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Textbook Delay Won't Free Up Funds: Curriculum Money Not Available for Other District Needs

Posted on: Monday, 5 June 2006, 12:01 CDT

By Heather Woodward, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

Jun. 5--OLYMPIA - Though a plan to buy new middle school math textbooks is on hold, the Olympia School Board still is expected to allocate the $500,000 needed to purchase a new math curriculum in the 2006-07 budget.

That's likely to mean the delay in buying the new books doesn't translate into any more money for other Olympia School District needs.

Staying on track

"It does not free up any money in the budget," said Russ Lehman, Olympia School Board president. "We want to make sure we appropriate the money now and put it aside, even though we're not going to implement the new curriculum."

Lehman said he wanted to ensure the district allocates the needed dollars now, so that it stays on track with a plan to purchase a new science curriculum the following school year.

The school board delayed a proposal in May to adopt the Connected Math Project curriculum after receiving a swell of objections from some parents and teachers.

Problem solving

Connected Math - the curriculum recommended by the vast majority of a committee made up of administrators, teachers and parents - uses an approach that focuses more on problem solving and critical thinking and less on mastering basic math skills and formulas.

Proponents say the proposed new curriculum would improve learning and test scores among students who have struggled in the past. Opponents say the approach doesn't ensure that students will master basic math skills - such as computation and working with formulas - that all students will need in high school and beyond.

No new timeline has been set for revisiting the math curriculum issue, though several middle school math teachers have asked to pilot Connected Math in the fall, said Peter Rex, an Olympia School District spokesman.

Rex said he expects the district will start a new process in the fall to allow more time for parents, teachers and the public to review Connected Math.

"There will be quite a bit of time for people to examine it, for outside experts to come in and for people to ask questions," he said.

Despite the objections that were voiced last month, the school board could end up deciding to adopt Connected Math once the extended process has been completed, Lehman said.

"I think we're probably going to wind up with the recommended curriculum," he said. "We want to make sure we're considering all of the options and answering the questions raised by the public and by teachers."

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

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