LIVERMORE FALLS — RSU 36 directors voted 7-3 to table a waiver on an existing middle school policy that requires students to earn credits as part of the process to be promoted to the next grade.

Directors plan to take up the policy at a special meeting in late March. Chairman Ashley O’Brien and Directors Lynn Knight and Jennifer Pooler opposed tabling action.

According to a policy adopted in 2008, the subjects of health, English and reading each require a student to pass and earn a credit to advance. Other subjects are also involved.

“Unfortunately, we do not offer all of those subjects,” school Superintendent Sue Pratt said.

Budget cuts last year eliminated health class in the current school year and two other subjects, English and reading, have been combined into English language arts.

The policy that covers credits is in conflict with another policy on the books “Students Progress Through the Grades,” middle school Principal Bob Kahler said.

The latter policy states that middle level credit shall be considered as a factor to consider while the policy in question states the exact amount of credits needed to be earned.

Pratt asked the board to waive the credit policy for the rest of the year

“We do not want to retain all of the students in grade eight,” she said.

This came about after looking at student policies and strategies, Kahler said.

Given the reality of students not being able to get credits in subjects because they’re not offered and there being only a short time left of the school year, he said, it made sense the policy be waived for this year only.

Speaking with Jay administrators, there is no credit policy at the Jay Middle School, he said. They have other options there including summer school, he said.

With the two school systems, Jay and RSU 36 preparing to consolidate July 1, Kahler said, the recommendation is to wait and let the new middle school leadership and the new RSU 73 Board determine an appropriate action.

Vice Chairwoman Denise Rodzen of Livermore Falls said she is one of those board members who likes to have information prior to the meeting if a decision such as this is to be made.

The credit policy was put in place to give the school system more oversight of students being passed through the grades, she said.

She requested it be tabled so directors could read the information and make a decision at the meeting later in the month.

It doesn’t change the procedures and working with families, Kahler said.

“This is purely a procedure piece,” he said.

dperry@sunjournal.com