12/10/2024
I was going to discuss CKLA and the meaning of High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) this week but decided that reviewing the State Board of Education meeting from last week is more important. After each meeting, I will review the main topics and provide some background on them. Of course, I will sprinkle in my opinions, but doing your own research is critical. To save you time, I will link important resources for you to peruse.
The first topic that was brought up is one I was extremely happy to see addressed. The education commissioner, Dr. Maher, will be putting out a model policy for local school boards to adopt regarding cell phone usage in schools. While I would be completely on board with banning personal devices in our schools, that is a decision for local school boards. I am thrilled that Dr. Maher is addressing this significant topic and its impact on education in our state. As an educator, I have seen cell phone policies in place, and I can assure you that a cell phone ban in all schools is the only way to prevent the negative effects that they bring. When you have a weak cell phone policy, kids find ways to use them, like disappearing to the restrooms for extended periods of time. This has resulted in digital hall passes, which I am wholeheartedly opposed to, but that requires its own post. I will discuss this issue further in future posts but if you want to begin your own research on it, Patti Gubbels, SBOE member, recommends that we read The Anxious Generation. My copy just arrived. Thank you for the recommendation, Patti.
Another major topic that was discussed was Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER). I am leery when we discuss federal funds as they ALWAYS come with strings attached. There was a great deal of talk around mental health and having a Licensed Medical Health Professional, LMHP in our schools, which I will discuss in future posts, as well as the Community Schools model, which are being heavily pushed by the National Education Association and the U.S. Department of Education. In Nebraska, we have three school districts that are piloting Community School models: Fremont, Schuyler, and Grand Island. I was actually surprised that Omaha wasn’t listed as they are currently spending $8 million on a mental health clinic that will be part of Benson High School. This directly ties into the Community Schools model. Things can get a bit sticky when we get too far away from our public schools’ intended purpose, reading and math. This is all a very slippery slope, in my opinion. What are your thoughts?
To view the December 6th meeting in its entirety, you can go to the livestream on the NDE website.
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