(The Sentinel) — Lansing USD 469 school board members and taxpayers will get a monthly update on the progress in student achievement thanks to Board Member Amy Cawvey who proposed, and worked to pass, an agenda item on the issue.
Cawvey’s proposal was straightforward:
This agenda item can be utilized when student progress updates such as Fastbridge or State Assessments are presented. On months where these are not presented the board can choose an area to be presented to the board as update either from administration or superintendent. The board can also choose to leave this item open for the superintendent to choose which area the board will be briefed on.
GOAL
By adding student achievement the board can maintain focus each month on the current student achievement levels of our students and methods to support our staff and students so this achievement level can be increased.
The proposal passed unanimously 6-0, with one member absent at the February 10th meeting.
With unanimity hard to come by nowadays, Cawvey applauded the board for focusing on student outcomes:
“I was pleased it passed with a 6-0 vote. I really expected more pushback. We need to focus in our main duty, and that is increasing student achievement and I hope this will help us keep on track. I encourage school board members throughout Kansas to add this to their monthly agendas to keep the focus on student outcomes.”
One might think student achievement progress would be a regular discussion item, but it’s a real rarity across the nation. Other Kansas board members have tried to get student progress on board agendas, but even though improving outcomes should be every district’s purpose, most districts put very little effort into it.
Cawvey added her next effort will be on The Trump Administration’s executive order to rid schools of the divisive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs:
“My focus will be removing any DEI, CRT (Critical Race Theory), and making sure sex references adhere to his policy and putting into policy again the separation of boys and girls regarding sports, restrooms, and locker rooms. I already have accomplished some of this with a gender policy and the parents’ bill of rights, but I want to make sure it is clear by amending some policy and placing it in another area.
“I don’t know if I will get it passed or not, but if they seem to be going to vote against it or do vote against it then I plan to have them state on the record in open session that they will not follow these orders. Then, I will report the district myself! We did remove DEI from our professional development training when I first came on board in 2022. I think it needs to be officially stated in policy. It will also apply to all curriculum so we need to make it very clear.”
