School District plans for 2020-2021

POMEROY-Superintendent Rachel Gwinn introduced an instructional plan which maintains the number of staff employed for the 2020-21 school year and a new transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. The District will maintain the state required ratio of 17 students to one teacher in K-3 grades, which is also the same average used across all grade levels.

During the school board meeting April 27, Gwinn discussed the possibility of establishing a new TK class. According to a description issued by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), "Transitional Kindergarten is a kindergarten program for children not yet age five who do not have access to high-quality early learning experiences prior to kindergarten and have been deemed by a school district, through a screening process and/or other instruments(s), to be in need of additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten the following year." Children who would be considered for enrollment in the TK class are those who are four years old, and will not turn five before August 31.

Gwinn said the current preschool program offered by the district is paid for through levy funds, but the TK class would be included with the funding for kindergarten from the state. The preschool program has been open to three and four year olds, but the TK class would serve only four year olds. Gwinn stated that the preschool program could not run simultaneously as the TK class, because there would not be enough physical space for both. However, the OSPI document states that "There may be instances where it makes sense to serve preschool and TK students together in the same classroom. As long as TK students are enrolled...as kindergartners and provided kindergarten instruction...they could be claimed for kindergarten funding-even if there are preschool students in the same classroom."

The academic requirements for TK are the same as those for regular kindergarten, and it would be staffed by a certified teacher. The TK program must occur during the regular school year and include 1,000 instructional hours for full-day programs. Gwinn stated that she needs to do more research on the new program to see if it is a good fit for the Pomeroy School District. She also said that they could possibly "roll this out in the fall" for the 2020-2021 school year.

Several teachers will need to be hired to fill open positions, including one elementary teacher, a music/band teacher at both schools, a high school science and world language teacher, and a Family and Consumer Science (FCS) teacher. Mrs. Laura Wommack, hired for the 2019-2020 school year as the FCS teacher, turned in a resignation letter, effective June 10, 2020, which was approved by the Board. Interviews have not yet begun due to the school shutdown. Superintendent, Rachel Gwinn, stated that she would prefer to conduct in-person interviews, and is waiting to see when that may be possible. Applicants have been contacted and made aware of the delay.

The school calendar approved by the board includes a start date of August 31, 2020. However, due to COVID-19 shutdown, that date may be changed through decisions made by Governor Jay Inslee. The usual days off included were Labor Day, Fair Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving, Winter Break, MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Spring Break and Memorial Day. Flex Days are planned for March 4 and 5, 2021, and May 27 and 28, 2021. Professional Development, Employee Planning, and Parent Teacher Conferences are not yet included in the approved calendar.

The next Pomeroy School District Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, 2020, at 6 p.m.