Lincoln parents ask Olympia School Board for different reading program

The Olympia School Board meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd of about 75 people on Monday night, most of whom were parents, students and staff members from Lincoln Options Elementary School.

About 15 people spoke during the community comment portion of the meeting; all of them urged the School Board to allow the alternative K-5 school to adopt an English Language Arts program that’s different from the one being recommended for the district’s elementary schools.

“I really trust the staff at Lincoln to put something in place that really supports this wonderful program,” parent Jeanne Murdock-Zvonchenko told the School Board.

A nearly 30-member committee considered six programs for the new elementary school English Language Arts curriculum, which covers reading, writing and other communications skills. The committee did short pilots of two programs, and ultimately chose “Wonders” from McGraw Hill to replace curriculum adopted in 2002.

The School Board heard a presentation about the materials and had the first reading of the recommendation to adopt “Wonders” during its meeting on Monday. The nearly $1.12 million curriculum purchase would include a six-year subscription for the digital materials that accompany the program, according to Scott Niemann, executive director of teaching and learning for the district.

Madison Elementary School first-grade teacher Jill Terry said she likes “Wonders” because it covers the Common Core State Standards. She said her students piloted the program, and seemed engaged in the materials.

“It’s really going to help get the kids where they need to be,” Terry said.

Lincoln principal Marcela Abadi told the School Board she believes “Wonders” is a quality program, but she doesn’t think it would support the alternative school’s project-based approach or its multi-age classes.

“It just doesn’t fit our philosophy,” she said.

Instead, Lincoln’s staff has recommended adoption of “Lucy Calkins Units of Study in Reading.” The school already uses Calkins’ materials for its writing lessons, Abadi said.

The staff at Lincoln estimate it will cost about $2,000 for the Calkins’ reading materials. The district also would need to pay $4,000-$5,000 in teacher training costs related to the curriculum adoption, Abadi said.

“With your support, we can truly provide alternatives for families, and meet the need for alternative education within the Olympia School District,” she said.

The School Board is scheduled to have a second reading of the curriculum recommendation and vote on the proposal to purchase the new curriculum May 9.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Lincoln parents ask Olympia School Board for different reading program."