New ‘23-24 teaching strategy programs purchased for CCS

    Teachers at Chase County Schools will be introduced to some new teaching strategies next year.
    Approval of the programs came at the May 9 CCS board of education meeting. It was just one item of business at a busy, two and a half hour meeting.
    While it wasn’t unanimous, the board approved a professional development program for K-12 teachers to start this fall for the 2023-24 school year.
    On a 7-2 vote, three different professional development programs were purchased at a cost of $64,938.50.
    There was considerable discussion on implementing three programs, if all three were needed and the cost.
    The programs approved include Kagan Strategies for all K-12 teachers, SIOP Training for grades 5-12 and an English Language program for K-4 staff.
    In addition to the cost, some board members wondered whether it would be too time-consuming and too much for each teacher to be introduced to two new strategies. Concern was also expressed about recent programs purchased and if they are being used.
    Board member Carrie Terryberry said while the teachers want some strategies, it concerned her that whenever there is new administration coming on board, the preferred PD programs change.
    While saying professional development is needed, she added, “We get a new administrator and they want something different.”
    She said in her 7 years on the board it’s just “whatever the next one wants.”
    7-12 Principal Chris Barr said in his previous districts, which were Kagan-trained, the district decided what it wanted for PD.
    “So if the principal wasn’t up to snuff he got trained, or the teachers got trained, so you were always doing the same thing,” he said.
    Barr said they are not saying CCS teachers are deficient, but “we want to sharpen tools.”
    He sees two deficiencies at CCS—engagement of lower level learners and being ready with skills to use when a lower level student does come to a teacher for help.

    Board member Cindy Arterburn said she could favor adding one of the programs this year.
    “I feel two programs is throwing a lot at them,” she said.
    Earlier in the meeting during public comment, language arts teacher Jill Bauerle said the cost for these programs surprised her.
    “I’ve been in education 37 years and I can’t see any professional development program worth $60,000,” she said.
    She believes having two different programs introduced for each teacher would be difficult to put into the classroom, and also noted after buying the Marzano strategies program a few years ago, “we haven’t opened those books this year.”
    Supt. Adam Lambert said while the cost does look like a lot, it’s not anything different than what he experienced as a teacher.
    He explained what each program involves.
    Kagan is a district-wide (all K-12) program and focuses on active engagement of students in the classroom. It gives teachers more ways to teach their lessons, he said.
    “It’s adding tools to the toolbox,” he said of Kagan.
    Kagan staff would provide three days of professional development and also be here on four school days, helping teachers to implement their strategies.
    Individually, Kagan is priced at $29,338.50.
    EL training is earmarked for grade K-4 teachers as CCS is working toward revamping the English Language Learners program, he said.
    “To do that, the K-4 teachers are going to need some specific EL training,” he said.
    The EL program costs $9,000.
    SIOP is geared to grade 5-12 staff and supplements the Marzano program purchased a few years ago and suggested by then Principal Mike Sorensen.
    Curriculum coordinator April Lambert said SIOP is geared toward populations of students struggling to access academic content and felt it was a better fit for the CCS district.
    SIOP stands for Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol. Sheltered instruction is teaching in a way that makes the content more accessible for students with academic obstacles, like poverty or ELL. Observation protocol refers to observations administrators can make during instruction.
    SIOP, individually, has a $26,600 price tag.
    Supt. Lambert said the training will take up six of the nine scheduled PD days in 2023-24.
    He agreed that it is beneficial for teachers to have time alone in their classrooms.
    “We put on the district calendar days for professional development and these are some really high-calibre programs for teachers and I don’t see that as a negative,” Lambert said.
    He said Marzano is still considered part of the CCS district.
    “We may have fallen short a bit” on using Marzano, and haven’t used the books, Supt. Lambert said.
    He said administration used a Gallup survey sent to teachers to come up with the three programs proposed, but did not ask teachers to suggest specific training programs.
    Voting to buy the three programs were Josh Fries, Lynsy Foote, Willy O’Neil, Karl Meeske, Dan Reeves, Steve Wallin and Terryberry.
    Voting no were Jeff Olsen and Cindy Arterburn.

Other school board business
From three submitted, The Home Decor of Imperial was awarded the bid for new carpeting for nine classrooms along the main high school hallway. Home Decor’s winning bid was for $24,333.46. Select Abbey Carpet & Tile of North Platte bid $27,612.42, while McCook Floor Covering submitted a $26,602 bid. Supt. Adam Lambert said CCS maintenance staff will do the installation and they expect to utilize inmates from the McCook Work Ethic Camp for the carpet tear-out. Work will be done this summer.
A slight change in policy was approved regarding 8th graders who take high school level courses. The change to Policy 5208  would clarify that 8th graders successfully completing a high school course will gain credit for the class, but it will not meet graduation requirements. Supt. Lambert explained, as an example, when an 8th grader completes high school algebra, he/she will get the class credit, but the student will still have to take the required 3 math classes (24 semester hours) while in high school to graduate. Using the same example, Lambert said the change prevents a student who completed algebra in 8th grade to take only two math classes instead of three as a high school student. It passed 9-0.
A contract with Rural Rehabilitation Services and Jessie Kerchal of Wauneta was renewed for 2023-24 to serve as the CCS early childhood speech language pathologist at $81 per hour and mileage.
CCS will have a German Exchange student during the 2023-24 school year. 7-12 Principal Chris Barr said he has been working with the Imperial Rotary Club on the exchange.
For 40 minutes at the start of the meeting, the board met in closed session with their attorney via zoom to discuss strategy and receive legal advice on pending, imminent or threatened litigation. There was no action taken.