The Effingham County Board of Education is considering a policy for the selection of valedictorians and salutatorians at the high schools.

Assistant Superintendent Greg Arnsdorff said the policy has been discussed for a number of years.

“Currently the Effingham County System has no official policy on the selection criteria for the valedictorian and salutatorian,” Arnsdorff said. “As our district becomes a larger district, we feel it’s important to come up with a policy to guide to the schools about the selection.”

Arnsdorff said the policy would have grade point averages taken on the 175th day of the senior term. The student with the highest grade point average will be the valedictorian. The policy also stipulates that all unit credits must be earned from institutions accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission or one of the accrediting agencies that is a member of the Georgia Private School Accreditation Council.

The student must be enrolled continuously in the high school for three successive semesters prior to graduation.

The salutatorian must meet all of the above requirements as well.

“With the transient nature of our community and folks moving in, we felt this highest honor of designation by this board should be for students who have had a specific opportunity of time to participate in the curriculum of this school district,” Arnsdorff said.

Since it is a new proposed policy, the board must wait 30 days before taking action on the policy.