Congratulations to Traci Mitchell and Caroline Mason who will take Oaths of Office to begin their terms of office earned in November election.

The board will "reorganize" as it does each year at this time, electing president, vice president, and parliamentarian for the next year.

Adding world language to middle school and extending timeline for 24 credit graduation requirements.

If the board approves agenda item 14.03, eighth grade students in Everett Public Schools can choose to take Spanish as an elective class starting in fall 2016. In doing so, they can earn high school credit toward graduation and be on a path to five years of Spanish language study, including two Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture courses. This is a step in district plans to offer more world language classes for students in middle and high school.

If the board approves item 14.04, this would extend the timeline for requiring 24 credits to graduate from the classes of 2019 and 2020 to the class of 2021 and beyond. If the board takes this action, it will join almost 80 other school districts which represent 46 percent of the state's students. Instead of this year's freshmen earning two more credits to graduate, that requirement would begin for the class of 2021 - this year's seventh graders.

The state passed a law in 2013 that requires 24 credits in specific categories in all school districts by 2021. Adding world language in middle school is one of many ways the district has been preparing to meet the requirement. Already 6 out of 10 high school students in this district meet the additional requirement of 24 credits. Extending the deadline is being considered to ensure enough system changes are in place and enough of the necessary classes are available so all students have opportunities to meet the new state requirements.