New Accountability Program Implemented At Salk

Salk Middle School students can coast no longer.

Under the school’s strict new academic accountability program, the minute a student shuts down his or her brain in a classroom, they get a dose of tough love.

Instead of anonymously sliding down to an “F,” students are now confronted - and, if necessary, cajoled and counseled - by parents, teachers, advisors and the principal.

And failing students will be held back, a club rarely used now.

“You’d be amazed at how many middle school kids say, ‘Oh, I got an F. It doesn’t count. I’ll go onto the next grade level anyway,”’ said Mary Haugen, Salk principal. “This is sending a message that that kind of attitude is no longer acceptable.”

The program, conceived three years ago, is being instituted this semester. Parents of failing students are now receiving warning letters from the school.

Getting parents involved, says Haugen, is “a critical piece of ownership,” educator lingo for interest and passion.

Previously, parents rarely got word from the school about a failing child. And in the rare occasion that a student was held back, parents complained more than they cheered, Haugen said.

Now, with higher expectations, the school is hearing support, said history teacher Lynn Gurley. “What we have seen is an overwhelming response in favor of accountability,” said Gurley, who helped create the new policy.

And the burden of responsibility also falls on the teacher, who must complete detailed referral forms on each failing student. A conference with a parent is quickly scheduled.

Teachers and counselors must look for “intellectual, physical, social, emotional, attitudinal reasons or substance use or abuse issues for poor progress.”

That means teachers must look at student academic records. “Has he been doing this in the past? What is his capacity, emotionally and physically,” said Gurley. “I might find some interesting things about this student and modify my curriculum.”

That could mean changing seating charts or underlining textbooks for a student.

If the student doesn’t respond, they don’t advance.

The program won’t be a cure-all, says Haugen. She uses the metaphor of a ship launching into choppy waters.

But some Salk students are already behind, and will likely remain behind as they graduate into high school. Citing a recent presidential address, she said public schools must “raise the bar” of expectations.

“I think it is going to raise expectations of kids moving along on cruise control, but it is also going to affect other kids,” said Haugen.

Artwork on the Internet

The artwork of several North Side students is being circulated to a far wider audience than just classmates and proud parents.

North Central High School’s Shawna Locher’s realistic sketch of a hand holding a butterfly and Logan Elementary’s Miranda Crossley’s drawing of a bouncing tiger are both included in web pages available via the Internet to a worldwide audience of art aficionados.

Along with publishing student art work, the World Wide Web is being used by several North Spokane schools to list staff teaching calendars, building histories and for public comments.

Balboa, Indian Trail, Logan, Westview and Whitman elementary schools and North Central and Rogers high schools are linked to the Spokane School District’s web page, at www.sd81.k12.wa.us.

Several schools are still building their pages, but Whitman, Logan and North Central’s are completed, well constructed and informative.

Logan’s, designed by sixth grade teacher Doug Joslyn, features several students. Carolyn Cheek says she is the second-tallest student in school, at 5-foot-5. The page offers links to the e-mail address of each teacher.

North Central offers a detailed calendar of public and staff meetings, useful for parents hoping to get involved.

, DataTimes MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the North Side Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a North Side school or about the achievements of North Side students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Deadline is Monday. Write: Jonathan Martin, Education Notebook, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. E-mail: jonathanm@spokesman.com. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.