Kennewick Archive

  • Kennewick School Board Meeting August 15, 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 Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Ron Mabry.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Jack Anderson, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, Lorraine Cooper, Doug Carl and Sam Schick.  Also present was a representative of KEA and several and members of the public.   Dawn Adams was absent and no reason was given.  Was it an excused or unexcused absence?   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:33 PM by Heather Kintzley who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  Sam Schick introduced Christin Swaggert, the new assistant director of food services.

    Kennewick School Board Report for August 15

    Posted on August 20, 2012 | No Comments
    Kennewick School Board Meeting August 15, 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 Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Ron Mabry.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Jack Anderson, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, Lorraine Cooper, Doug Carl and Sam Schick.  Also present was a representative of KEA and several and members of the public.   Dawn Adams was absent and no reason was given.  Was it an excused or unexcused absence?   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:33 PM by Heather Kintzley who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  Sam Schick introduced Christin Swaggert, the new assistant director of food services.

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  • This report is from Thursday’s (8-16-2012) Tri-City Herald. Principals in the Kennewick School District will be required to give teachers in their buildings two chances to give feedback before switching to a new grading system. The new requirement was part of several amendments approved Wednesday by the Kennewick School Board, the last step in making changes to the district’s grading policy. Read more here:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/08/16/2064300/feedback-required-before-switch.html

    Feedback required before switch made on grading systems in Kennewick schools

    Posted on August 16, 2012 | No Comments
    This report is from Thursday’s (8-16-2012) Tri-City Herald. Principals in the Kennewick School District will be required to give teachers in their buildings two chances to give feedback before switching to a new grading system. The new requirement was part of several amendments approved Wednesday by the Kennewick School Board, the last step in making changes to the district’s grading policy. Read more here:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/08/16/2064300/feedback-required-before-switch.html

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting July 18, 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 Kinzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Ron Mabry.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Jack Anderson, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, Ron Cone, Lorraine Cooper, and Bev Henderson.  Also present was a representative of KEA and several and members of the public.   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:35 PM by Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  Teri Staudinger, President of the Kennewick Education Association (KEA), spoke concerning Policy 2420.  KEA surveyed its members and Teri gave the results, in writing, to the board.  Over...

    Kennewick School Board Report for July 18

    Posted on August 13, 2012 | No Comments
    Kennewick School Board Meeting July 18, 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 Kinzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Ron Mabry.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Jack Anderson, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, Ron Cone, Lorraine Cooper, and Bev Henderson.  Also present was a representative of KEA and several and members of the public.   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:35 PM by Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  Teri Staudinger, President of the Kennewick Education Association (KEA), spoke concerning Policy 2420.  KEA surveyed its members and Teri gave the results, in writing, to the board.  Over...

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  • In the grievance over Standards Based Grading the Kennewick Education Association (KEA) has been representing Kennewick teachers in consultations with Kennewick administration.  KEA has recommended the district establish a committee of parents, teachers and other stakeholders to study grading policy before the school board adopts a new one.  This common sense approach has been rejected by the board and administration who are proceeding with a new policy which will be adopted in August unless there are significant objections.  By acting during summer vacation the board effectively minimizes participation by parents and teachers who may be out of town.   A provision of the proposal giving final authority to building principals is likely to be most problematic as experience has shown. Below are several communications about the process and possible outcomes.  This information is current as of July 20th.

    KSD School Board is Establishing New District Grading Policy

    Posted on July 26, 2012 | No Comments
    In the grievance over Standards Based Grading the Kennewick Education Association (KEA) has been representing Kennewick teachers in consultations with Kennewick administration.  KEA has recommended the district establish a committee of parents, teachers and other stakeholders to study grading policy before the school board adopts a new one.  This common sense approach has been rejected by the board and administration who are proceeding with a new policy which will be adopted in August unless there are significant objections.  By acting during summer vacation the board effectively minimizes participation by parents and teachers who may be out of town.   A provision of the proposal giving final authority to building principals is likely to be most problematic as experience has shown. Below are several communications about the process and possible outcomes.  This information is current as of July 20th.

