To assist you in making informed choices for the school board race, members of the QUEST/PAGE ABC Board developed a brief list of questions for the Puyallup School Board candidates.  We wanted to gain a better understanding of each candidate’s stance on highly capable education, and his or her commitment to preserve and expand programming such as that offered by QUEST, PAGE, and AP.

All six candidates received the questions via email on Thursday, October 27; here are the responses we have received: Pat Jenkins, Therese Ngo Pasquier, and Chris Ihrig. We’ll post additional responses received as they come in.

Pat Jenkins (Position 3) – responses received on Thursday, October 27

1) What will you do as a school board member to ensure that the basic educational needs of our highly capable learners, from kindergarten through 12th grade, will continue to be met?

Perhaps the most important thing is to help hold the state to its constitutional responsibility to fund basic education first. That obligation isn’t being met, and any further cuts in state funding will only make that shortfall worse. The state can’t be allowed to only talk about supporting basic education, including highly capable programs. We need action from the state level, as difficult as it may be, to help carry out our mission locally.

2) What can you do as a school board member to help us better identify and serve students who are not currently being served by our QUEST, PAGE and AP programs?

I would reach out to ABC and any other interested parties to welcome and encourage input on ways that our service of highly capable learners could be improved. I would share that input with the board and the district administration, and then work with the administration and parents to ensure that the needs of students are being met to the best of the district’s ability.

Therese Ngo Pasquier (Position 2)– responses received on Thursday, October 27

1) What will you do as a school board member to ensure that the basic educational needs of our highly capable learners, from Kindergarten through 12th grade, will continue to be met?

As a board member, I will continue to advocate for our children’s education. I know that WA state passed the landmark basic education reform that included protection for the highly capable program. I would work closely with the WA State PTA to ensure this advocacy continues. Strength in numbers, I always say. We need to create relationships with our state legislature, so funding for basic education remains a top priority. I know Bruce Dammeier is a proponent of education reform, and he would be a great champion.

Another idea would be to find private money from foundations that support K-12, and direct this money toward the program. These gifted students are our future leaders and innovators, and we need to provide them with all the tools they need for success.

2) What can you do as a school board member to help us better identify and serve students who are not currently being served by our QUEST, PAGE, and AP programs?

The question has always been about access. We need to advocate for a standard definition of highly capable and remove any accessibility barriers, especially to minority children or ones in the low socioeconomic status or have a disability. These students are highly underrepresented in this program. Even when they are identified, access to these programs has been uneven. I know OSPI has a very fluid definition right now, allowing districts to make its own decisions about access to highly capable program. For me, it about creating an entire curriculum that continues to challenge them, not just one AP class. And we need to develop multiple measures to help identify these gifted students.

I will work with teachers, administrators, parents, and other subject matter experts to ensure this program remains a priority in the district, too.

Chris Ihrig (Position 5)– responses received on Friday, October 28

1) What will you do as a school board member to ensure that the basic educational needs of our highly capable learners, from Kindergarten through 12th grade, will continue to be met?

It is the board of directors’ paramount duty to ensure that the basic educational needs of ALL students be met as we guide the district in its strategic and operational decisions. This includes one of the key learning groups you raise, the highly capable learner. Yesterday’s announcement by the Governor, one of many in recent years, of another 2 billion in cuts is extremely concerning. At the top of her list of cuts are funds that directly support schools. The levy equalization piece being only one of those recommended cuts directly translates into a possible 6.1 million reduction in funds for Puyallup. And that is only the beginning. We are facing significant challenges financially because of our state government’s unwillingness to meet their constitutional responsibilities to fund basic education. As a community we must put all our efforts to not let this travesty continue at the expense of our student. But that is enough of that soap-box. I am sure you and your group are fully aware of these challenges and I look forward to working together to find solutions.

As a board member I see my responsibility in this area falling into two distinct paths: 1) Make sure we do everything possible to maximize the revenues and resources coming into the district and 2) that we are stewards of each and every resource we have. Essential programs that speak to basic education and the classroom learning, including those impacting highly capable students, must be maintained at the highest priority. For the next several years it may be more about preserving, not losing ground, versus expansion and growth.

2) What can you do as a school board member to help us better identify and serve students who are not currently being served by our QUEST, PAGE, and AP programs?

Great question. As a father of 4 in the district, two of my four were identified as potential QUEST participants and each of my older kids has been involved in AP programs when available to them. Each of these is outstanding programs that bring value, opportunity and direct impact in the lives of our students. We absolutely must find ways to better utilize these resources to a broader audience – when there is a need and match.

In some ways, there is a lack of understanding of these programs in the broader community. Parents don’t fully understand nor take on the responsibility of advocating and accessing these programs. Locations of the programs need to be more local to neighborhood schools. As a board member, I see these programs as important, relevant and an exceptional resource in helping us meet the needs of our diverse student population. We need to fight for them, expand them when possible and make them accessible to a broader audience. As we strive for a district of national excellent and educational leadership, programs like QUEST, PAGE, AP and others will be the backbone of our impact and results.

Dane Looker (Position 2) – responses received on Thursday, November 3

Check out the wonderful selection at the link listed above.  If you find some books you like, place your order online.  Your purchase will help earn Usborne books for the QUEST classrooms.  All online orders will be shipped directly to you – no worries about when and where to pick up books.   Hurry – the book fair ends October 31st!

