Inside our schools: Committees studying EVSD facilities issues
Two separate committees are working on facilities issues for the East Valley School District.
One task force that started working last year is reviewing capital needs for school district facilities. Mike Mills and Kay Sieck, community volunteers and parents, are the co-chairs for this committee, which is considering a bond to modernize East Valley schools. The group is investigating the project’s scope and funding mechanisms.
The last bond issue for the district was passed in 1996 and will be paid off in 2009. According to EVSD administrators, significant modernization is needed for East Valley Middle School, Mountain View Middle School and Otis Orchards Elementary.
Another task force has been formed to look at school facility use. A first meeting was held Sept. 13. This group will study the district’s enrollment history and future projections as well as boundaries, building uses and grade level configurations. This group plans to make recommendations to the EVSD board by late winter.
Grant enables CVHS teachers to train others
Under a new grant, Central Valley High School teachers Marcy James, Kelly Kiki and Kieran Mahoney will train other Washington teachers on teaching and assessing students’ use of historical research.
The activities and questions they have created, called classroom-based assessments, use local resources to develop skills and enthusiasm for primary research among students studying history. Over the next year, K-12 teachers can participate in a study program exploring the turning points in American history, the Inland Northwest and the United States working with documents, artifacts, photographs and other historical materials.
The curriculum is part of a teacher training program, titled “Freedom Moves West,” funded by a U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History grant. The three-year funding was awarded to the Educational Service District 101 and local partners, including 15 teachers from Central Valley School District, to improve teachers’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of American history.
Other partners involved are Eastern Washington University, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Washington State Digital Archives and the National Archives and Records Administration (Pacific Alaska region).
“It’s not a well-known fact but by the year 2008-09, social studies departments are going to be required to do a classroom-based assessment,” said James, project coordinator for CV. “The grant allows for putting these assessments together, really getting kids and teachers excited about doing historical research. We’ve been piloting this for two years.
“The grant’s purpose is to help teachers improve their knowledge of history, thereby raising student achievement.”
The program offers such experiences as a one-week summer institute, two weekend sessions held in the spring and fall, and required reading. Last summer, a group went to area museums, Native American landmarks, Hell’s Canyon and other historical sites.
By 2008-09, classroom-based assessments and classroom-based performance assessments will be used statewide at all grade levels to measure student learning of social studies. The experience of Central Valley teachers will be included in those standards, through this project.
A similar project, “Roll on Columbia,” was recently awarded funding for three years and will run concurrently with the final year of “Freedom Moves West.” Participating teachers receive 10 graduate level credits and other benefits. This project involves history going back to colonial times.
Because Central Valley is a grant partner, 15 spaces among 25 will be reserved for CVSD teachers. Those who complete the program will be trained to do the classroom assessments. Teachers interested in more information about the application process, can contact James at mjames@cvsd.org or 228-5186.
High school seniors honored by NMSC
Five Spokane Valley students have recently received honors.
A letter of Commendations from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. will be presented to the students from West Valley and Central Valley high schools for strong academic performance through this rigorous competition.
Those who were recently named in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program as commended students include:
WVHS seniors – Juliet Law and Gavin Mitchell.
CVHS seniors – William Bernbaum, Kalen Davis and Michael G. Moore.
‘Teacher of the Week’ takes in Mariners game
North Pines Middle School teacher Diana Chapman joined 24 teachers from around Washington state and their guests to see the Mariners play at Safeco Field.
Selected last spring in the WSECU and KOMO News Radio “Teacher of the Week” program, the teachers enjoyed the Sept. 16 game against Tampa Bay in a luxury box. In addition to game tickets, the teachers also received $500 each for their classrooms.
An eighth-grade science teacher, Chapman was nominated by Principal Gordon Grassi for being a “caring educator” and for her leadership during the school’s three-year grant-funded reform efforts and as a member of a school advisory committee. She has taught at North Pines for 18 years.