A call to intervene

Rick Hoover - NewsPress

May 11, 2008 12:05 am

— Stillwater Board of Education members Tuesday are scheduled to consider an intervention program for high school students experiencing problems in math and reading.
The board initially was to hear the presentation by Stillwater High School Principal Uwe Gordon at the April board meeting, but Gordon was delayed at a high school function and could not appear at the board building before the meeting was adjourned.
Gordon’s proposal, as contained in the board’s meeting packet, calls for the addition of two teachers (one math specialist and one reading specialist) to target ninth graders who received a D or lower in algebra, a D or lower in English or are reading below an eighth grade level.
“We have a plan and an opportunity to solve this problem and help kids learn and improve themselves in all academic areas,” Gordon writes. “This should also improve our graduation rate, attendance rate and all academic performance results.”
Also Tuesday, board members could approve curriculum maps for the junior high and high school literature strand. The maps were presented for review at the board’s regular meeting in April. The board also is to receive a recommendation for junior high and high school language arts literature textbooks.
Board members will be asked to approve an $118,006.97 bid from B&L Heating and Air Conditioning to replace rooftop units at Stillwater Middle School (10 units), SHS (four), Highland Park Elementary (3) and Richmond Elementary (three). One of the units to be replaced at the middle school caused the building to be evacuated last week due to smoke. The bid calls for completion of the work in 27 days.
In other business Tuesday, the board will:
• Receive a technology update from Kevin Calvert, the district’s technology director, regarding the status of bond expenditures; and possibly approve the district technology plan for 2008-11;
• Receive an update concerning district demographics from Drs. Allen Finchum and Jon Comer of Oklahoma State University. Finchum and Comer are helping the district attempt to balance attendance zones for the six elementary schools and locate a potential seventh elementary school site.
Also Monday, the board will hold a special session beginning at 5 p.m. and will likely enter closed session to consider appointments and resignations.
The regular meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Both meetings will be in the Board of Education Building, 314 S. Lewis (Third and Main).