School District launches Learning Services Advisory Committee
Published 1:11 pm Wednesday, November 12, 2014
On Oct. 30, 2014, the Mercer Island School District held the inaugural meeting of the Learning Services Advisory Committee. Executive director of learning and technology services Jennifer Wrights co-chairs the committee along with director of learning services Fred Rundle.
“The purpose of the Learning Services Advisory Committee is to afford opportunities for parents, staff and administrators to provide input in the instructional program of the Mercer Island School District,” said Wright during the first meeting. “This committee is the first of its kind in our district. Members will act as a sounding board for learning services and our meetings will provide a venue for stakeholders to offer input and feedback. We want as many people informed about the district as possible.”
The committee has two primary charges. The first charge is disseminating information about current and upcoming learning service initiatives, including timeline, students impacted and funding implications. The second is for the committee to gather and provide input, perspective and insight on programs currently in place as well as potential instructional programs not yet adopted.
The critical topics discussed in the first meeting included kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade literacy curriculums, the Tier 2 reading program, Smarter Balanced assessments, graduation requirements, and the feasibility of elementary-level foreign language.
The committee of nearly 20 people included parents, staff and administrators who represent a wide perspective on the district. It will meet four times throughout the school year. More information including meeting minutes can be found online at mercerislandschools.org.
