Parents ask Minooka school board to change grading policy

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Updated: March 16, 2012 8:03AM

MINOOKA — Some parents believe the grading scale at Minooka High School puts their children at a disadvantage when it comes to applying for college.

Chuck and Kelly Hiscock of Channahon, who have two teenagers in the district, asked the school board last week to consider changing the way teachers grade student work.

This is the second time since October the Hiscocks have come before the board.

Chuck Hiscock is the associate principal at North High School in Downers Grove. He recommended the board change the grading scale to a 10-point system, with 90 to 100 percent being an A, 80 to 89 a B, and so on.

Minooka High uses a seven-point system, with an A being 93 to 100, a B 85 to 92, etc.

“I don’t understand the concept,” said Kelly Hiscock.

A check of area schools found that some, such as Naperville, Plainfield and Joliet Township high schools, use a 10-point scale.

Minooka, Morris and Bolingbrook high schools use a seven-point scale. Others fall somewhere in between with an extra point in one category or another.

Research shows a 10-point scale is more beneficial to students, Chuck Hiscock told the school board.

“Minooka is competing against the top 10 schools,” said Kelly Hiscock. “It puts our kids at a disadvantage.”

Board President Chris Kobe invited the Hiscocks to attend a policy committee meeting where they could continue discussions on the subject.

Board member Debra Warning asked to have the research given to the members prior to any meeting.

Heart testing

Chuck and Kelly Hiscock also asked the board to consider having an outside medical team come to school campuses and screen students for heart abnormalities.

Minooka student Allison Rivera of Channahon died last October at Morris Hospital following sudden cardiac arrest. An examination by Grundy County Coroner John W. Callahan found that Rivera had a heart anomaly that is seldom detected but can lead to sudden death.

As a result of student testing, two students at North High School and five at South High School were identified with heart issues. Some of those required surgery, said Chuck Hiscock.