JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley school board voted 5-3 to update the district’s graduation requirements in compliance with Pennsylvania law during its meeting Monday, May 11.

The revised school policy adds a state-mandated personal finance course, and reduces the health and physical education requirement from 2.5 credits to 2.0 credits to accommodate the addition.

Board members who voted no were Travis Savitt-Kraft, Mark Gartner and Allyson Mazzoni. Board member Mike Jacob was absent.

At a May 4 work session meeting, Gartner had expressed concern regarding the reduced health credit requirement, advocating to find alternate solutions.

Gartner restated his opinion Monday and urged the board to table the matter until further discussion.

Gartner said while financial education is valuable, “I go back to: what is the most brilliant financial mind without their health and well-being?”

Board member Kari Zimmer said the changes allow for more flexibility for students to plan their four years of high school.

Students will still have health class requirements for three of the four years, and each student can choose which year to skip physical education, Zimmer said.

Zimmer added that Seneca Valley stands out as having 2.5 physical education and health credits; typically, it is 2.0 or less.

Even with the new policy, “just for perspective, we would still be leading other neighboring districts in terms of having (PE) as part of our graduation requirements,” Zimmer said.