School Board Tours
Each year the board of education tours the schools. The past two years board members have spent extended time in specific classrooms. At the end of each school visit board members meet to discuss what they observed and ask questions about procedures, curriculum and instruction. Building principals are present to answer their questions and provide insight into why the school does things a certain way. Since schools are very 'closed' organizations it is always interesting to listen to the perception of 'outsiders' who set policy for the school district but observe the daily operation of the schools on a very limited basis.
This year 5 of the 7 board members participated in the tour, starting with the elementary school and ending with the high school. They also toured the alternative school and finished the day with a tour of Rockville Elementary School. It was a very long day for board members as the concluded the day with their regularly scheduled board meeting.
Board members shared the following insights. Students' attitude toward school change as they grow up. Elementary students are very compliant and eager to please the teacher. Secondary students are very verbal and seem more interested in having fun than learning. Board members sometimes think that teenagers magically stop being teenagers when they arrive at school. This is obviously not true.
Board members are starting to observe evidence of K-12 vertical planning. They report that the Math and Reading curriculum seem to fit together better than three years ago. As they walk from kindergarten classrooms to middle school classrooms they see the same concept emphasized. Board members also noticed an increase in the amount of time that younger students are spending in smaller reading groups. They noticed students sitting in the hallways or whereever they could find space, reading to an adult. This is a result of all the work that teachers have done with leveling. Board members also indirectly observed teams of teachers during their plan time. They understand that this has been a change of emphasis over the past three years and find it rewarding to observe these teams in action.
The implementation of math investigations at LES is very apparent to board members. Students "doing" math makes sense to board members and several commented that if they had learned math this way they might not be so uneasy with math today.
Board members not only observed the new READ RIGHT program for middle and high school students during the day, but also heard a report from the instructors at the board meeting. They were impressed with the structure and intensity of the program. The most eye opening experience of the entire day occurred when the READ RIGHT instructors played pre and post audio tapes of high school students reading. Their improvement was obvious. Board members were able to directly observe the positive results of a program that they approved.
Each year board members marvel at how teachers motivate, teach, discipline and interact with students. School can be intimidating to 'outsiders', so board members always communicate appreciation for teachers. Specifically, they are amazed at how elementary teachers teach basic skills to very young students and they are very appreciative of how secondary teachers interact with hormonal middle schoolers and (sometimes) obnoxious high schoolers.
The primary role of board members is to set policy but it is helpful when they observe how their policies are implemented. Thanks to all the teachers and staff who welcomed board members into their classrooms.
