Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska school board has adopted changes to the vocational and physical education curriculums.

The changes were mostly minor, and accepted after two separate committees reviewed the current programs over the course of six meetings.

The vocational education program could see some new courses, according to Superintendent John Conwell. He says that these classes would focus on more modern skill sets, like digital media and accounting.

Another change has to do with funding. The state operating budget includes funding for vocational education, and the Unalaska City School District is expected to receive $45,000 dollars. Conwell says that this money will likely be used on new materials and equipment for the program.

"I think we would mostly be looking at resources that would be a one-time investment, but last several years," says Conwell.

But otherwise, there aren't too many changes.

"Everything else stays essentially the same. We are continuing with our tech prep program in welding, where students can earn college credit while they're still in high school if they are enrolled in our welding program," says Conwell. "We hope to expand that to carpentry at some point.

Meanwhile, the physical education committee worked to find new ways to integrate health and physical education subject matters into classes that already exist.

"We had to figure out a way to get the curriculum embedded in other classes, because some of this is going to be taught by teachers who are not the health teacher," says Handforth-Kome.

The curriculum reviews happen on a rotating six-year schedule. Next year, the school district will be looking at the social studies and fine arts programs.

KUCB's Alexandra Gutierrez has more.