Collaboration schedule discussion continues

Collaboration schedule discussion continues
No decisions to alter schedule made last night

School board members conducted a public work session last night to review all of the findings from an intensive study on the district’s Wednesday collaboration schedule. Collaboration time offers staff a consistent block of time to improve instruction.

The work session provided a forum for school board members to hear all of the information presented on this complicated issue.

After months of study which included parent and staff surveys, discussions with outside district officials and numerous planning meetings, no decision was made last night to alter the current schedule.
Assistant Superintendent Linda Boggs said she will organize notes and suggestions from last night’s work session and bring this information back to the school board during the February 20 regularly scheduled meeting.

Last night reports from Principals Jim Sporleder (Garrison), Dana Jones (Pioneer), and Darcy Weisner (Wa-Hi) revealed specific challenges for secondary schools if they moved away from a late start schedule. According to reports last night, most of the challenges revolve around student safety, supervision, learning trends, and student program demands.

Boggs said teacher collaboration remains a high priority and is positively impacting learning. She went on to say next year the district will continue to offer dedicated time for teacher collaboration and training.

“The discussion for creating the best schedule to do this work will continue a while longer,” Boggs said. “We will continue to work with families to find ways to make whatever schedule is agreed on work for them.”