Category Archives: Education

by Dan Beste

(originally posted on sunvalleyonline.org)

Superintendent Barber and Curriculum Director Patricia McLean are correct when they state that the BCSD had gotten into the habit of not including non-district employees on curriculum or textbook committees in spite of the mandate from District Policy and Idaho Legal Code to do so. Dr. Barber stated that parents had not been included in such committees for quite some time and Patty McLean stated that she “must have forgotten” about this mandate when composing the math textbook committees. So basically, school district administrators haven’t been referring to district policy to inform their actions and decisions, which proves the point that community members and parents must be involved in district processes to provide a vital check upon the job performance of those who earn and spend our tax dollars.   Continue reading →

Here is the Idaho Mountain Express’s story on the Math textbook debate at Tuesday’s School Board meeting:

District defends math program

The following excerpt is from The Creativity Crisis, by Bo Bronson and Ashley Merryman. Thanks to Michelle Sandoz for bring this well-researched, well-written article to my attention. I encourage everyone to read it in its entirety. -Ellen Mandeville

“Overwhelmed by curriculum standards, American teachers warn there’s no room in the day for a creativity class. Kids are fortunate if they get an art class once or twice a week. But to scientists, this is a non sequitur, borne out of what University of Georgia’s Mark Runco calls “art bias.” Continue reading →

There was a full house if not a full quorum, as Trustee Don Nurge was away from town, at the November 8th 2011 BCSD Board of Trustees meeting. The monthly School Board meetings are a great place to learn first hand what is happening in our schools and in the district as a whole.

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