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  • By Ty Beaver, Tri-City Herald Kennewick students could see a new grading system based only on academic work and that allows them to redo assignments and tests for credit under possible amendments to Kennewick School District policy. Kennewick School Board members discussed the possible changes to the district’s grades policy Wednesday night. Board members voiced some reservations about some of the changes, which are derived from aspects of a standards-based system already in place in three of the district’s four middle schools. However, they said a consistent and understandable grading system needs to be applied across the district to ensure students are on a level playing field. “We have a lot of things that need to be fixed in our system,” said board Chairwoman Dawn Adams. Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/06/14/1986256/kennewick-school-board-starts.html

    Kennewick School Board starts work to fix grading system

    Posted on June 14, 2012 | 4 Comments
    By Ty Beaver, Tri-City Herald Kennewick students could see a new grading system based only on academic work and that allows them to redo assignments and tests for credit under possible amendments to Kennewick School District policy. Kennewick School Board members discussed the possible changes to the district’s grades policy Wednesday night. Board members voiced some reservations about some of the changes, which are derived from aspects of a standards-based system already in place in three of the district’s four middle schools. However, they said a consistent and understandable grading system needs to be applied across the district to ensure students are on a level playing field. “We have a lot of things that need to be fixed in our system,” said board Chairwoman Dawn Adams. Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/06/14/1986256/kennewick-school-board-starts.html

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  • By Ty Beaver, Tri-City Herald KENNEWICK — Lorie Blehm had her concerns about standards-based grading when her son started sixth grade at Horse Heaven Hills Middle School in Kennewick. She and her husband were alarmed by the new grading system and how different it was from traditional grade-point systems. And also because it didn’t seem to penalize students for missed work, or factor in behavior, attendance or class participation, she said. But, she said, they decided to give the new system the benefit of the doubt. “Unfortunately, even after two years, I still struggle to understand what the report card is telling me,” she said in an email. The Kennewick School Board is set to hear a grievance about the grading system used at three of the district’s four middle schools at a closed-door hearing Wednesday before it discusses district...

    Kennewick board to hear grievance about standards-based grading

    Posted on June 11, 2012 | No Comments
    By Ty Beaver, Tri-City Herald KENNEWICK — Lorie Blehm had her concerns about standards-based grading when her son started sixth grade at Horse Heaven Hills Middle School in Kennewick. She and her husband were alarmed by the new grading system and how different it was from traditional grade-point systems. And also because it didn’t seem to penalize students for missed work, or factor in behavior, attendance or class participation, she said. But, she said, they decided to give the new system the benefit of the doubt. “Unfortunately, even after two years, I still struggle to understand what the report card is telling me,” she said in an email. The Kennewick School Board is set to hear a grievance about the grading system used at three of the district’s four middle schools at a closed-door hearing Wednesday before it discusses district...

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  • New isn’t always better, different isn’t always bad We are glad to see young people getting involved in the decision-making process. When eight Kennewick middle school students delivered to the school board 150 letters addressing their grading system, we were impressed.They sure weren’t looking at the rest of the community for role models. As a whole, adults are a demonstrably apathetic when it comes to attending school board or city council meetings. Regardless of whether the grading system is revised, at least the students have a better feel for how to petition their elected officials. That’s a lesson worth learning. Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/06/06/1972140/new-isnt-always-better-different.html

    Standards Based Grading – the Tri-City Herald Speaks Out

    Posted on June 6, 2012 | 1 Comment
    New isn’t always better, different isn’t always bad We are glad to see young people getting involved in the decision-making process. When eight Kennewick middle school students delivered to the school board 150 letters addressing their grading system, we were impressed.They sure weren’t looking at the rest of the community for role models. As a whole, adults are a demonstrably apathetic when it comes to attending school board or city council meetings. Regardless of whether the grading system is revised, at least the students have a better feel for how to petition their elected officials. That’s a lesson worth learning. Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/06/06/1972140/new-isnt-always-better-different.html

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  • Ty Beaver, Tri-City Herald reporter, relates discussion of Kennewick grading policies from a school board retreat on Wednesday.  Giving principals more control over how students in their schools are graded and creating a more consistent grading system were among the topics discussed Wednesday during a Kennewick School Board retreat. The board met Wednesday night to begin reviewing the school year and district policies and philosophies. No changes have been made yet, but board members voiced a desire to see a more consistent and transparent system to evaluate student performance that would hold students accountable but not penalize those who don’t grasp a subject’s concepts right away. Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/05/17/1942889/kennewick-school-board-discusses.html#storylink=cpy    

    Kennewick School Board discusses consistent grading practices

    Posted on May 17, 2012 | No Comments
    Ty Beaver, Tri-City Herald reporter, relates discussion of Kennewick grading policies from a school board retreat on Wednesday.  Giving principals more control over how students in their schools are graded and creating a more consistent grading system were among the topics discussed Wednesday during a Kennewick School Board retreat. The board met Wednesday night to begin reviewing the school year and district policies and philosophies. No changes have been made yet, but board members voiced a desire to see a more consistent and transparent system to evaluate student performance that would hold students accountable but not penalize those who don’t grasp a subject’s concepts right away. Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/05/17/1942889/kennewick-school-board-discusses.html#storylink=cpy    

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