School board special session studies new math program options

Math was the primary subject of study for La Conner School District board members at their April 11 study session. District librarian Beth Clothier made a presentation on two new math curricula being considered for adoption next year at the nearly two-hour special hybrid session.

Clothier outlined the pros and cons of Bridges to Math and iReady Classroom Mathematics, the program finalists from four curriculum options reviewed by members of the La Conner Elementary School math adoption team. The board will choose a program April 25.

Team members have visited other districts to see how their staff implements the respective curricula, compared options and presented them to La Conner teachers.

La Conner Schools is eyeing a math curriculum designed to both increase standardized student test scores and promote higher order critical thinking problem-solving skills.

Clothier said Bridges to Math and iReady Classroom Mathematics provide extensive supplemental materials and professional development opportunities for teachers.

“Both,” said Clothier, “have strong points.”

Election math has to be calculated. School board director district boundary adjustments depend on updated census figures. Each director district had about 940 residents based on the 2010 census. That would increase to 1,027 residents per director district.

The challenge is re-drawing director districts to reflect that growth with minimum deviation without diluting voting strength among constituent groups.

Some preliminary models proposed by Sammamish Data Systems of Bellevue suggest extending the Town of La Conner director district west across the channel to include part of the Swinomish district, which experienced significant population growth between 2010-20, or perhaps gain a slice of the Shelter Bay district.

Board members expressed concern with those approaches and have asked the Sammamish group to consider alternatives for future discussion.

“You need to take into consideration diversity instead of just population,” said board member John Agen. “Shelter Bay is different from the town of La Conner.”

The board on Monday also discussed summer school game plans involving increased collaboration between the Swinomish Youth Center and La Conner schools programs. Members voiced support for placing greater academic skill-building into summer student activities in both programs.