The Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved Resolution No. 1154.21 at their Aug. 19 meeting issuing a waiver of the 2.00 GPA requirement for the 2020-21 school year through the first grading period of the 2021-22 school year.
As set forth in established board policy, students who participate in extracurricular and cocurricular activities are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00.
Josh Harris, outgoing Special Education & Student Services Director, presented the Board with the resolution and recommended adoption. Harris noted that Board policy requires students who participate in extracurricular and cocurricular activities maintain a minimum 2.00 GPA and continue minimum progress toward meeting high school graduation requirements.
Extracurricular activities are defined as those school-based activities that are not tied to the curriculum. Cocurricular refers to activities, programs, and learning experiences that complement, in some way, what students are learning in school.
Harris said the resolution waives the minimum GPA requirement if the student maintains 90 percent attendance and participates in at least two hours of tutoring per week and continues until their GPA exceeds 2.00. Students must also maintain progress towards meeting high school graduation requirements.
At the conclusion of Harris’ presentation, Board President Carrie Green asked trustees if there were any questions or comments, and without any, she made the motion to accept the resolution. Trustee Everardo Zaragoza seconded. During the roll call vote, Trustee Joedy Michaels said, “I’m not a huge fan, but yes.”
Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
After the vote, Michaels said, “It’s the right thing to do to have options for students and families, but I just think we lose the accountability sometimes.”
Superintendent Diana Jiménez mentioned the other pieces of the resolution, such as requiring 90 percent attendance and tutoring. She then confirmed that the tutoring piece will take place at the school.
As to the resolution permitting academically underperforming students the ability to continue participating in extracurricular activities, Trustee Kristine Trott said, “I think that’s what gets them to school.”
