School board considers addingalgebra for eighth-graders

Advanced math programs could lead

to offering calculus in high school
By:John Patten
   Manville students would be able to take more challenging math classes in the future, if a plan to expand the math curriculum next year is approved at next week’s Board of Education meeting.


A breath of fresh air?


   Discussion of the district’s plan to upgrade the math curriculum was interrupted by noise from outside of the ABIS Media Center, where the board meets.

   Traffic on North 13th Avenue made it difficult to hear the discussion, so Business Secretary Richard Reilly closed the windows.

   Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be of much significance, but when Mr. Reilly closed the windows the board members realized it was the first time in recent memory the windows could be opened.

   As workers worked on replacing glass and frames on the school’s south entrance, the board took a moment to notice the recently installed windows at the school’s other side.

   The work was approved as part of the $2.3 million referendum approved in January 2002. The referendum included replacement of windows and doors at all Manville schools.

   "I don’t think we’ve ever been able to open the windows," Jeannie Golden-Nowak said, as everyone turned to admire the new windows.

   The board reviewed the first steps of the plan at Tuesday’s work session, which would begin adding accelerated math classes for students by separating next year’s seventh- and eighth-grade classes according to their math performance.
   "This is a two-year program we’re looking at to get pre-algebra into the seventh-grade," Donald Burkhardt, schools superintendent, said. "This way, when these kids get into the 11th and 12th grades, they’ll be able to take calculus and other higher math courses."
   The plan envisions assigning next year’s seventh- and eighth-graders based on establishing a "B+" or better grade in math, recommendation of their teacher, attendance, and a score of 80 percent or better on standardized tests.
   High achieving sixth-graders may be assigned to a pre-algebra class next year, as will higher achieving seventh-graders. Students at the other end of the grading scale will be assigned to the regular math classes with additional teacher support.
   In the 2004-05 school year, the program expands by adding a full algebra class in the eighth-grade, which qualifies for high school credit.
   Dr. Burkhardt said if the enhanced math program is approved, students will be notified before school starts in September which class they’ve been assigned to, and an appeals process will enable parents to challenge the assignments if necessary.
   Dr. Burkhardt said the accelerated math students won’t be required to enroll in other advanced placement classes because students who are better at math may not necessarily be better at language skills. The district shouldn’t limit students’ ability to advance in areas of interest or special skills, he said.
   "It’s kind of a ‘right-brain, left-brain’ thing," he said. "By the same token, you have kids in AP language and social studies who don’t want anything to do with calculus because it’s a completely different thought process."
   Most vexing to the board members was the requirement for students to achieve a "B+" or better grade in math in order to be assigned to the pre-algebra classes — the district does not currently issue "plus" grades, only "minus" grades.
   "Coming into the school year, that was the policy and I didn’t want to change it in midyear," Dr. Burkhardt said.
   He added the board will hear presentations next month from principals Rodney Logan and Jim Brunn, of Manville High and Alexander Batcho Intermediate schools respectively, to institute numerical grading for students instead of letter grades.
   In the interim, students will be recommended for the advanced math classes by their teachers, who, as board President Dottie Bradley pointed out, certainly know "who’s in the ‘B+’ range."