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La Conner Schools are looking to adopt a new math curriculum intended to better match student learning styles, emphasize development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and improve standardized achievement test scores.

District librarian Beth Clothier told school board members during their hybrid meeting Monday night that a final staff recommendation on which curriculum to select for La Conner’s respective campuses should be presented to the panel at its April 25 session.

“We have a couple favorites,” Clothier said, “but we’re doing our due diligence.”

The current timeline is for a new curriculum to be chosen at the elementary and secondary levels this spring, followed by professional development for teachers to familiarize them with the material prior to instruction next year.

The professional development component will be essential, board president Susie Gardner Deyo said.

“It won’t be successful unless we train all our teachers well,” she noted.

Clothier said the district math adoption team is looking at four potential curricula to purchase. She said two of those will be selected to bring to the board April 11 following receipt of additional staff input.

“That,” she told board members, “will give you a chance to ask some questions. Then we’ll come back to you with a final recommendation on April 25.”

Board members viewed student test score data presented by District Director of Special Programs Andy Wheeler.

“We are going to invest in math,” Deyo said. “We’re going to put the data behind our action and money to bring student math scores up.”

La Conner Schools Superintendent Will Nelson said that in addition to acquiring a new math curriculum, the district next year will hire a “math teacher on special assignment” to circulate among classrooms to provide added instructional support.

“Teachers are collaborating to develop lessons together,” Nelson pointed out. “There are a number of things we’re looking at next year for extra teaching time and teaching differently.”