Arlee tackles reading scores
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ARLEE – Superintendent George Linthicum is looking for ways to increase the reading scores of students in the Arlee elementary school.
“Last year we brought on a literacy coach to assist teachers to develop individual plans,” he said.
In the next school year, he wants to do more by implementing his concept for a new teacher to work with individual students, but first, he needs board approval. He also stated funding forced him to only look at options for the elementary school.
“I’m looking for a unique person who can understand data to strategically help these kids,” he said.
Linthicum wants to hire a person with a “high level of sophistication” trained in both teaching and diagnostics to look at children’s test scores and understand what they need to improve and then implement a strategy to satisfy those needs.
“Ideally a child would be in the room for a short time until their needs are met,” he said.
Discussion about the position went both ways. People felt that current programs needed to be focused on and others felt that more should be done. The board decided to advertise for the position to see if a person with the needed qualifications exists and then revisit the issue at a later meeting.
“We can advertise it as a possible position,” Linthicum said.
In other news, the board passed both elementary principal Don Holst and high school principal Jim Taylor’s yearly pay negotiations. This year they asked for a 1 percent increase and continued medical coverage. The same as the teachers, they both said.
District Clerk Lonnie Morin’s contract was changed from hourly pay to salary with selected days off closer to the school’s calendar.
“This is an effort to make the position more professional,” she said.
Karen Hunter was hired as the new “head of food service” in the kitchen after former head cook Diane Aguilar retired after 12 years. Hunter said she was excited about the position.
The board elected to increase substitute teacher pay to $78 for certified and $73 for non-certified in an attempt to get more people interested in the position. Both principals noted a shortage in substitute teachers last year.
The next board meeting was scheduled for August 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the district office.
