Community invited to WBCSD 3 Cs meeting

Since being invited to become WBCSD Superintendent of Schools, much has been planned and accomplished to bring systemic improvements to the district.

Currently, we are in the midst of developing a comprehensive 5-Year Strategic Plan designed to provide succinct directional focus for the board of trustees, administrators, and teachers. This plan is based upon six pillars:

• Teaching and learning
• Environment and climate
• Communications
• Technologies
• Facilities
• Transportation

Pillar 1: Teaching and Learning will be “anchored” by a K-12 instructional delivery system known as “Quantum Learning”. Quantum Learning emphasizes the practical application of brain research in the learning process. When teachers learn how the brain codes memory, they can teach in ways that help students remember new information. Years of research and case studies support Quantum Learning methods in the classroom and we look forward to participating in the upcoming summer training opportunity that will be provided to all administrators and teaching staff of West Bonner County Schools. For more, please go online to youtube.com/watch?v=iKfib8BcKFg

Pillars 2-6: Following in the footsteps of teaching and learning, we are developing the goals and objectives of the districts environment and climate, communications, technologies, facilities, and transportation systems that will facilitate ongoing/achievable improvements. All pillars will be strategically supported by the district’s funds and will bring transparency to “money well-spent”.

We anticipate a “Community Roll-Out” to be ready sometime in January. Here, all community members of the WBCSD will be invited to attend a forum lead by the WBCSD Leadership Team. We will advertise this presentation heavily so that you will be well aware of the date and time. We truly hope to see you there!

Lastly, as you may know, curriculum content across America has become heavily scrutinized due to changing times and various beliefs. To date, our 5-year plan, and specifically pillar 1: Teaching and Learning, encompasses strategies that define “How” to best assert instruction effectively. Now, it is imperative that we, as a community, join in an effort to provide input into “what” will be taught. Several community members have brought forth a curriculum concept known as “an American classical education.” There is a multitude of information that can be found about classical education on the internet, but for a quick reference the following link is provided — youtube.com/watch?v=0m5yDZCy2pE

Classical education is predominately found in both private and charter schools, but can also be implemented in public schools. It is not our intent to become a charter school, nor to campaign for the use of “classical education” curriculum. However, we do seek to understand and gain public input for guidance of WBCSD future curriculum work.

Because we value your thoughts and opinions of both the five-year strategic plan as well as “what” the children of WBDSD should learn (curriculum content). We invite you come to the next 3 Cs meeting — community, critical, concerns — on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Priest River Junior High School cafeteria annex. Hope to see you there!