The Lowell Area Schools Board of Education met Monday evening for their regularly scheduled meeting. Members Brian Krajewski and Annie Whitlock were absent, but all others were present.
Public Comments on Agenda Items
Schools of Choice parent and Ada resident Stefanie Boone said she was there to comment on the board’s vote to purchase the new K-5 English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum, Open Court Reading by McGraw Hill.
Boone said that on McGraw Hill’s website “…DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) is all over the place…you can bet that it’s going to be littered throughout the curriculum…” She suggested that the district not “waste” their money on a new curriculum that may incorporate DEI “…given President Trump’s recent order related to the ending of divisive and wasteful DEI programs…”
Boone didn’t say whether she had reviewed the Open Court Reading curriculum and whether she found evidence of DEI there, just that it was on McGraw Hill’s main site.
Boone also said that in October 2024 she was made aware of a “gender support plan” document that is used at LAS. Boone said of the document “…it would appear that the document allows biological males to use restrooms for girls or women and vice versa…” and said, “…if this is still the policy, it is a direct violation of federal Title IX laws…your policies and protocols need to be rescinded now, and I’m asking for a response tonight publicly on this, otherwise within 24 hours…lack of response will trigger a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights.”
Student Council Report
Student council president Conner Casarez said that although the February 1st winter dance had a lower attendance than other dances, the people who did come had “a night of dancing and fun.”
Casarez also mentioned a recent successful LINKS program “unified basketball game,” featuring LINKS Peer-to-Peer students who are paired with students with disabilities.
This week at the high school, the student leadership class is putting on “Be Nice Week,” which Casarez explained was “…a chance for students to show off their kindness and build up school spirit.”
Murray Lake Elementary’s WIN Time
Murray Lake Elementary Principal Molly Burnett and several third grade teachers — Shelly Severts, Olivia Lipski and Katherine Wills — were at the meeting to present information to the board about the WIN (What I Need) Time program they’ve implemented this year at Murray Lake.
WIN Time is a period of time during the school day in which students can receive “targeted instruction based on their individual needs.” Burnett said that this might look like additional instruction if a student is struggling, giving an extra challenge to a student already excelling, or just extra practice. Right now, the teachers have started the program with just one to two days a week of math WIN Time, but they’re hopeful they can expand the time for other subjects as well.
Severts said that the students get very excited for WIN time because they get to take a little break from regular math instruction and participate in more hands-on activities like art or a craft that still incorporates the concept they’re trying to learn.
The teachers have been tracking student progress using real time data from pre and post-tests so that they can monitor student growth and observe whether students are really learning the concepts.
K-5 English Language Arts Curriculum
At last month’s work session meeting, Director of Curriculum Dan VanderMeulen presented information on pilot programs which were undertaken to evaluate two new ELA curriculum options. On Monday, the board was asked to vote to approve the purchase of the teachers’ preferred program.
Eighteen teachers from across the district piloted the two curriculums this year, and after several discussions and scoring rubrics, Open Court Reading was the clear winner. The board approved the purchase for $486,000. The majority of the cost of the new materials, which all K-5 students in the district will use for the next six years, will be covered by a grant from the state.
In response to Boone’s comments about the new ELA curriculum, Superintendent Nate Fowler said:
“…it is important that we find materials where students who leave us and go other places…are able to be successful in other cultures. Students who are minority students may see themselves represented in the text and in the curriculum…there may be students who are learning English…students who have disabilities or learn in other ways…it is important that students have access to this curriculum.”
Fowler added that if there were to be any changes to legal requirements, or changes to the Department of Education, the board and administrators would implement those changes after careful and thoughtful review.
Security Cameras
The board also approved the purchase of five new security cameras for the high school. There will be two additional exterior cameras and three interior cameras to expand the reach of the already existing cameras. The cost for the new cameras, about $25,000, will be paid for by a security grant from the state.
Human Resources Update
Due to changes in the current system the district uses to post jobs and track applicants, a decision needed to be made to go with a new company or stick with the current one, which would require building a new platform. Director of Human Resources Dustin Cichocki said that after careful review, he feels that the company LAS currently uses would be best and that a new platform for the system will be built and specifically tailored to the needs of the district.
