EDITOR: After seven weeks of discussion, the Live Oak High
School teaching staff voted 43-41 to discontinue implementation of
the $498,700 Small Learning Community Grant. The Board of Education
accepted the Small Learning Communities grant at its October 6,
2003, meeting and members are currently aware of the vote that has
taken place at Live Oak High School.
EDITOR:
After seven weeks of discussion, the Live Oak High School teaching staff voted 43-41 to discontinue implementation of the $498,700 Small Learning Community Grant. The Board of Education accepted the Small Learning Communities grant at its October 6, 2003, meeting and members are currently aware of the vote that has taken place at Live Oak High School.
The staff at Live Oak High School had been discussing components addressed in the grant for the last three years in response to the student achievement gaps identified by the Office of Civil Rights, and Comite, and confirmed by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accreditation (WASC) team. These student achievement needs have also been identified in the federally mandated LEAP Plan, state required school-level plan and the WASC Focus On Learners Self Study Action Plans.
All departments have made the commitment to address the WASC Action Plans developed by the staff at Live Oak High School as required in the accreditation process.
The five areas of focus are:
• Literacy
• Differentiated Instruction
• Personal and Academic Support
• Career Pathways
• Alignment of Standard and Multiple Assessments
Progress toward the five focus areas are documented in each of the last three years’ school level plans. We are in the third year of responding to the WASC recommendations and work must continue.
This year we are required to complete a mid-year report and to submit it to WASC. Our progress will be reviewed in the spring of 2004 by members of the original accreditation team. Additional challenges to be addressed this year are planning for integration of a 9-12 curriculum program. Essential in this planning will be the inclusion of ninth grade staff in the ongoing work of school improvement.
Nancy Serigstad, principal,
Live Oak High School
