kennewick school district Archive

  • Kennewick School Board Meeting May 9, 2012 Section 1: What transpired Personal comments (based on my Leadership WSSDA training) in Italics Section 2: What was not included Section 1 Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks (5:35), Ben Messinger, Ron Mabry, and Maricarmen Garza.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Jack Anderson, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, Lorraine Cooper, Bev Henderson, Steve Biehn, Vickiy VanBeek, Dennis Boatman and Ethan Schwebke.  Also present, a representative of KEA, several members of a Boy Scout Troop and members of the public.  The room was almost full.   The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by president Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

    Kennewick School Board Report for May 9

    Posted on May 13, 2012 | 1 Comment
    Kennewick School Board Meeting May 9, 2012 Section 1: What transpired Personal comments (based on my Leadership WSSDA training) in Italics Section 2: What was not included Section 1 Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks (5:35), Ben Messinger, Ron Mabry, and Maricarmen Garza.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Jack Anderson, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, Lorraine Cooper, Bev Henderson, Steve Biehn, Vickiy VanBeek, Dennis Boatman and Ethan Schwebke.  Also present, a representative of KEA, several members of a Boy Scout Troop and members of the public.  The room was almost full.   The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by president Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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  • While Kennewick School District and the Kennewick Education Association continue work to resolve the KEA grievance over standards based grading in Kennewick middle schools there is no new information from district or building administrators.  A parent has contacted us regarding her experience with SBG which we are reporting here.  I have chosen to not disclose the writer’s name. I have had an issue with my kiddo at Highlands which prompted me to look closer at the grading situation. I am an educator and I have taught in an elementary which used SBG. We collected students’ work and graded it as usual. Then for our report cards we had to align the questions from our assessments with the standards on our report cards and report on how well students master the standards. All the while teaching and reteaching, monitoring student progress,...

    Standards Based Grading – A Parent’s Concerns

    Posted on May 4, 2012 | 2 Comments
    While Kennewick School District and the Kennewick Education Association continue work to resolve the KEA grievance over standards based grading in Kennewick middle schools there is no new information from district or building administrators.  A parent has contacted us regarding her experience with SBG which we are reporting here.  I have chosen to not disclose the writer’s name. I have had an issue with my kiddo at Highlands which prompted me to look closer at the grading situation. I am an educator and I have taught in an elementary which used SBG. We collected students’ work and graded it as usual. Then for our report cards we had to align the questions from our assessments with the standards on our report cards and report on how well students master the standards. All the while teaching and reteaching, monitoring student progress,...

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  • Hello parents and visitors, I have a few questions.  I have a  daughter who attends school in this district.  Does anyone know the proper procedure when dealing with bullying incidents?  I thought I did.  I was wrong.  I thought our school knew.  I was wrong again.  My daughter dealt with the same bully on a daily basis FOR THE ENTIRE 2011-2012  SCHOOL YEAR.  As parents are we going to stand for this?  I won’t.  Why are there procedures in place, governed by state law if our district does not have to abide by them?  These are a few questions I have for other parents. 

    Have You Ever Felt Victimized by the KSD?

    Posted on April 5, 2012 | No Comments
    Hello parents and visitors, I have a few questions.  I have a  daughter who attends school in this district.  Does anyone know the proper procedure when dealing with bullying incidents?  I thought I did.  I was wrong.  I thought our school knew.  I was wrong again.  My daughter dealt with the same bully on a daily basis FOR THE ENTIRE 2011-2012  SCHOOL YEAR.  As parents are we going to stand for this?  I won’t.  Why are there procedures in place, governed by state law if our district does not have to abide by them?  These are a few questions I have for other parents. 

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  • On page 6 of the Tri-City Herald PROGRESS 2012 edition in an article titled District charts course with new strategic plan, Superintendent Dave Bond describes the principles and “North Star” goals which will guide the work of Kennewick School District for the next decade and beyond.  When that edition is available online we will link to it here. Until then, information about the KSD Strategic Plan and North Star goals is available here:

    Dave Bond Describes the KSD Strategic Plan

    Posted on March 28, 2012 | No Comments
    On page 6 of the Tri-City Herald PROGRESS 2012 edition in an article titled District charts course with new strategic plan, Superintendent Dave Bond describes the principles and “North Star” goals which will guide the work of Kennewick School District for the next decade and beyond.  When that edition is available online we will link to it here. Until then, information about the KSD Strategic Plan and North Star goals is available here:

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  • SBG is still controversial This article was planned as a progress report on implementation of SBG in Kennewick middle schools.  Building administrators have declined requests for information about the status of SBG in their buildings.  While my first interview was with a teacher who favors SBG and generally speaks well of its adoption most staff members I contacted are critical of SBG. Consequently, I make no claim to be representing a comprehensive view of SBG in Kennewick.  My efforts to obtain information from building administrators will continue and will be reported later.   Middle school teachers from Highlands, Horse Heaven Hills and Park met with Kennewick Education Association (KEA) and Washington Education Association (WEA) representatives recently to register concerns about the implementation of SBG.  As a consequence, KEA filed grievances with Kennewick School District on behalf of the Union. Desert...

