Parent urges clearer access to advanced-course options and questions student identification for advanced pathways

Julie Duerer, who gave her name and address during public comment, told the board she initially asked questions about curriculum and later concluded the concerns are systemic across the district.

Duerer said the curriculum team reported that eighth-grade students can choose advanced courses for ninth grade without being identified through the district matrix and asked that advanced-course options be made visible in Xello so students can select them directly instead of relying on an emailed form. She asked two follow-up questions: how many students fail to complete the form, and why parents approve 4-year plans without seeing the advanced options clearly.

Duerer also raised concerns about student identification for acceleration in elementary math, saying of 15 students identified via MathStars, only six were placed in the advanced pathway while nine remained in the core pathway even after parent advocacy. She asked whether the identification system at the elementary level might be flawed.

On ninth-grade ELA, Duerer referenced a district presenter’s note that students were not making a year’s growth and asked what shifted to drive growth after realignment; she pointed out differences in ELA minutes between middle (90 minutes daily) and ninth grade (90 minutes every other day) and recommended closer examination.

Ending: A board member interrupted for time near the end of the three-minute comment period; board procedures limited response during public comment, and Duerer was told to finish at a later date if needed.