Students will benefit from longer classes
For the past 2 1/2 years, school board, administration and staff of Whitefish Schools have engaged in a deep and open discussion about how we improve teaching and learning within our district.
Through research, observation of innovative practice, and discussion among staff, administrators, board members, and interested public, we have arrived at the conclusion that extended learning times will best serve our high school students and staff, especially in the face of Common Core Standards.
Recently, our high school teachers registered solid support for extended learning times, starting next year. Because of the large amounts of professional time and effort involved in planning this paradigm shift for the upcoming school year, the administrators and collaborating staff asked for an official show of support and encouragement from our school board for them to continue their work.
At last week’s regular meeting, the board unanimously voted to support the high school community’s efforts to plan for a schedule that would create extended learning times. In the motion we specified that we will pay special attention to studying student pre-registration input, thorough communication with parents and students, invitations for classroom observations, and continued efforts to engage music teachers in support of the music program.
Our task moving forward is to continue a productive dialogue as to how we most effectively put this promising, rigorous approach to teaching and learning into practice, in a way that honors every department and student interest.
In an effort to inform the community as to the value of inquiry-based, workshop methods, our board and administration will continue to offer engaging sessions on the fourth Tuesday of nearly every month. This dialogue, which has already helped inform our support for extended learning times, will continue to problem-solve as specific issues arise. We will confer as a school community, with the express intent of providing the opportunity for every segment of our school population to enjoy the benefits of extended learning times.
Our mission and vision statements point us to strive toward not just “goodness,” but “greatness” as an educational institution. Accomplishing this requires the interest and encouragement of the entire community.
Compare our journey to that of any individual reaching for the pinnacle of success. The athlete needs the support and genuine feedback from coaches, friends, and family in order to focus on improvement toward a lofty goal of perfection. Creative brilliance in any area needs latitude to develop. Divisive comments and predictions of failure have no place in the world of positive achievement.
In like manner, the professionals who are aspiring to constantly improve and evolve in their role as educators need the interest and encouragement of their community. If Whitefish resolves to become a thoughtful group supporting our district, we should see positive results from a collaborative problem-solving effort.
Our duty as elected officials is to provide the way for our staff, administration and students to reach their full potential as citizens. Please help us and encourage us by taking an active role in the process of improving our district. Come to our collaborative meetings and discussion groups, always advertized through the school and newspaper. Call any of us on the school board if you have questions.
— Whitefish School Board trustees, Ruth Harrison, Pat Jarvi, Dave Fern, Nick Polumbus, Shawn Watts, Heather Vrentas and Shawn Tucker