    Standards Based Grading in KSD Middle Schools – Update on Implementation

    Posted on March 14, 2012 | 5 Comments
    SBG is still controversial This article was planned as a progress report on implementation of SBG in Kennewick middle schools.  Building administrators have declined requests for information about the status of SBG in their buildings.  While my first interview was with a teacher who favors SBG and generally speaks well of its adoption most staff members I contacted are critical of SBG. Consequently, I make no claim to be representing a comprehensive view of SBG in Kennewick.  My efforts to obtain information from building administrators will continue and will be reported later.   Middle school teachers from Highlands, Horse Heaven Hills and Park met with Kennewick Education Association (KEA) and Washington Education Association (WEA) representatives recently to register concerns about the implementation of SBG.  As a consequence, KEA filed grievances with Kennewick School District on behalf of the Union. Desert...

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  •                                                   Tri-City Herald Editorial Comments at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/25/1800190/voters-should-approve-their-local.html    

    Kennewick School District Levy Election

    Posted on January 26, 2012 | No Comments
                                                      Tri-City Herald Editorial Comments at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/25/1800190/voters-should-approve-their-local.html    

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  • I am currently managing the 5 Facebook accounts listed below.  Each has a different focus and much of the content is similar but for a different audience.  You might particularly note Dump Duncan, which has rapidly become a national conduit for in-depth discussion of education policy issues.  Please check them out and join up if you find one (or more) of interest. And, of course, you can participate here by going to the “Write for Kennewick Citizens” button on the right side of this page. Parents Across America-Tri-Cities http://www.facebook.com/groups/listemail/?notif_t=group_activity   School District Citizens http://www.facebook.com/pages/School-District-Citizens/129808317079224   Kennewick School District Citizens http://www.facebook.com/KSDCitizens   Dump Duncan http://www.facebook.com/groups/194348523992014/   Robert Valiant http://www.facebook.com/  

    How the reader can participate in the education debate

    Posted on January 15, 2012 | No Comments
    I am currently managing the 5 Facebook accounts listed below.  Each has a different focus and much of the content is similar but for a different audience.  You might particularly note Dump Duncan, which has rapidly become a national conduit for in-depth discussion of education policy issues.  Please check them out and join up if you find one (or more) of interest. And, of course, you can participate here by going to the “Write for Kennewick Citizens” button on the right side of this page. Parents Across America-Tri-Cities http://www.facebook.com/groups/listemail/?notif_t=group_activity   School District Citizens http://www.facebook.com/pages/School-District-Citizens/129808317079224   Kennewick School District Citizens http://www.facebook.com/KSDCitizens   Dump Duncan http://www.facebook.com/groups/194348523992014/   Robert Valiant http://www.facebook.com/  

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  • 2011 was our first full year of reporting and we are proud of our results.  This site has established a place for local citizens to publish their ideas about education to a wider audience and enables anyone to comment on featured articles. Now for 2011’s top 12 - 12. In January the Tri-City Herald reported the existence of KSD Citizens. Link:  http://ksdcitizens.org/2011/01/16/advocate-group-keeps-tabs-on-kennewick-schools/   11. The Tri-City Herald as “The Voice of the Mid-Columbia” did not accept our invitation to investigate the development of the Children’s Reading Foundation and the improper fiscal relationship between the foundation and the Kennewick School District.  This is a story which has yet to be completed. We believe Kennewick families and taxpayers deserve to know the details of this story and expect the Herald to fulfill its mission in that regard.  Meanwhile, we will continue to...

    KSD Citizens Top 12 Stories for 2011

    Posted on January 8, 2012 | No Comments
    2011 was our first full year of reporting and we are proud of our results.  This site has established a place for local citizens to publish their ideas about education to a wider audience and enables anyone to comment on featured articles. Now for 2011’s top 12 - 12. In January the Tri-City Herald reported the existence of KSD Citizens. Link:  http://ksdcitizens.org/2011/01/16/advocate-group-keeps-tabs-on-kennewick-schools/   11. The Tri-City Herald as “The Voice of the Mid-Columbia” did not accept our invitation to investigate the development of the Children’s Reading Foundation and the improper fiscal relationship between the foundation and the Kennewick School District.  This is a story which has yet to be completed. We believe Kennewick families and taxpayers deserve to know the details of this story and expect the Herald to fulfill its mission in that regard.  Meanwhile, we will continue to...

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