Kitsap Education

A new book published by a Harvard senior lecturer looks at the numerous studies done on AP classes over the years. The book’s conclusion finds that the classes, which allow high school students to take college-level courses and in some cases get credits, aren’ t the educational magic bullet. This is probably something to consider as more and more local high schools add AP classes at the insistence of students and parents.

Read more about it here.

Thanks to Kitsap Education reader Karen Lee for sending me a link to a story in the Western Washington University publication about Port Orchard native North Campbell. North will be traveling to Croatia and Montenegro to study fishing and its relationship to communities in those two countries. North is a student of the Fairhaven College of the Interdisciplinary Studies at WWU. Read all about it here.

It can be frustrating for me as a reporter to have to cut off the flow of information for a story because of space constraints or time. Last night after the North Kitsap School Board meeting was one of those times.

First, we only had so much space set aside in the paper for the story. (The paper version has about 5 inches less copy than the web version so I would much prefer folks to read the online story. ) Second, the discussion about this issue ended about 10 minutes AFTER my deadline of 9:30. Super-duper Sun Night Editor Jim Thomsen gave me extra time and I handed the story in at about 10:35. You can read what made it into the story here.

Here are some tidbits that did not make it:

Two parents, Linda Berry-Marist and Suzanne Christman, told the school board that their older children, who are now in college, took honors classes at NK schools and greatly benefitted from them. Honors classes, which were phased out three years ago, provided more challenging assignments and a deeper examinationn of subjects, they said. Both Linda and Suzanne now have younger children who are heading to high school in NK. They worry that those students won’t get the same education their older children enjoyed. Suzanne said plans for “honors designation” asterisks on transcripts are fine, but that she’s more concerned that her daughter won’t get the actual honors instruction she needs to then be successfully prepared for AP classes later in high school. Linda is worried that accelerating younger students into classes with older students won’t be a good mix.

When the recommendations were presented, Superintendent Rick Jones gave quite a long introduction.  He pointed out that the impetus for these changes goes back to 2002 when NK’s Secondary Guiding Principles were created by a district task force. The vision of those principles was to move away from tracking students into certain academic funnels (regular academic classes, honors classes, AP, career and technical ed etc) and toward a system that ”de-tracks” and sends all kids into a variety of classes. Jones said that philosophy was something that drew him to apply for the superintendent job in NK. He was hired in 2008. Jones then touched on the professional learning communities model, which he said has not been very well understood or very well implemented. Despite that, Jones said he and most staff support the PLCs and hope they can help improve teaching.  

A new plan for improving the education of the AGATE (or gifted) students is coming soon. The plan for high-achieving students is separate from the plan for AGATE kids.

I included quite a bit of what NK School Board member Kathleen Dassel had to say in my story. She brought a new perspective to the discussion around the plan for high-achieving students. Her ability as an attorney was pretty clear last night too. She asked pointed questions and then asked them again when she didn’t feel they had been properly answered. She will be an interesting board member to watch.

NK Assistant Superintendent Shawn Woodward shed a little more light on what he and other educators refer to as “differentiated instruction.” The technique “can seem like a nebulous thing,” he said. But as a teacher, differentiated instruction gives you a menu of ways and techniques you can use to teach the same topic. Not every child learns in the same way or at the same pace so differentiated instruction gives teachers ways to accommodate all students. This is at the  heart of the district’s strategy to teach all levels of learners in the same classroom and is part of how district leaders believe they can teach kids who might have formerly been in an honors curriculum in a regular classroom with other students who aren’t working at such high levels. Teachers should not be “teaching to the middle” if they are properly trained in differentiated instruction, he added.

NK Board President Tom Anderson and member Ed Strickland had a few comments at the meeting. Strickland, a former teacher, said PLCs are the best thing the school district has done in his six years on the board. Anderson said he supported the high-achieving recommendations, but also recognized that the emails he receives about the subject from parents run four to one in favor of a return to an honors curriculum.

NK parent Ron Turley, who has been a spokesman for the group that wants a return to an honors curriculum, was very disappointed last night by the recommendations. He echoed earlier comments that an honors designation does not mean a student is getting instruction at the level a true honors class would offer. However, he also said he believes NK’s attempt to increase its AP offerings is “definitely a positive.” He also “loves the concept” of professional learning communities. But promises of enrichment activities for high-achieving students during the time the teachers are in PLCs training have not been met.

SPI Randy Dorn issued the statement below about 10 minutes ago.

“I understand the public wants to know more about my recent citation. I am not at liberty to discuss the legal aspects of this case, but I can now share more information.

