FeedsNew program OK’d for elementary schools
Elementary schools in the Van Buren Public School District will see a new learning community program for students starting this fall.
School board members approved a $330,000 proposal on Monday that will include the hiring of six teachers for student instruction focused in literacy areas and math. The elementary professional learning community was developed by the school principals to deliver additional instruction in those subjects utilizing the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) score data and content expectations, according to Ray Gross, director of instruction for the school district.
“It’s a good idea because it gives a more hands on approach,” he said. “It can be looked at as enrichment because they’re coming back to work on things we know students are having problems with.”
The teachers will work in teams to address the listening, speaking and viewing grade level content expectations for the students. In addition, teachers will provide supplementary instruction, practice and remediation in both areas.
Gross said the proposal is also sensitive to funding issues, as well. However, not all school board members were convinced.
“I fully support the program, but we have to look at our budget,” said Trustee Toni Hunt. “I’d rather see us put it in as a way to enhance the future. I want to do this, but there’s a balance here where we have to look at what’s really going on.”
Superintendent Pete Lazaroff said he would hate to come back a year from now and say the district can’t afford the program, but he believes it’s worthwhile.
Trustee Martha Toth agreed. She said the program was something the district had to do.
“We can never plan the way I’d like to. We won’t know until after count day what the budget is,” she said. “We need to do this and take a leap of faith because it seems too important not to.”
Dave Peer, school board president, said there are real advantages he can see to professional learning communities, too.
“This becomes results focused on student achievement and isn’t that what we’re here for,” he said. “If we could reduce special education referrals than we could more than pay for six teachers. The alternative is to do nothing and that won’t solve the budget problem either. We need to take a hard look at the budget and say ‘this is what really matters.”
