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Board approves integrated high school math

by Judd Wilson Staff Writer
| April 17, 2018 1:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — Integrated math is on its way to Coeur d’Alene School District high schools next fall. Board members here unanimously voted Monday night to approve the new high school math course pathway. It will take effect with next year’s freshman class and be phased in over several years, said district spokesman Scott Maben.

The long-awaited decision came after 14 months of deliberations, said chairman Casey Morrisroe. The board had approved almost every other curriculum in that period of time, he said. “Hearts and souls have been poured into this,” he observed. Morrisroe thanked those who worked on the curriculum and cautioned everyone that while it might not be perfect, the perfect curriculum would never come. Director of curriculum and assessment Mike Nelson said the integrated math pathway was designed to improve focus, coherence, and rigor in the district’s high school mathematics. Students scored well but did not grasp concepts under the old regime, he claimed. Nelson said that by eliminating the rigid silos of Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 in favor of an integrated math program, students would be better prepared for standardized tests and for their futures at college or in the workplace.

Kids need to know algebraic concepts much more than geometry, explained director of secondary education Trina Caudle. The proposed integrated math curriculum would include some lessons in geometry, statistics and probability during three years of algebra and functions in courses titled Math 1, 2, and 3.

Parents told the board in no uncertain terms that their students were being failed by the district’s low math standards. Jen Decker told the board that district students’ low math scores are due in part to grade inflation and endless test retakes.

“It’s not about integrated math vs. traditional math. It’s about the lack of transparency, accountability, and leadership in the district,” she said.

“Leave this area and you’ll see how very far behind we are. You’ve been led to believe through a series of excuses that this is normal. It is not normal,” she added.

Board member Dave Eubanks agreed, citing instances in which he’s heard that students get a 50 percent grade on assignments even when they turn nothing in, and that they can take tests over and over again until they get the grade they want.

“I gets lots of letters about kids getting straight A’s but scoring 20-30 percent on standardized tests.” He wondered aloud if Coeur d’Alene School District high school students have been babied. Board member Tambra Pickford shared that her middle schooler did not get endless retakes, but that more consistency is needed with mastery-based learning. Board member Lisa May expressed her desire for the district to use continuous improvement plans more effectively, and to have quarterly workshops on academic achievement.

“The status quo is unacceptable, terrible,” said board member Tom Hearn.

Regardless of which curriculum the board chose, said Morrisroe, “It all depends on what we’re doing in the classroom.” With Monday’s decision, “Now the tough work of implementation begins,” he said.