New tech trainers in the district started last week to help staff with changes in district technology. There is one trainer at each elementary school and two tech trainers at the high school and middle school.
Budget Update
Chief Financial Officer Sonia Hodge said that the budget proposal released by the governor last week appears to be favorable for LAS. Hodge added that the Senate and House still need to release their budget proposals, and the consensus of all three is still unknown. But so far, it looks positive for the district.
The governor’s proposal includes a proposed foundation allowance increase, which would bring the per pupil amount the district currently receives from $9,608 to $10,000, a 4.1% increase from the current amount. Hodge said that with the added increase in enrollment this year, that could mean about $1.36 million dollars for LAS from the state.
Another increase to the budget being proposed is for “at risk” funding the district receives for things like additional paraprofessionals or reading and math interventionists. The amount LAS could receive would increase by about 4% under the governor’s budget. Money for mental health and security could see similar increases in funding as well.
Curriculum Update
VanderMeulen thanked Burnett and the Murray Lake teachers for their presentation and said that WIN Time was able to become a reality because of professional learning time and teacher collaboration.
VanderMeulen added that, “…for one teacher to successfully meet the needs of every single student every single day in every single class is not hard; it’s impossible. But, when you work as a team, and do some of these kinds of things that you heard tonight, the chances of students succeeding really increases.”
An upcoming half day for students on February 14 will mean some professional development for LAS staff. K-5 staff will be learning about the new Open Court ELA curriculum and the science of reading while middle school staff will be learning behavior management strategies, and high school staff will work on things like curriculum maps, essential standards and common assessments.
Public Comments
Retired Lowell teacher Kim Lum said that she wanted to emphasize the importance of relationships in school and specifically between a teacher and their students. Lum said that before real learning can happen, there needs to be a relationship formed between teacher and student. Lum said that this can take time, lots of listening to one another, and a teacher really caring about their students.
Superintendent’s Report
Fowler said that the district recently received a rebate check from the architect of the newly rebuilt middle school. The rebate, for $75,000, was because of energy efficient systems that went into the new build.
The district also received a thank you from Gilda’s Club for a recent donation they received for $50,000. The money received was raised through the Lowell Pink Arrow organization and will help to fund Gilda’s Club cancer and grief support programs in Lowell.
Regarding Boone’s public comments about a gender support plan, Fowler said that the internal document is used as a tool when working with transgender students and their families to have conversations about how the student and their family can best be supported by the district. He added that the document does mention things like bathrooms and extracurricular activities but as part of an overall plan to ensure student safety and sense of belonging. Both are important school improvement goals at LAS.
Fowler added that there will always be changes that the district will need to take into account and may have to adjust protocols to reflect that, but that, “…we’ll continue to be thoughtful, we’ll continue to be deliberate, and most of all what we’re going to do is we’re going to continue to focus on doing our jobs every day…showing up, providing great educational opportunities for our kids.”
Lastly, Fowler said that the next Board of Education meeting will be held at the high school library instead of in the administration building. He said that it will be a good opportunity to see how that space has evolved and how the students are utilizing it.
Board Communications
Board Secretary Pat Nugent thanked Lum for her comments about relationships. He said that it reminded him of a previous administrator at the school where he works, who would say that there are actually 4 “Rs” in education: reading, writing, arithmetic and relationships.
Board Member Jennifer Dougherty said that she wanted to reiterate what Fowler said about the fact that the board’s job is to ensure students are educated and prepared for life after they graduate high school and that whatever changes may lie ahead, that’s what they will continue to do.
Board Vice President Laurie Kuna said that she also wanted to reiterate the sentiments of Fowler and Dougherty that the board’s job, by law, is to educate all students, no matter who they are. She added, “We have an outstanding staff; we have an outstanding school board; and we’re doing the best for your kids.”
The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 pm. The next meeting will be a work session that the public is welcome to attend and will be held on Monday, February 24, at 6 pm in the high school library
Leave a Reply