Regents changes cause for concern at USD 489
By RYAN CHRISTNER
Recent modifications to Kansas Qualified Admissions requirements as proposed by the state Board of Regents have some Hays USD 489 personnel concerned about the future of education in the district.
Addressing the Board of Education on Monday, Hays High School Principal Mike Hester explained the changes and their possible implications for student learning.
This summer, the Board of Regents announced its suggestions, which include eliminating the computer technology requirement from pre-college curriculum and widening the timeframe students can complete math courses -- to those in seventh through 12th grades, rather than starting in the ninth grade.
Those changes would affect students graduating from high school in 2010 and beyond. But another change, which Hester said has the potential to be the most troublesome, concerns 2014 graduates.
The last alteration would require every student complete at least one QA-approved math class during the 12th grade.
That set up is problematic, though, because of how it could affect scores on state assessment tests and the ACT prep.
"We try to make sure all their math is completed by either their sophomore or junior years," Hester said.
Another concern is for students who take advantage of the change to take math in seventh and eighth grades, but then could go another four years before taking another. If such a gap existed, he said, a student might struggle to recall the information learned in earlier courses. That could lead to a failing grade during the student's senior year and the possibility he or she is not able to graduate.
While he had not heard any justifications for the changes, Hester said he suspected Regents universities could be considering dropping remedial courses as a way to combat decreases in state funding.
As far as computer classes are concerned, he said it likely is assumed that, given the affinity for technology possessed by today's youth, students naturally develop the skills and competency expected at the college level.
However, that's not necessarily always the case, he argued.
"Our business teachers are very concerned because there's no way you can go through all those applications unless you have them in class," Hester said. "Kids' casual use does not get to all of the bullets and application issues."
At this point, not all of the proposals are set in stone, as the Board of Regents has agreed to further examine the math-related changes in a task force.
Also brought up for discussion was an update on the possibility of future litigation against the state to gain more adequate funding for Kansas schools.
Superintendent Fred Kaufman, who also serves as the president of Schools for Fair Funding, which filed the original Montoy v. State of Kansas school finance case in 1999, said there has been a great deal of interest from other schools throughout the state who are considering membership in the group in support of another lawsuit.
"I said that I thought maybe we would work with (districts representing) 100,000 students, and that's a fifth of the enrollment in Kansas," he said. "It could turn out to be as much as half of the students in Kansas would be involved.
"There is a lot of interest from districts that were never interested before."
Kansas schools received $215 less per pupil this year in funding than originally promised, a loss of about $771,000 for USD 489. If state revenue collections continue to come in below expectations, Kaufman said the level of cuts could be twice as large next year.
In other new business:
* The results of a teacher technology survey were discussed by district Operational Technology Coordinator Todd Bryant and Alicia Brungardt, instructional technology coordinator.
In regard to teaching, technology was rated as a nearly "essential" tool for educating children. It also was given high marks as it relates to student learning.
"What it says to me is teachers really do think computers are important in the classroom," Bryant said.
Computers also appear to make students work harder and think more deeply about the quality of their assignments, Brungardt said, as many teachers post research papers or other assignments online, where their work will be seen by many more people than when it is handed in for grading.
* Board member Rich Kraemer gave an update on the happenings within the pay-to-participate committee, which was established last month and includes Kraemer; HHS Activities Director Clint Albers; Kennedy Middle School Principal Craig Pallister; Mike Niernberger, an athletic parent representative; JoAnn Jordan, representing parents of children in music-related activities; and community representatives Fred Britten and Jeff Younger.
Kraemer said the Kansas Association of School Boards should be providing them with an updated report of participation fees from other schools in the state within the next couple of weeks and hoped a recommendation could be made to the school board by Christmas.
"There are a number of things coming into play here that will affect how we're going to proceed," Kraemer said.
* The board approved a measure to dispose of miscellaneous surplus property through sale or auction.
* Rich Kraemer was selected as a delegate to the KASB.
* Board members reviewed the first section of its policy guidelines, a process that is expected to continue throughout the next several meetings.
* Mary Ann Shorman, head nurse for Hays USD 489, and Ellis County Health Department Director Butch Schlyer gave an update on the district flu vaccine plan.
Schlyer said his department already has begun its regular influenza campaign and hopes to start work with the school district by the end of the month, to allow teachers the opportunity to get vaccinated.
Vaccines for the H1N1 flu strain will come later, he said, and children at the elementary school level will be given first priority. For middle- and high-school aged children, plans are for a clinic to be set up at Hays High.
The vaccinations will be given without charge to students' families.
Shorman said consent forms should be sent out soon, as children without the signed approval of their parents or guardians will not be given vaccines.