Question:

I realize that I am a new teacher and my ideals may be high for how much curriculum should be covered in elementary. However, I am saddened at the fact that our school has been highly encouraged to exclude certain content in favor of the “tested” subjects. When did social studies become a thing of the past for elementary schools?

Response:

While the board has designated a 3-hour literacy block, they intend for teacher to be integrating from other content areas (such as social studies). This is the express reason that the district has developed and published our interconnections curriculum to provide resources to teachers and ensure those non-tested subjects are taught. We have a prescribed social studies curriculum at every level of elementary. The board expects these topics to be addressed and integrated into that literacy block as a reading component. The district cares enough about the subject of social studies that we have a specialist at the district level to support the subject. Dawn Hauser is her name and feel free to contact her if you need additional assistance or have other questions. Thanks for the question.

Question:

Thank you for having a blog and for answering so many different types of questions. My concerned is the high number of ELL students in my classroom who are not prepared to start kindergarten. Which the Common Core being implemented I would like to see some meaningful support given to the teachers who put so much time and energy into helping all their students be successful at school. I understand that kindergarten is not required in the state of Utah and with others states (OK,TX) having Pre-K required before starting kindergarten. Why are we missing the boat on early childhood education?

Response:

We don’t believe we are missing the boat. While the state may not mandates early childhood programs, we are acutely aware of the positive impact early intervention can have on any student in terms of future academic achievement. Consequently, we have the most robust, comprehensive, high quality preschool program in the state and have a curriculum model and service pattern that is often replicated in other areas and touted by the State Office of Education. Additionally, we not only offer our preschool program in nearly fifty Granite elementary schools, we offer extended-day kindergarten in some as well for identified students whose lack of skills puts them at risk for success in kindergarten.

If you need more info, please contact our director of Preschool Services, Brenda VanGorder or Rob Averett on extended-day K.

Thanks,

Question:

So far I really like Canvas and a lot of it’s components. Unfortunately, for those of us who cannot yet use the grading program as part of our Canvas we cannot fully utilize it. Using the grade program allows students to see what is coming and to keep all of their classes in order. When will the rest of us be able to use the grade program in Canvas? I have a lot to learn with the program I know, but it feels wrong to only use part of the program.

Response:

We currently have a new grading program that is close to release. When we learned of Canvas this summer we saw it’s grading features. Dale Roberts in Information Systems is working with Canvas to see if the grading features in Canvas can do everything our grading program can do. Part of this has to do with programs talking to Discovery (our student information system).

Great Question!

Question:

We all had the big day of training for the new common core and for some new ESL information. In talking to teacher friends, principals have been giving out different numbers of relicensure points to their staffs. Some principals have given as many as 7 hours, some as low as 5 or 5.5. Some teachers were told that the office of Ed Equity would be sending us relicensure points for the ESL component. So much was done to make sure everyone was there on the same day throughout the district, learning the same things at the same time; all things being equal, shouldn’t we all be receiving the same compensation? What are the guidelines for this compensation and what can we do to make sure everyone was compensated equally and fairly?

Response:

We did standardize the training under the direction of Mary Alice Rudelich and Charlene Lui; they did not agree to provide any relicensure points through either of their departments, however. The principals who were charged with organizing the training day are the ones who have been providing the relicensure points. Some shortened the hours of the day, some evidently spread the training over two days, etc. so they have determined how many points they wanted their staffs to receive.

Thanks for the question.

Question:

I have a question/concern…why is it that teachers who work at a year round school have to count their off track time when taking time off for things like maternity leave? I am having a baby and it is due right when I go off track. I work part time and so I don’t qualify for FMLA. I was planning on taking my off track time and then using all my sick days and taking a few additional days without pay. Now, I have found out that I only get 6 weeks (which includes my off track time) so if I want to take all the time that I was planning I am going to have to take even more days without pay…even though I will still have sick days available. Isn’t our off track time the equivalent of a traditional school teacher’s summer? How can our off track time be taken? I hope this makes sense…it is something that has really been bothering me so if you could help me to understand I would really appreciate it! Thank you so much!

Response:

Granite’s practice has been to allow teachers (all employees) to use accrued sick leave for a period of six weeks following the birth of a baby (eight weeks if it is c-section). We do not treat teachers at year-round schools differently than we treat teachers at traditional schools. In most circumstances (I say most, because there are always exceptions), physicians indicate that the recovery time for delivery is six weeks for normal delivery. Thus, when an employee submits a Diagnosis and Functional Limitations (DFL) form, their own doctor indicates the can return at the six week mark.

As far as the off-track time being equivalent to summer, that is correct. An employee at a year-round school does not use sick leave while off track, just like an employee who is off for the summer does not use sick leave. With that being said, if a teacher at a traditional school gives birth in June, the six weeks that they have to use for recovery begins at that time. Which means, by the time they return to school in August, they do not need the six-weeks to recovery (that has already occurred). For that employee, they still have a few leave options: (1) If they qualify for FMLA, they can take up to 12-weeks off (we do not count summer or off track time in this 12-weeks), (2) If the do not qualify for FMLA, they can apply for two consecutive 15-Day Leaves of Absence Without Pay, or if there are complications (other than normal post-partum recovery), they can use their accrued sick leave until released by their physician.

If a teacher does not qualify for FMLA, according to the negotiated agreement, they must submit a DFL every 21 calendar days. Unless we have questions on the information provided in the DFL, we will accept the date the physician indicates as the “Expected Date of Return.”

Good Question!