Tempers flare between school board member and union leader
Proposed changes in School District 361’s Quality Compensation Program, or Q Comp, created an atmosphere of disharmony at the Monday meeting of the Falls School Board.
The Q Comp model is intended to increase student achievement, according to interim Superintendent Kevin Grover, and requires approval by the Local 331 Union, the district, and the state.
Teachers participating in the collaborative program, which requires additional time investment for meetings and the implementation of personal and district growth plans, each receive $3,000 in monetary compensation outside of their regular salaries.
Before the board Monday was a memorandum of understanding that four floating workshop days, which are already part of the program, could be more conveniently used during the teachers’ work days in order to allow “cross collaboration” on some goals.
Board member Stuart Nordquist was vehemently opposed to approving compensation to teachers during the hours in which they are already salaried to teach, saying it was nonsensical to cut time in the classroom if the ultimate goal of Q Comp is to improve student achievement.
Union leader Marie Blumhardt was on hand to explain that she is hearing from teams of teachers that newly imposed standards and an intense focus on achievement plans are requiring more execution time. Blumhardt called Q Comp “an entire conceptual program” involving much more than the four unstructured days in question.
Nordquist, becoming angry, cited a previous comment by Blumhardt made in another setting (which she says was in jest): “What the hell, we practically have Fridays off.” As Blumhardt tried to interrupt, Nordquist kept going. “The speed of the leader determines the pace of the pack, and you’re one of the leaders.”
“You obviously don’t understand my sense of humor,” Blumhardt shot back. “Everyone got it but you. Don’t take my humor out of context, Stuart.”
“I didn’t find it humorous,” Nordquist replied. “How do you educate kids when you’re not in the classroom with them? At best, it’s a joke; at worst, it’s a farce.”
After further clarifications by board members, the board approved the Q Comp adjustment, voting 5-1, with Nordquist the only opposition.
In other business, a representative from the Falls Figure Skating Club advised the board that clarifications on the lettering policy for figure skaters were needed. Currently, a figure skater may letter in the sport but it is categorized under recreation, and not athletics, a differential the representative said the club would like to change. “We’d like to make it more inclusive, and less exclusive,” she said.
The board will continue to discuss the issue.
Also speaking to the board Monday was Rachel Hasbargen-Glowack, present with Rosa Christianson, to present an update on an upcoming educational tour to Costa Rica for the district’s Spanish students. The trip leaders are requesting that the district fund the group’s bus transportation to the Twin Cities so all arrive at the same time at the airport. Board member Roger Jerome said he could see other groups requesting the same thing. Hasbargen-Glowack replied that academic excursions should be distinguished from athletic trips for this expenditure.
Handshakes and certificates were given to five newly tenured teachers in the district. They are Jay Boyle, Derek Dowty, Kevin Erickson, Hasbargen-Glowack and Nick Schoenecker. A reception with cake was held for the teachers following the meeting.
Tim Everson reported that 103 seniors are currently slated “to walk” in the FHS graduating ceremony at 3 p.m. on June 6 at Falls High School.
Everson also reported that Northwest Evaluation Association test scores will soon be received and reviewed; and the three-tier system will be developed for the upcoming school year.
Response to Intervention coordinator Andy Fougner distributed reports on the recently installed RTI program, noting that there have been “great gains in reading, double-digit improvements” for the district’s students. He said students are checking out more books than ever from the libraries; teachers are teaching on more individual levels; a tracing system is in place to pinpoint students’ areas of need; and many districts in other locations are inquiring locally on 361’s implementation of the program.
The board discussed the options for increasing the district’s sixth-grade sections, should the current enrollment of about 90 students continue to grow.
Grover questioned the board on how the district would choose to structure its college-level classes as part of the Community Education Partners or CEP program. Everson said the district should consider scheduling a “four-credit class” the same as Rainy River Community College (time wise) — in order to be competitive.
Grover also updated the board on a school advertisement mailer which would be sent out in the area.
