ELNORA — North Daviess administrators held another public forum Thursday to answer questions about the high school’s proposed changes to a 21st Century learning, or “New Tech” model.

The first few questions were more comments against the proposed curriculum, but in the end those for and against were talking and learning about the curriculum.

In the first hour of the two-hour meeting, junior-senior high Principal Jed Jerrels, Superintendent Robert Bell and Technology Coordinator Todd Whitlock were looking for questions on the proposed move to create a project-based learning environment. Instead, they heard from its detractors.

Odon Town Councilman Tom Noble said he was compelled to come to Thursday’s meeting because of the complaints he received.

“When I’ve got a hole on Main Street the size of a swimming pool and more people are calling me about this,” Noble said, “it’s probably a situation that needs to be addressed.”

Noble gave his concerns about the move, including teachers grading students for effort. He said the grading system reminds him of the current grading rubric used at Stanford University. He felt there was too much subjectivity for grades in high school.

“I cannot believe that effort and participation are not strictly based on the opinion rather than a printed copy of a test,” Noble said. “That is great if every teacher was of a certain level and ability to grade but I think the subjectivity in this level is not practical.”

Doreen England, who has children in elementary school, said her child would be failing in a group-based environment if the child does not have England’s help at night.

“He has no socialization skills, he know’s he’s different.” England said. “If you put him in a group-based setting where the other children decide what his grade is, he will be ruined through life.”

She also said there were other parents that were looking to send their children to other schools if the curriculum was implemented.

“I’ve got a for sale sign in my yard,” one audience member said after England’s comments.

Shannon Meadows, a mother and a worker at North Daviess, said during the meeting that Bell called her into his office to convince her about the curriculum.

“He said, ‘Do you know what any of your kids’ teachers are doing in their classes today?’” Meadows said. “I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘They are doing project-based learning.’”

Meadows said she was still skeptical.

“Although my kids work on projects it is not part of their curriculum,” Meadows said.