grade point average. On the 4.0 scale, students receiving and “A” in an AP class would receive a 5.0, and students in an honors class would receive a 4.5.

Regarding policy 5430 on class rank, as opposed to using the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian, students will be honored based on their grade point average with the titles “summa cum laude,” “magna cum laude,” and “cum laude,” with a respective grade point average of 4.01 or higher, 3.81-4.00, and 3.5-3.80.

The changes noted in the policy say this will begin with the graduating class of 2014 and “each school will develop procedures for determining those students who will be selected to speak during graduation ceremonies.”

Superintendent Suzanne Dickens discussed meeting with students and parents from all three high schools when discussing these changes, who offered their ideas and suggestions which Martin noted were taken into account. Martin noted this changed was pursued with a desire to honor more students at graduation.

Board members also noted policies 0160-Meetings and 4370-Seniority for Service Personnel. In regards to the meetings policy, board members discussed the portion of the policy involving public participation, noting it says the board is to provide a sign-up sheet and a time for the public to address the board on their concerns at every meeting, as well as the speakers five-minute time allotment and the board’s ability to ask the speaker to leave the meeting should they feel the need to do so.

Regarding policy 4370 on seniority for service personnel, Dickens noted the change which limits substitute personnel to being classified in only one category of substitution. Martin said there had only been one comment on this policy during the comment period, which was in favor of the change. Both of these policies were approved.

Other policies approved during the meeting included the following:

Policy 0100-Definitions, policy 0130-Functions, policy 1422-Nondiscrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity, policy 2230-Program of Study Early Childhood, policy 2230.01-Program of Study Early Childhood, policy 2230.04-Program of Study Intermediate Elementary, policy 2260-Nondiscrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity, policy 2600-Educational Program, policy 3122-Professional Staff.

Policy 3124.01-Probationary Contract, policy 3124.02-Continuing Contract, policy 3130.01-Transfer, policy 3131-Reduction In Force-Classroom Teachers and Other Professional Staff, policy 3140-Early Notification of Retirement Professional Personnel, policy 3142-Non-Renewal of Probationary Teacher Contract, Policy 4122-Nondiscrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity, policy 4124.01-Probationary Contract.

Policy 4124.02-Continuing Contract Service Personnel, policy 4130-Assignment and Transfer of Service Personnel, policy 4131-Reduction in Force-Service Personnel, policy 140.01-Early Notification of Retirement, Service Personnel, policy 4142-Non-Renewal of Service Personnel Probationary Contract, policy 5136-Personal Communication Devices, policy 5350-Student Suicide, Policy 5611-Discipline-Student Due Process Rights, policy 5830-Student Fund Raising.

Policy 6320-Purchases, policy 6550-Travel Payment and Reimbursement, policy 6621-Change Fund, policy 6680-Recognition, policy 7530.01-Board Owned Personal Communication Devices, policy 7530.02-Staff Use of Personal Communication Devices, policy 7542-Access to County Technology Resources from Personal Communication Devices, policy 8402-Expected Behavior in Safe and Supportive Schools, policy 8462-Student Abuse and Neglect, policy 8600.04-Bus Operator Certification, policy 8651-Nonroutine Use of School Buses, policy 9211-School-Support Organizations, and policy 9800-High School Diplomas for Veterans.

In addition to Superintendent Dickens, board members present were Thomas Nunnery, Randy Searls, Greg Fowler, Paul Sayre and Dale Shobe.

The Mason County Board of Education will meet again for a regular business meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, at the Mason County Career Center.

(Note: More on this meeting will appear in a later edition of the Point Pleasant Register.)