Othello board debates secondary grading floor, live Skyward reporting and campus lunch privileges

Othello School District officials described a series of grading and campus-access changes at a special board meeting Monday, telling the board they will roll out standards-referenced reporting in many secondary classes, make student grades live in Skyward, limit late-work extensions to two weeks and retain a 40% “grade floor” for traditional (points-and-percent) classes.

The discussion, led by Dr. Meek and Othello High School administrators, framed the changes as efforts to make grades “clear and accurate indicators of what students know and are able to do,” and to couple academic measures with a new “graduate profile” giving feedback on collaboration, communication and other dispositions.

Dr. Meek said the district’s goal is accuracy in reporting student learning and that staff spent the summer addressing teacher feedback. “Grades should always be clear and accurate indicators of what students know and are able to do,” Dr. Meek said.

Under the plan described to the board, the principal changes are: - Live grade reporting through Skyward (parents, students and staff will be able to see grades as teachers enter them). The district has replaced its prior system references (Empower) with Skyward and an internal app called Ollie for family access. - A shortened late-work window: teachers will allow up to two weeks of late submission as the default; teachers retain discretion to extend deadlines for specific assignments when appropriate. After that period the teacher may…