School board president speaks to Rotary

Thursday afternoon School Board President Sam Wells, Superintendent Dr. Bill Jordan and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Linda Boggs presented a State of the District address to the Walla Walla Rotary Club. Wells reported the school board is focused on monitoring goals of the strategic plan, school board professional development and the search for a new superintendent who is set to begin in July 2016. Superintendent Jordan said the district will closely watch the legislative session as elected officials seek ways to fully fund basic education. He also reported the district remains in a strong financial position, is working with Google to enhance access to technology, and developing next year’s budget.

Dr. Boggs provided the club with an update on the Common Core State Standards. She reminded them the new standards are not curriculum, but nationally consistent standards used to determine if students have mastered the content. She also said local districts remain in control of what is taught in district classrooms. The new Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) exams will be the new state assessment. Existing state exams known as the Measurement of Student Progress and High School Proficiency are being phased out. SBAC will be administered this spring to students in grades 3-8 and 11. Results from these rigorous online exams will be returned to the school district approximately three weeks after being taken. Results from prior state exams could take up to three months to receive, according to Boggs. She said the district does expect a period of adjustment regarding the results of the SBAC exams since it is a new testing format with new and more demanding standards.