Schools

District 197 Chalk Talk: SRAC Report Reviewed

The Jan. 17 meeting of the District 197 School Board, in brief.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board reviewed the final report of the at their meeting Tuesday evening at .

The report is the product of a 43-person stakeholder group that has been meeting since June. The purpose of the report is to provide recommendations to the council on how to deliver forward-thinking education in the district while reducing its cost. (See the attached pdf to review the report and check back later today for more details and comments.)

  • The board accepted the 2012-2013 academic calendar. Diane Thompson of the West St. Paul Federation of Teachers and teacher Maureen Wilke both spoke during public comments to oppose a one-day reduction in workshop days preceding the first day of school. Interim Superintendent Tom Nelson said the dropped workshop day was swapped for a student contact day in the calendar. Thompson said by reducing preparation days for teachers down to two that the board was moving in "the wrong direction."
  • The district's federally funded received a glowing report from DKH Consulting Inc., who performed a one-year check-up. Consultant Elaine Ranieri lauded the progress made, and described the district as "ahead of the pack." The district has already hit 36 of 37 benchmarks, according to the consultants, and is making progress toward the 37th benchmark in achievement. DKH President Deidra Honeywell said the district's task moving forward is to maintain vigilance in developing the curriculum and preparing for the years following the grant's expiration. 
  • Henry Sibley Associate Principal Tom Orth presented the framework for a committee that will study a new high school schedule. The committee is to be composed of one school board member, three teachers, three students, three Sibley parents and three high school administrators, namely, Orth, Robin Percival and Scott Karlen. Applications to be considered for the committee are due Jan. 20. You can find the form to apply on Henry Sibley's website. Applicants should be prepared to commit to two 1.5 hour meetings a month through at least October.

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