Proposed changes to the way the teachers in the Newton Community School District can utilize outside resources, such as guest speakers, in the classroom could soon become official.
The board of education has spent portions of its last three regular meetings discussing Board Policies 603.7, 603.8 and 1003.5, and it will vote on all three policies at Monday’s meeting.
Board Policy 603.7 says that teachers have to notify building principals well in advance if they plan on using an outside resource in their classroom and the principal has the right to deny this request.
Section 603.5 — which is listed within 603.7— further breaks down the outside resource policy. Teachers have to notify parents of the context of the outside resources visit by either a note sent home, campus or teacher newsletter or the school’s webpage or Facebook page.
This is to ensure parents are notified early enough to give them the option to opt-in or opt-out of certain presentations.
Parents would need to opt-out for non-controversial matters and opt-in for controversial speakers. Whether or not a subject is determined to be controversial is based on the judgment of the classroom teacher and the building principal.
District officials have indicated that there are no matters they have considered controversial at the four elementary buildings, as this policy is more geared toward the secondary level.
Board Policy 1003.5 is designed to regulate the standards presented in 603.7
603.8 is in regard to teaching controversial issues and was modified so that if matched up with the changes in the other two policies. This policy clearly states that it’s up to the classroom teacher and building principal to deem whether a topic is controversial or not, and that parents have to opt-in for their children to experience that lesson.
Other business items include:
A public hearing at 6:45 p.m for the purchase of a new fire escape at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, and the board will later vote on a bid.
This meeting will also serves as the annual meeting and a vote on board officers will be had. Andy Elbert is the current board president and Sheri Benson is the vice-president.
The board will designate which issues it feels are most pressing and submit that list to the Iowa School Board Association to lobby the Iowa Legislature .
District Business Manager Gayle Isaac will give a treasurer’s report.
The board will vote on receiving allowable growth from the state for the district’s special education deficit.
Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6532 or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.