RCHS sees changes with budget cuts
by Carin Kirkegaard
The 2009-2010 school year will begin with changes for many students at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS). Needing to cut $37 million from the budget, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) has decided to reduce credit requirements for graduation beginning with the class of 2012 and institute an open campus policy for some students at the high school.
Right now, graduating seniors of RCHS need 25.5 credits to graduate; this requirement will be the same for the graduating class of 2010 and 2011. Future graduating classes will need only 24 credits to graduate from RCHS. While the number of required credits has been lowered, 24 credits for graduation is still one of the highest graduation requirements in the Denver area.
Another area of change will come with an open campus policy. With the exception of freshman, students will have the opportunity to leave campus without prior permission when a class isn’t scheduled. This opportunity is based on grades, attendance, and disciplinary action and can be revoked at any time. Freshman students will not be allowed to enter cars or leave school grounds during school hours without advance permission.
During the course of two years, these two adjustments will save the DCSD an estimated $4.32 million. In January, the DCSD validated their two-year reduction plan. With more than 7,200 responses and 62 percent of the respondents supporting the plan, DCSD is taking steps towards implementation.
To learn more about the results from the survey and other questions regarding budget cuts visit the DCSD website at www.dcsdk12.org and click on the budget reduction link.
