MEEKER | The 2022-23 school year commenced Monday in Meeker, and the school board gathered for its first meeting of the new year Monday evening.
Sam Hightower and Finley Deming were recognized for their second place finish at the national FCCLA competition earlier this summer, and administrators acknowledged the success of Meeker High School students on advanced placement tests.
Rachel Rust and Milo McPherson, parents, shared concerns regarding the use of new social/emotional learning (SEL) curricula in the elementary school and middle school. The curricula — Second Step for elementary students and Emozi at Barone Middle School — were reviewed in early 2022 by the District Leadership Team which oversees curriculum options. Both programs were recommended for approval in early summer.
Rust and McPherson were responding to an email sent to parents about the curricula. While acknowledging they’d had limited time to review the curriculum beyond what’s on the providers’ websites — less than an hour, in McPherson’s case and a few hours in Rust’s — both said they had issues with some aspects of the material and with the school system “trying to replace parents” in the role of providing a moral compass for students. McPherson said he thinks SEL is “good for some kids” but doesn’t believe a “cookie cutter approach” is beneficial. Rust said she would like to see the complete curriculum to review.
Board President Kevin Amack asked Rust and McPherson if there were specific items of concern in the curricula and Superintendent Chris Selle said the curricula can be requested by parents from the building principals. Asked if students can “opt out” of the programs, Selle said the board and administration will revisit that topic. “That would not be inconsistent with our practice,” Selle said. “But we need to consider potential consequences.”
The board also heard updates from the school principals, reviewed new hires for paraprofessional positions and substitute teachers, reviewed truancy policies and new or returning electives for the middle school. Board members also approved a request from Selle to purchase 20-25 sets of desks and chairs for the middle school and high school, which have larger student populations than in previous years.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