First and foremost, I want to apologize for what happened last Saturday night. My wife, our sons and I attended the annual crab feed and dance at Swiss Sportsman Club Park in Bonney Lake. My family has long supported the club. As members, we stayed late to help clean up the hall. I drank beer during the event, but I thought I was capable of driving home. I now know that drinking any amount of alcohol before driving is an extremely poor choice.

Today, my attorney has asked the city of Orting to release all the documents regarding this case because the public has a right to see this information. I am pleased the court has moved my hearing date from Monday, April 6, to Friday, April 2, to begin to address this matter sooner.
This week, I have continued to do the job the people of this state elected me to do. This morning I attended an important meeting with Gov. Chris Gregoire regarding our state’s application for the federal “Race to the Top” grant. Next week, I will take a long-planned vacation with my wife – a school librarian who will be on spring break.
Again, I want everyone to know how sorry I am for what happened on Saturday. I have caused hurt and embarrassment to my family and I have disappointed my supporters and my staff. I work hard every day for the school children of this state and it pains me deeply that I have not set a good example for them. I will work hard to earn back your trust and I pledge that I will never make this mistake again.”

There’s a story on today’s front page about the treasurer of the Jackson Park Elementary PTA who is accused of taking more than $18,000 from the group. Whatever sad tale lies behind that story we might never know.

However, I know that the group and its supporters, including JP Principal Tess Danubio, are out there right now trying to raise enough money to follow through with some of the promises made to the kids of Jackson Park. The group needs to buy awards for the schools’ top readers, host sixth-grade graduation and buy the yearbooks. And that’s probably just the beginning of the list.

I’m personally hoping there’s another group or two or 10 out there who could spare a couple hundred dollars each for JP PTA. Call the school at (360) 662 9000 if you can help out.

Will this be the one? Naw, probably not. But it sure feels like it. I read the legislative update each day from Dan Steele, who works for the Washington State School Directors Association. Dan covers the Leg with schools in mind. Here’s his entry from yesterday. It doesn’t make me feel hopeful that schools will know anytime soon what cuts will be made.

The “L” word (layoff)has been mentioned but nothing is for sure. It’s pretty clear that schools will lose some or all of what’s called “K-4 enhancement” funds. This money pays for extra teachers (and smaller class sizes) in kindergarten through fourth grades. Most of I-728 is sure to be gone too. It depends on the district, but I-728 has been used for lots of things: smaller class sizes, all-day kindergarten, summer school, tutoring etc. One of the few places left to turn for those programs if I-728 is gone is local levy money. Perhaps districts will redirect some of those funds (which can be spent a the discretion of local leaders and aren’t tied up with state or federal strings) to cover the cuts.

Some local districts have pretty good information on their websites about potential cuts.

Central Kitsap Schools

Bainbridge Schools (click down through the list of dates of meetings to read the minutes of the citizens’ finance advisory committee)

South Kitsap Schools (its a video!)

North Mason Schools

Superintendent for Public Instruction Randy Dorn was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and speeding early Sunday morning. The Tacoma News-Tribune reported the incident this morning on its website.

Dorn released a statement on the incident as well:”On Saturday night, my wife and I and our family attended a community event where I drank beer with dinner. Later, while driving home, I was stopped and cited by local law enforcement. The public has a right to information regarding the conduct of elected officials. However, I hope people will understand and respect that this is a personal legal matter that at this time I am not at liberty to discuss. I look forward to the day when I will be able to discuss the details of this incident.”

A couple weeks ago, North Kitsap mom Jessica Breitbarth wrote a piece for Kitsap Education about the educational system not meeting the needs of boys.
Now here’s more fuel for the fire. A study from the Center for Education Policy highlights the growing problem that boys lag behind girls in reading in particular. Perhaps the gender gap is widening in another way now that its 2010?

Power is still out at Olympic High School and Eastside Alternative High School today so classes and all after-school activities are canceled.

Puget Sound Energy is working to restore service. Power first went out Monday morning. Students from OHS and EAHS were sent home at 10 a.m. on Monday.

For more information call (360) 662-2700.

The Bremerton School Board seeks applicants to fill the seat left vacant after Louis Mitchell resigned in mid-February. The new board member will fill out Mitchell’s term through the end of 2011. All the information about the application is available at http://bremertonschools.org/.

Back when Mitchell first resigned I asked board watchers Colleen Smidt and Dave Rubie if they would apply. At that time, both said no.

Applications close at 4:30 p.m. on March 31. The board plans to fill the vacancy at its April 22 meeting.