Charting the course for local education

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — As the Coeur d'Alene School District pencils out its future for education, public input will be more critical than ever, the superintendent said.

"What do you want as a community for your graduates?" Steve Cook asked nearly 200 attendees of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce's Upbeat Breakfast at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn on Tuesday morning.

"Are there things that we're pushing that we shouldn't be? If we don't want students to just be test-takers, do they communicate effectively and can they work as a team?"

Cook, who started working at the district last summer, said he hears all too often that many students can't think for themselves.

He said now is the time to chart a new course for education and offer choices in recognition that students learn differently.

Cook said he believes the push toward standardized testing several years ago contributed to the current teacher shortage across the country.

"We tested the heck out of millennials 10 to 15 years ago," he said. "I'm not against standardized assessments, but they're an adult construct. There is value in knowing how our schools are performing, but it's based on standards we think all kids should know and be able to do."

Cook said the district will be conducting a survey in the near future to learn whether it is willing to raise taxes to support a supplemental levy that will likely be floated in March.

"My goal is to find out what our community values and defines as success for our students," he said.

The district is interested in exploring more opportunities in the trade industries, Cook said.

"There's a shortage of trade labor, and students have the opportunity to make $40,000 to $50,000 right away," he said. "But a (career) pathways model (that offers more programs than the status quo) costs more, and you will be hearing from us soon on that."

Keeping a pulse on the facilities master plan will also be critical moving forward, Cook said.

"We've added 500 students in the past five years, and we'll continue to grow," he said. "Every time we go to look for land, there's issues."

Cook said he believes full-day kindergarten is needed to enhance early childhood education, but parents can also play an important role.

"If I had to go back and do it again, I'd read to my kids a minimum of 20 minutes each day before they entered school," he said. "Talk to them about whatever you are doing so they can develop vocabulary skills. Kids develop tremendously from 2 to 5, so the more you can do at that age, the better they will assimilate into school."

Cook was asked how the district will decide on its next magnet school designation that focuses on certain subjects.

"If we build another magnet school, it will be based on what the community values are," he said. "It will not be my agenda when we build it."

Two of the biggest challenges the district sees are addressing mental health needs of students and offering internship partnerships with businesses, Cook said.

"We are seeing kids as young as 10 with suicidal thoughts," he said, adding that he believes social media has played an increasing role in the mental health concern.

Trina Caudle, the district's secondary education director, said the district offers a program in which businesses can be an online mentor for students to ask questions.

Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Wilson challenged businesses to play a larger role in partnering with education by offering internships.

"Getting involved with education is one of the most important aspects our chamber can do," Wilson said.