Arlee considers expanding accreditation
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ARLEE — Superintendent George Linthicum is taking extra steps to get Arlee stamped as a highly accredited school. He invited Advanced Ed presenter Dan Sybrant to last week’s board meeting to explain the national accreditation program with the possibility of expanding it into the elementary school. The high school was accredited by the program last spring.
“It would be a good idea to go district wide,” Linthicum said.
Many schools routinely receive state accreditation by following a set of standards. The additional accreditation from Advanced Ed gives the school a detailed list of ways they can improve.
“It’s an internal and external analysis of the school,” he said. “Bottom line, no school has to do this.”
Sybrant explained that the state doesn’t usually bring in a team to analyze the school unless there is a problem. He added that both systems of accreditation are valuable.
“We use volunteer educators that are available,” he said.
The program has a $650 per school fee plus an additional fee for an external review, which can be paid for through school improvement grants. At this time, the board was only asked to think about expanding the program.
Teacher Willie Wright recapped the overall results of a bullying workshop the school held earlier in the month with outside facilitators.
“This workshop allowed them to get to know each other on a personal basis,” she said. “To me, it was a blessing to have them work with our children and to have the tools to be able to help others.”
Ashley Gaumer was approved as next year’s high school cross-country coach. Brett Sproull is the junior high cross-country coach. Todd Buffalo and Zanen Pitts were approved as substitute teachers.
Elementary Principal Don Holst reminded folks that the school year is at the halfway mark after the winter break. The next school board meeting is on Tuesday, Jan.13, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. in the district office.
