School board proposes new signage and math curriculum

Town officials plan to focus on signage this year, and La Conner School Board members intend to follow suit.

Board president Susie Gardner Deyo and Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Executive Director Mick Hoffman conferred on a variety of topics, most notably how to better promote sportsmanship at interscholastic events.

“We talked about what we can do to step up sportsmanship,” Deyo told fellow board members during a 90-minute March 14 hybrid special meeting.

One strategy is to increase signage on the La Conner Schools campus, spelling out behavior that won’t be tolerated at games and public events.

“I’m wondering if we need to do additional signage in our gyms and other areas with bulleted items that list our expectations,” said La Conner Schools Superintendent Will Nelson.

Federal impact aid monies are dollars that reimburse schools districts for lost revenue and additional costs associated with the presence of lands removed from tax rolls, such as military bases and tribal reservations.

Deyo said district athletics director Mikki Gifford and students should have a voice in any new sportsmanship-related signage at La Conner Schools.

La Conner Schools administrative and unions leadership is considering modifying the district’s instructional schedule next year to allow for more staff collaboration and planning, a trend embraced elsewhere, including Anacortes.

Nelson introduced a potential ‘Late Start Wednesday’ concept in which classes would begin later in the day following staff meetings.

“We’re trying to look for ways to provide time for staff - teachers, bus drivers, custodians, kitchen staff, all areas of work - to expand opportunities for professional collaboration,” Nelson explained.

If La Conner Schools adopt a ‘Late Start Wednesday’ calendar, Nelson said students would still receive more than the 1,027 instructional hours required annually by the state.

“This will be a widely discussed topic going forward,” he added, noting the need for formal negotiations with the district’s certified and classified employee unions.

On a related note, there is a proposal to streamline the district’s parent-teacher conference schedule, which will result in class time being cut in half on conference days.

What is certain for the 2022-23 academic year is that a new district math curriculum will be adopted.

According to district librarian Beth Clothier, the process began last fall with staff being surveyed on what should be included in math instruction at various grade levels.

The consensus was an approach that encourages development of critical thinking skills that emphasize hands-on learning activities and less teacher-led lectures.

Clothier said La Conner teachers have visited other districts to gauge the effectiveness of math programs employed on those campuses.

“We’re doing visitations to see them in play,” she said. “We want to see if those schools are using it with full fidelity and if they’re having success with it.”

The tentative plan is to bring a recommendation for a new math curriculum to the board in late April.

Additionally, members approved policies addressing accommodating students with seizure disorders, infection control, personnel leaves, and disciplinary action and discharge.