GROUNDBREAKING SCHOOL POLICY PROPOSALS.
Ditching Common Core. Expanding Title IX. And removing political ideology from all curriculum. One West Valley school district has a plan to promote a positive learning environment.
Note: The following is an exclusive report. We thank the community member who alerted us to the major resolutions and policy updates coming to a West Valley school district.
LIBERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT: RESOLUTIONS & PROPOSALS
The agenda for the July 31, 2024 governing board meeting is now live.
Here are the groundbreaking policy updates under review.
7.2 The first read on curriculum adoption takes a hard stance on how and who has the authority to select educational materials for board approval… and the political agendas which will no longer be allowed.
“The Board retains exclusive authority over curriculum adoptions and authorizes the superintendent to make proposals on procedures to carry out the selection of textbooks and supplemental materials that shall come to the board for approval.”
Additionally, all new curriculum programs and courses of study will be devoid of political ideology.
7.4 is a resolution addressing the school district’s low Math proficiency - which the district note is “unacceptable.”
The move ditches Common Core and revert to classic Math.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberty 25 School Governing Board has determined:
V. The OpenUp Illustrative Mathematics program may be removed as the Liberty 25 Primary Math Curriculum no later than July 1, 2025 unless significant growth in proficiency with state standardized test scores occur at each school and there is positive feedback from parents regarding the curriculum.
VI. The new Math curriculum selection would then be a classic Math program, that provides the foundational math skills that meet grade level reasoning and reading comprehension skills and aligns with the academic standards adopted by the state board of education to be taught in common schools. (A.R.S. 15-701)
7.6 is a resolution expanding Title IX.
The agenda includes “a letter from Arizona State School Superintendent, Tom Horne, he stated, ‘A number of school board members have inquired about the Department of Education's position with respect to the federal Department of Education/s (USDOE) proposed Title IX regulations which are scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2024. These proposed regulations have met with a number of defeats in the federal courts, and it is uncertain what the final situation will be.’"
Liberty Elementary School District’s proposed resolution reads:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberty 25 School Governing Board has determined:
I. The United States Department of Education has created a Final Regulation which is contrary to the plain language of Title IX
II. The Governing Board, deriving authority from the Arizona Constitution, Arizona statutes and the regulations of the Arizona Administrative Code, strongly urge the Arizona State Legislature to further codify our state statutes to ensure our children are protected from the political weaponization of government, which would infringe on both federal and state constitutional rights.
III. Liberty 25 School District will continue to serve as the educational hub for its community and will continue to respect Title IX as it was intended.
IV. Liberty 25 School District will continue to respect the dignity of every person it serves.
Also of importance is the 2024-25 Parent-Student handbook.
Page 25: STUDENT DISCIPLINE
“… students shall be expected to obey all policies and regulations focusing on student conduct adopted by the Board. Students shall not engage in any activities prohibited herein, nor shall they refuse to obey any order given by a member of the faculty or staff who is attempting to maintain public order.”
Liberty Elementary School District developed a new discipline matrix. You can view it here. The handbook states, “A positive learning environment in our schools and a good state of student conduct starts with students, parents and staff having knowledge and understanding of the basic standards of acceptable conduct.”
From what we gather, Restorative Justice and PBIS, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, are replaced with Zero Tolerance.
REVISED SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Social Media policies are becoming more and more strict as more and more educators are losing their teaching certificates for improper use of social/digital media.
On Wednesday, the Liberty Elementary School District governing board will discuss a clarification. The communication policy is maintained, but updated to add, “Nothing in this policy is intended to infringe on an Employee’s right to communicate with and/or maintain existing personal friendships/relationships.”
The West Valley has several, tight-knit communities of neighbors and friends. This clarification looks to address that.
ATTEND THE MEETING
Liberty Elementary School District Work Study Session & Governing Board Meeting
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
4:00 PM Work Study Session
5:30 PM Regular Governing Board MeetingJerry Rovey District Facility, 19871 West Fremont Road, Buckeye, Arizona
JEN’S TWO CENTS
If you have children in any of the local elementary or high school districts, please keep an eye on the school board meetings.
Of particular importance are items in the consent agendas. This is the portion of the meeting agenda where you’ll find agenda items that can all be approved at once and without any discussion.
If you have a news tip, please email it to jen@news2jb.com.