CARMEL — Carmel High School students may not have to take the Physical Education II class if they meet conditions to waive the requirement for the course credit, the Carmel Clay School Board decided at its meeting Monday night.

Students will still be required to take Physical Education I, a semester class.

The board voted 4-0 to approve the recommendation for the 2010-11 school year.

The PE I and II are the only required courses in physical education. The vast majority of students take PE I and II are taken by freshman.

Jeff Swensson, the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment, said this will give students more flexibility in their course of study.

Students must participate in one of the following: cheerleading, dance teams (Charisma or Coquettes), an Indiana High School Athletic Association-sponsored Carmel High School sport or one of the following performing arts activities, Marching Band Accents or Ambassadors.

Among the other requirements is that students demonstrate competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.

The board also approved recommended several course changes for 2010-11. Among the changes are new digital courses in photography and photojournalism.

One course being dropped is Beginning Darkroom Photography, which is no longer needed in the digital age, Swenssen said.