Commentary; Posted: 9/7/05
Timing was right for new school positions
Bill Bresin
Guest Columnist
Timing. That seems to be the question most people have about the School Boardís decision to hire a new Assessment and Evaluation Coordinator and a Family Support Advocate.
Why would the school district choose to use new state funding to hire these positions now when just a few short months ago teachers and support staff were being cut?
And with a levy on the horizon, wasnít the timing of this decision a mistake?
The reality is now was the right time to hire these positions because the work they will do is needed right now.
These new positions will help move the district forward and will help improve the quality of teaching and learning in our schools. They will ensure our schools are meeting the requirements of federal and state laws, and will help all of our students reach the high expectations set for them.
Our new Assessment and Evaluation Coordinator will be working with teachers, principals, students and parents to study test data and organize the many tests required by law. This person will dig deeper into test results ó examining the success of schools, classrooms and even individual students ó to help determine what could be done to push students to even higher levels of success.
Our teachers have worked hard in the past to use test data to help improve student learning, but limited time and resources have restricted what could be done.
This new position will serve as a valuable resource to those teachers and will play a significant role in improving achievement for all students.
Providing a safe, welcoming environment for students is an important part of our job as educators.
All families ó regardless of their race, skin color, religious beliefs, or economic status ó need to feel that they are accepted into our communities and our schools.
As our communities become more diverse, the need for a liaison to help new families feel at home becomes more pronounced. The Family Support Advocate will work with staff and the community to welcome and support diverse students and their families.
For years our district has had to make do with less because of inadequate funding from the legislature.
Finally, after three long years of frozen funding, we received some relief this summer when the state increased our funding by four percent.
The timing was right to invest that money into our schools.
I firmly stand behind the decision to bring back 13 classroom teachers, seven elementary media specialists, two custodians, an elementary specialist, and two secondary media assistants, and to reinstate supply budget to 2004-05 levels.
Iím also proud of the decision to fund Future Problem Solving and Destination Imagination activities and to hire a Family Support Advocate, Assessment and Evaluation Coordinator and several part-time positions, including an elementary special education teacher, an AV assistant and guidance assistant at the junior high.
I truly believe that these add backs and additions will improve the quality of education in our district.
It is always a good time to focus on our students and to do what is right to make our schools stronger
Bill Bresin is president of the ISD 831 Board of Education.
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