By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer
The debate — or discussion, depending on who’s describing it — between Princeton Regional School District teachers and administrators about a new lesson plan mandate is ongoing.
The issue was again aired at the board of education meeting Jan. 22.
But meetings have taken place with both parties, their representatives said.
According to Superintendent Judy Wilson, the change, which was implemented in September, was intended to provide easy cross-referencing with New Jersey “core content” standards and is related to the goal of increased districtwide consistency.
But at the December board meeting, teachers from all levels of the district’s schools complained that the changes have resulted in extra, unnecessary work, and called the new lesson plan format “cookie cutter” and impractical.
Addressing the board last week, Princeton Regional Education Association Co-president Nancy Schreiber said instructors “want assurance that this is going to be resolved. This has been going for a long time.”
Although Ms. Schreiber cited improved communication between the parties during three recent meetings, she said the teachers still “look forward to the clarification that continues to be so necessary, so that the teaching staff and the administration have the same understanding and the same expectations.”
Ms. Wilson responded by thanking teachers for meeting with administrators, whom she said “really will be part of having a common understanding about lesson content and process.”
Earlier that day, the two parties discussed “details about process and content for both special and standard and regular classroom teachers,” Ms. Wilson said.
”It really is all about that very powerful combination of designing lessons and delivering lessons,” she said.
