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Germantown committee details professional development gains and advances curriculum reviews; adds CESA 6 coaching days
Summary
Teaching & Learning committee heard October professional development results showing strong staff buy‑in, reviewed K–12 curriculum review priorities (K–5 science replacement, social studies screening, a potential required civics course tied to state legislation), and recommended a CESA 6 contract add‑on for additional coaching days.
Jake, a district instructional staff member, told the Teaching & Learning Committee that October’s professional development day built on work from September, centering on Understanding by Design and professional learning communities so teachers across grade bands set consistent expectations for student learning. "We had a little bit over 93 percent of our teachers" report the PD provided meaningful collaboration, he said, and added that 98 percent said the PD aligned with school goals and 95 percent believed it would improve student learning.
Katie, who presented the pupil‑services portion, described a one‑hour road show delivered to each building to align college‑ and career‑ready IEP practices with strategic goals and PLC work. She said the district used a 3‑hour special‑education training for case managers and followed with building‑level sessions so regular‑education teachers would participate in IEP conversations as content experts.
On curriculum reviews, Jake said the district has K–12 science, K–12 social studies, 9–12 math and 9–12 English in phase one. K–5 science was prioritized because the vendor kit the district used is being discontinued and is not aligned to Wisconsin’s 2017 science standards; the team aims to pilot replacement resources this spring and identify a course of action by the end of the school year. For social studies, staff created a screening rubric emphasizing inquiry‑based learning, use of primary sources and realistic classroom time expectations; the elementary scope will include economics units that were previously underrepresented.
Jake also described an Assembly bill included verbatim in the committee background that would require a civics credit for the graduating class of 2030–31. He said the 9–12 team is discussing whether to propose a required civics course locally regardless of the bill’s fate; if adopted, the district would need board approval because it would change the high‑school course sequence. "If Wisconsin was to pass this, there is a natural place for us to put this," he said, adding that teachers felt many of the required topics already appear across existing courses.
In new business, Jake presented a second contract add‑on with CESA 6 for coaching and professional development days with Sarah Fleischman and a trainer used by the 9–12 math team, Megan. Because the supplemental agreement brings the combined total above the district threshold of $15,000 for the school year, it will be routed to finance; the committee voted to move the recommendation forward.