Early bird parent registration of $100 ends October 1^st. If you are interested in the $50 scholarship from Academic Booster Club, please call the QUEST office 841-8751.

ABC, the Academic Booster Club, is a group of students, parents, teachers, and administrators who have joined together to help meet the unique needs of our highly capable children. We provide support for teachers in the QUEST and PAGE programs by helping to pay for continuing education on topics related to gifted children. We have funded classroom needs to meet some of the unusual demands of our students. We advocate for gifted education in our District, State, and Nation. ABC is also a resource for families. We sponsor social events that allow our children and families to get together with their peers, outside the classroom. This year, ABC also plans to sponsor a SENG parent support group. SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) trains parent facilitators to lead discussion groups of parents who wish to learn more about how to understand and meet the social and emotional needs of their gifted children. Look for more information about ABC and what we’re doing in future newsletters, through this website, or by becoming a fan of the Academic Booster Club of Puyallup on Facebook. We invite you to join us and lend your voice in our community.

Amy Prezbindowski
ABC President
ABC is a nonprofit, 501 (C)(3) organization

Many opportunities for involvement exist in the Academic Booster Club. We have a need for parents to serve on the board and to help with several committees. Whether you have a little or a lot of time to offer, we can use your help. For information please contact us or call the QUEST office at 841-8751.

For the second year, the WAETAG conference will have a track with special sessions dedicated to parents. Ann Koch, a SENG Facilitator, will talk about “Gifted Intensities: Do Your Children Have Some of Them? What Can You Do About It?” Past ABC President David Berg will help to explain what the new changes to basic education mean to highly capable students in a session titled “Gifted Ed as a Part of Basic Ed.” Marcia Holland, President of the Northwest Gifted Child Association, will lead a session on how to “Be a Powerful Advocate for Gifted.”

For more information, or to register, visit www.waetag.net.

Teachers, students, and families are so grateful to ABC for helping with the purchase of student planners. One challenge that many of our highly capable children face is organization. Is something due? When is my presentation? I didn’t remember that we were having a book fair! What day is our assembly? Hopefully students will “write it down and be responsible to remember!” These attractive planners are also packed with many fun “extras” in the side bars… vocabulary, riddles, etc. Be sure to check the planner with your child on a regular basis. It is a great way to help your child learn a life-long skill. Thank you ABC!

The Legislative session has finally come to an end. In virtually last minute votes, the Legislature approved a budget (E2SHB 1087) which is “kind” to gifted programs; enacted the new “minimum instructional program of basic education” and the HCP funding formula in ESSB 5919, effective September 2011; and failed to enact the Recommendations of the Highly Capable Program Technical Working Group (bills 1443 and 2111).

It will take us awhile to sort out the details of what this all means and where it leaves gifted programs for the next school year, but here are some preliminary remarks.

• The budget has two parts. Another supplemental for the current year was part of 1087. It made no changes to HCP funding, beyond what was done in the 5th supplemental (HB 1086).

• In the biennial budget for 2011-2013, enhanced funding is provided under the new formula for HCP. It is both good news and bad. Depending on what base line you use, the funding for districts took a cut of between $200,000 and $250,000. Harder hit were our associated programs. Centrum took a 50% cut in its funding and Future Problem Solving/Destination ImagiNation took a 100% cut in funding.

• ESSB 5919 authorizes the implementation of education reform measures  (the “minimum instructional program of basic education”) beginning September 2011. Among its provisions is the new formula for calculating HCP enhanced funds. See Sec. 2(10)( c ) of the bill. This means that HCP services will be a mandated part of basic education. Nothing in either this bill nor the budget requires districts to offer any particular program or service, only that appropriate services must be provided. Districts remain free to determine what level of services are needed within the district. Districts will need to apply to OSPI for the enhanced funds, as they have for the categorical funds in the past. and submit their plan for approval.

While becoming a mandated part of basic education with an adequate funding appropriation is fulfillment of a long time Coalition goal, in view of the draconian cuts to education and social services, we aren’t celebrating too loudly.

What we do say loudly is a big vote of THANKS to all the advocates in the state whose efforts made this possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Below is section 511 of the biennial budget

NEW SECTION. Sec. 511. FOR PROGRAMS FOR HIGHLY CAPABLE STUDENTS

General Fund–State Appropriation (FY 2012) . . . .$8,741,000
General Fund–State Appropriation (FY 2013) . . .  $8,794,000
TOTAL APPROPRIATION…………….   $17,535,000

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations

(1) Each general fund fiscal year appropriation includes such funds as are necessary to complete the school year ending in the fiscal year and for prior fiscal year adjustments.

(2)(a) For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school district programs for highly capable students as provided in RCW 28A.150.260(10)(c). In calculating the allocations, the superintendent shall assume the following: (i) Additional instruction of 2.1590 hours per week per funded highly capable program student; (ii) fifteen highly capable program students per teacher; (iii) 36 instructional weeks per year; (iv) 900 instructional hours per teacher; and (v) the district’s average staff mix and compensation rates as provided in sections 503 and 504 of this act.
(b) From July 1, 2011, to August 31, 2011, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school districts programs for highly capable students as provided in section 511, chapter 564, Laws of 2009, as amended through section 1409 of this act.

(3) $85,000 of the general fund–state appropriation for fiscal year 2012 and $85,000 of the general fund–state appropriation for fiscal year 2013 are provided solely for the centrum program at Fort Worden state park.