spring 2007
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Schools in the news
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Early in 2007 Idaho schools made news. A five alarm fire nearly destroyed Middleton High School, but strengthened a community.The state legislature grappled with funding and certification issues while teachers and students focused on learning. Read excerpts from school news here. For full article, visit www.IdahoStatesman.com
Teacher studies impact of new laws
“As a special education teacher, Sara Bruins watched her students struggle with standardized tests. Even with accommodations designed to level the playing field, Bruins says special education students have a harder time scoring at grade level. That could now keep them from graduating and hold their school back from meeting its Adequate Yearly Progress benchmark laid out in the federal No Child Left Behind Act, a fact that adds more stress for students ...”
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An early morning fire consumes Middleton High School, February 1, 2007. |
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Middleton holds on to memories
after blaze
High school mostly destroyed by flames Thursday
”More than 400 people crammed into a Caldwell elementary school gym Thursday evening, just 12 hours after a fire destroyed most of Middleton High School.
The unprecedented showing of support for the Middleton wrestling team—forced to compete at Purple Sage because of the blaze—actually served as an impromptu community pep rally. Signs hung in the gym proclaimed the school would "rise from the ashes." And the cheering for the team was so deafening, no one could hear the buzzer ...”
Six days after the fire, Middleton teachers, teens return to school
“Middleton School District Superintendent Rich Bauscher didn't take a break at all Wednesday as nearly 770 students went back to class for the first time since their high school burned in a five-alarm fire Feb. 1.
He said the reopening was a success, and he credits his principals and staff.
"Last Friday, I (told staff that) I wanted to reopen on Wednesday," Bauscher said. "I said,
'I can't move that fast, but we can.'" ...”
Idaho loses out on merit-pay grant again
Idaho misses deadline for federal matching funds; Caldwell would have received $6 million
“A proposed pilot project in teacher merit pay has been dropped after the state, for the second time, lost out on a federal grant by not committing state matching funds. The project would have included the Caldwell School District.
"We're done for this year," said Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene. He called instead for lawmakers to form an interim study committee next summer to look at teacher mentoring, performance pay and related issues ... ”
Lawmakers propose bill to rehire retired teachers
School districts would be allowed to rehire retired teachers as full-time employees under legislation introduced by Idaho lawmakers.
“Education groups say the move is needed because of expected teacher shortages as districts try to meet the increased demands of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Currently, administrators and teachers can come out of retirement, but are limited to 20 hours a week ...”
Officials slow down trimester plan
“Meridian School District officials expect to put the brakes on proposals to change schedules at the district's four high schools until they get more information from parents.
Linda Clark, district superintendent, had hoped to bring a proposal to the school board by the end of this school year. Now, she says, that could be postponed until as late as October ...”
Idaho schools, counties face loss of federal payments
Washington
Craig hopes for end to partisan impasse over continuation of rural program
“Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig and Oregon Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden came together in 2000 to craft a bill that would keep federal payments flowing to forest counties and schools after timber receipts from federal lands dried up ...”
House approves bill to help ease teacher shortage
Wire
“The Idaho House has passed a bill that would make it easier for districts to hire retired school teachers as full-time employees.
The bill is in response to teacher shortages and a struggle to meet requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act ...”
Sawtooth middle-schoolers teach good character through drama
They come to school early and often stay late.
But then, they've got a special mission.
Besides learning their three Rs at Sawtooth Middle School in Meridian School District, these kids are charged with helping spread the word on good character traits.
They don't do it through lecture or finger-wagging. They do it most Tuesday mornings with skits in front of students in the minutes before school officially starts.
Meet The Acting Troupe. They are Sawtooth students who have turned their love for theater into skits that teach kids the importance of things like reliability ...
Teacher tenure plan needs more thought
“A bill to rewrite Idaho's teacher tenure law is going nowhere this year. Its legislative champions—Senate President Pro Tem Robert Geddes and House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke—are fine with that. They say they are introducing the bill this year with no intention of passing it. They want players on all sides to discuss the issue before the 2008 session ... ”