Woodland Hills curriculum committee reviews coaching, college-tracking platform and staff development plans
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Summary
The district—s curriculum committee discussed a proposed partnership with the National Math and Science Initiative to coach principals, a no-cost Complete U platform to track graduates— postsecondary plans, and a $15,900 True Colors leadership workshop for principals; the committee also debated reintroducing cursive instruction.
The Woodland Hills School District curriculum committee on Wednesday discussed three proposed partnerships and a separate debate about reinstating cursive instruction.
The committee considered a proposed partnership with the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) to provide monthly principal coaching aimed at strengthening project-based, student-centered instruction. Dr. Kevin Wilson, who presented the item, said the program would meet with principals for a “couple of hours every month” and that sessions could be scheduled on professional development days or other times when students are not in the building to avoid removing school leaders from instructional duties.
Wilson said the district budget includes $288,000 in discretionary funds and that a single department content workshop for up to 15 teachers would cost $11,610. He described NMSI—s past professional development as effective and said the district would select participating departments through a process led by department chairs.
The committee also reviewed a proposed no-cost subscription to Complete U, a student-survey platform that tracks juniors and seniors after graduation and maintains alumni contact records. Mr. Boone, identified in the discussion as the district—s college-and-career coordinator, told the committee Complete U would allow alumni to update their status with a personal email address and would let the coordinator contact graduates who attend particular colleges for outreach events. Committee members asked how Complete U handles data sharing and whether historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are included; Wilson said the vendor partners with many local institutions and that the district can add HBCUs to the survey options. Wilson and Boone described the product as a tool for outreach and planning, not a weighting algorithm: "It's just raw data," Wilson said, adding the district would decide how to use it.
The committee discussed a $15,900 proposal to contract Community Foundations LLC to deliver True Colors professional development for principals and assistant principals. Wilson said the training helped staff at the high school and would be used to improve leader teamwork and staff morale. Several board members questioned the cost and scope, and some suggested exploring lower-cost alternatives (for example, Gallup StrengthsFinder trainers) or expanding the program later to include board members or parents. Wilson said the presenter could be asked to adapt the session to district needs and that a facilitator's skill matters to outcomes: "the facilitator is the one who brings out and notices all the nuances," he said.
The committee also briefly debated bringing cursive instruction back into the curriculum. Supporters argued cursive helps students read historical documents and sign legal forms; opponents said the district should determine where to place it in existing schedules. The group agreed to put cursive on a future agenda for fuller discussion.
No formal vote was recorded on any of the partnership items; presenters said the items would return to the board for approval.
Why it matters: The NMSI coaching and Complete U platform would change how principals and college-and-career staff support instruction and alumni outreach; True Colors is intended to address staff morale and leadership teamwork. Budget limits and program selection processes were raised as constraints and will shape any final agreements.
