LIVERMORE FALLS — The school board's Curriculum Committee will explore the pros and cons of adding 60 hours of community service as a high school graduation requirement.

On Thursday, directors of the Livermore and Livermore Falls school system approved a policy outlining graduation requirements for students in the traditional program, as well as at-risk students in the Progressive Learning Institute. The institute is now under the Livermore Falls High School and district adult education program.

Both groups of students must earn 24 credits to graduate.

Prior to the vote, Director Denise Rodzen asked if directors would consider adding 15 hours of community service to each of the four years of high school. She said a lot of school systems have done it to allow students to give back to their communities.

"I think it is a great idea," Vice Chairman Mac Haynes said. "I could use seven of them (students) at Channel 7," the local cable access channel overseen by Haynes.

High school Principal Shawn Lambert, who is also assistant superintendent, said there is a service learning course at the high school that is growing in numbers of students. Some do community service, such as at the food pantry in Livermore Falls.

Lambert said an exploratory committee should look into the feasibility of adding the requirement, and the board charged the Curriculum Committee with that task.

dperry@sunjournal.com