Recap on GPS School Board Work Study on Proposed Gifted Junior High Academy

On Tuesday, February 9, 2016, GPS District Staff presented the Gifted Academy Committee’s proposal to the GPS School Board.  This was the second of three items on the evening’s agenda and you may view the presentation of the Gifted Academy Proposal here, beginning at minutes 59:00:00 through 02:14:00. 

Click here to view the actual slides of the presentation.

GPS staff will refer to a report with background information which was given to board members.  Click here to view that report.

If you would like to ask questions of board members, submit comments to board members, or share your story of the need for gifted education, you can do so by emailing all Board members at the following address: Board@gilbertschools.net

The philosophy of gifted education is to identify and support a child in their strengths as well as in their areas of struggle.  We hope this philosophy permeates throughout the district,  allowing each GPS student to receive the support for growth that they need. 

GPS Gifted Academy Proposal to School Board at Work Study - 2/9/16

This Tuesday, February 9th, at 6:30pm, the GPS Gifted Academy Committee will present its proposal to the GPS school board.  If you are able to come, your presence of support would be appreciated.   To attend in person: 

·         Board meetings are located at the district offices at SW corner of Gilbert Rd & Elliot - 140 South Gilbert Road, building A. 

·         The evening entrance is the set of doors to the right of the main doors, it’s marked with a sign.

The agenda for the work study is now posted on the district website and there are only three agenda items, the first two having to deal with junior high schools, #2 being the gifted academy proposal.  Presentations of this nature are usually about 30-45 minutes each, allowing for Q&A from board members.  Remaining at the meeting for agenda item #3 is not necessary as it deals with GPS employee benefits.

Links to watch via Livestream from home on your desk top computer are found in our previous blog post - http://gilbertgifted.blogspot.com/2016/02/gps-junior-high-gifted-academy-update.html.

View the work study agenda here:  http://www.boarddocs.com/az/gpsaz/Board.nsf/Public

Once you locate the agenda for February 9^th:

·         Click on agenda item #2 and you will see there is an icon that looks like sheets of paper.  This icon indicates there are files attached.  Click this icon.

·         Now you will see links to view the proposal (power point slide presentation) and the in-depth report

Again, if you are able to come, your presence of visible support would be appreciated.

GPS Junior High Gifted Academy Update

This Tuesday, February 9^th, at 6:30pm, the GPS Gifted Academy Committee will present its proposal to the GPS school board.  You are invited to attend in person to show your support or watch via Livestream from home on your desk top computer.

Brief information about the proposal is found on the GPS website:  Proposed GPS Junior High Gifted Academy

Helpful information:

·         Public comment is not available at GPS School Board work study sessions

·         Click here for the Livestream video link 

·         The agenda for the work study will contain the slides for each presentation given.  You can view the agenda by Monday and access the presentation slides by clicking GPS Board Docs

·         Click here to view the schedule of GPS board meetings

·         If you have questions or comments for GPS school board members you may email all board members at:  Board@gilbertschools.net

Gilbert Public Schools - Junior High Gifted Academy?

Beginning last school year, Gilbert Public Schools assembled a committee composed of teachers, administrators, directors, coordinators and parents to research the viability of opening a Junior High Gifted Academy. This committee was tasked with researching, planning, and preparing information for the implementation of a Junior High Gifted Academy.

The Gifted Academy Committee narrowed its focus to consider :

• Starting small, with 2 classes of gifted 7th graders and 2 classes of gifted 8th graders.
• Housing the Academy in one centralized location.
• Ensuring the 4 core subject teachers are trained in gifted education.
• Setting the Student qualification criteria to include a score of 97+ in one of the three areas of giftedness, or a score of 95+ in two of the three areas of giftedness, or an IQ  score of 128. 

Here is the link to the district's website.

 

The committee will present information to the Governing Board at a Work Study meeting on February 9, 2016.  This information will include the committee's research and proposal.  Board members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the committee concerning their research, proposal, and recommendations. At a subsequent Governing Board meeting, Board members will determine if and when Gilbert Public Schools will open a Gifted Academy.  Both the Work Study and the Governing Board meeting will be available for public viewing either in person at the district office or online. 

GPS Gifted Education Update

It is important to collect the facts before one leaps into speculation.  To that end, there will be a GPS School Board work study this Tuesday, March 17^th, where the ALP department will be sharing their recommended budget for 2015-16 to the school board.  The work study begins at 6:30 pm.  You can view the work study agenda here on BoardDocs.   You are invited to attend the work study in person at the district office – 6:30pm at 140 South Gilbert Road, Gilbert AZ 85296.  Or you can view the work study via the district’s Livestream Link from their website. 

At a work study:

1.       There is no open comment time for members of the public to address the board.  However, the public can attend and observe the presentation.

2.       The GPS school board cannot vote to take any action.  A work study is for district Q&A only, which the public can observe.

The next school board meeting is Tuesday, March 31^st, at 7pm.  At school board meetings:

1.       Members of the public can request to speak to the school board for a maximum of 3 minutes during the open comment portion of the agenda.

2.       The school board will vote on actions to take.  Specifically at the March 31^stmeeting, they will vote regarding department budget recommendations.

We need to remember that though gifted education is mandated in AZ, the state COMPLETELY DEFUNDED gifted education in 2009, leaving districts to fund gifted education from their general fund.   An override was placed on the ballot here in Gilbert in 2012 and again in 2013.  An override allows a community to directly invest in local education since the state budget has dealt increasing cuts to public education, including not funding to the inflation factor even though it was mandated by law.  However, in both 2012 and 2013 the override failed at the ballot and so those local funds have not been renewed and are therefore phasing out to zero.  Gilbert Public Schools will be facing a $8-10million cut to its budget for 2015-16.  For more information about the GPS budget, you are invited to view this GPS budget presentation which was given to the GPS Parent-Superintendent Committee in February 2015. 

We hope you are aware that GPS is in its second year of having a Gifted Education Parent Council (GEPC) similar to the GPS Special Education Parent Council (SEPC).  After viewing the March 17th work study you are invited to contact your school rep on the GEPC to see when/how additional information will be distributed.  You can find out who your GEPC rep is from your principal.  It is important to collect the facts before we leap into speculation. 

The philosophy of gifted education is worth remembering – To identify and support student strengths while also providing support for student deficits. This is not just good gifted education, but good education for all. When gifted education is supported, this philosophy can permeate throughout the community and every student can feel the benefit of such a philosophy.  

-Stephanie Newitt