4A
|
LAWRENCE • STATE
.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Lawrence schools look to promote art alongside STEM curriculum Under one proposal, art education would become more closely integrated with the STEM Lawrence school ad- subjects — science, technology, engineering ministrators are proposing and math — to form what many education new initiatives that would groups are now calling a STEAM curriculum. By Peter Hancock
phancock@ljworld.com
put more emphasis on art education in conjunction with science, engineering and math courses. And they want to shift some personnel assignments in order to make better use of library and media center resources. Those were two of the r e p o r ts SCHOOLS Lawrence school board members heard Tuesday night. Under one proposal, art education would become more closely integrated with the STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and math — to form what many education groups are now calling a STEAM curriculum. Sarah Oatsvall, assistant director of teaching and learning for the district, said there is a growing recognition that arts and sciences are closely related and require similar skill sets. But there has been more of a push to integration them in the classroom has been since the adoption of the Common Core standards for reading and math, and the
Shooting CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A
their search of a 3-mile area along the road. According to a press release, deputies responded to a call of a shooting on the highway at about 11 p.m. Monday night. A 24-year-old
Salaries CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A
2015 school year and to $14,250 for 2015-2016. KU said it expects the contract to be voted on by the Kansas Board of Regents at its June meeting. Members of KU’s Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition, a union originally founded in the 1990s and affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, said the negotiations with administrators that started in early May were amicable and productive. “I was very pleased with how negotiations went,” said Laurie Petty, a Ph.D. student in sociology at KU and a GTAC member who helped negotiate the new contract. “Everybody seemed to be on the same page with wanting to make changes that benefit GTAs and the university.” The new minimum pay was calculated by the university based on available funds and would raise the pay of 39 percent of GTAs, said
HOSPITAL Births Ryan and Lindsey Brock, Tonganoxie, a boy, Tuesday. Robby and Tamara Lamb, Lawrence, a boy, Tuesday. Josh and Cari Davis, Lawrence, a girl, Tuesday. Paul and Angel Nuzum, Lawrence, a girl, Tuesday.
Next Generation Science Standards — all of which emphasize the need to teach key concepts and skills across many subjects. “It’s a concept that is picking up some steam,” Oatsvall said, prompting a few chuckles and groans for the pun. Under the proposal outlined Tuesday night, there would be changes at every grade level in the way art and other STEM courses are aligned, but the biggest changes would be at the middle and high school levels. Liberty Memorial Central Middle School would be the site of a pilot project next year to use a curriculum called Gateway, a collection of courses and materials offered by a nonprofit organization, Project Lead the Way Inc. Patrick Kelly, director of career and technical education, said the plan would be to train one or two teachers in the Gateway program and to select a group of courses that would be offered at the school. At the high school
level, Kelly said the district already offers a large number of classes in most of the STEM and art subjects, but it has few offerings in the field of engineering. The proposal calls for adding an Introduction to Engineering class at both Lawrence High School and Free State High School, plus additional engineering-related courses at the new College and Career Center, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2015. Funding for those initiatives would come from the district’s federal Carl Perkins grants — money the district receives each year for career and technical education. Lawrence’s allocation for Carl Perkins grant funds for next year is $83,670, which is an increase of nearly $4,500 over this year. The board took no action Tuesday, but Superintendent Rick Doll said the issue would come back on a future board agenda for approval of specific course additions and expenditures.
Lt. Steve Lewis, a sheriff’s spokesperson, said Tuesday evening authorities had no information on a suspect or a vehicle. He could not say whether the shooting was a random act. Lawrence man suffered gunshot wounds and was taken to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka by helicopter, where he is recuperating.
Lt. Steve Lewis, a sheriff’s spokesperson, said Tuesday evening authorities had no information on a suspect or a vehicle. He could not say whether
Library changes Also Tuesday, the board heard an update on plans to reallocate library staff resources among the 14 elementary schools and to give more responsibility to non-licensed, classified library assistants. Angelique Kobler, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said part of the goal was to distribute personnel more equitably among the schools so that the largest school, Langston Hughes, has enough manpower to keep its library open and available the same number of hours as the smallest building, New York School. Also, though, Kobler said there is a noticeable shortage of licensed educators with an endorsement in library and media services. And at the same time, those educators are being asked to do more as libraries shift from managing book collections to offering a wide range of media services. According to a spreadsheet Kobler presented, the shift would result in more hours being worked by non-certified staff and a reduction of half a fulltime equivalent certified position. Doll said the change would result in no net increase or decrease in salary expenses.
“
— Laurie Petty, a Ph.D. student in sociology at KU and a GTAC member who helped negotiate the new contract.
Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter
@lcom facebook.com/ lawrencekansas
their studies at KU.” GTAs could see further boosts to their salary under pay increases in KU’s most recent tuition proposal to the regents. The proposal calls for merit-based raises and would allow for an average increase of 1.75 percent for faculty and staff across the university, including graduate student workers. Merit increases for GTAs under the proposal would total $290,000, according to figures provided by KU’s public affairs office. Raises for graduate research assistants would cost the university an additional $7,000. KU administration opened the negotiations over the GTA contract this spring after it had remained unchanged since 2010. Petty said that more than a third of union members voted
Make an
BRIEFLY Police investigate Saturday shooting Lawrence police are investigating a shooting that took place downtown early Saturday morning. No one was injured. Officers were called to a reported shooting near the Replay Lounge on 10th Street at about 2 a.m. Sgt. Trent McKinley, a police department spokesman, said that the victim and witnesses said the suspect and victim exchanged words, then fought physically until someone broke it up. McKinley said the suspect began walking south through an alley. The victim reportedly went after him. Shortly after, the victim ran out of the alley stating the suspect had a gun. The victim got in a car and drove north through the alley behind the Replay Lounge and the suspect was seen running after the car with a handgun. McKinley said the suspect fired one or more shots,
then fled on foot. The suspect has not been identified. Officers recovered bullets and a shell casing in the alley.
Two people from Eudora robbed Lawrence police are investigating an alleged robbery in the 2400 block of West 24th Terrace shortly after 9:30 p.m. Monday. Dispatchers originally reported a shooting, but Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence Police Department spokesperson, said police determined no shooting occurred. The victims, from Eudora, told police two male suspects robbed them at gunpoint in an apartment complex’s parking lot. The suspects took a wallet, keys and cellphone from the victims. One of the victims said one suspect, holding the handgun, struck him in the face. During the investigation officers also determined marijuana was stolen from the vehicle. Police are still investigating the incident, but have not located or arrested the suspects.
the shooting was a random act. He did say, however, that detectives had been able to interview the victim. The road was closed to southbound travel from North 1000 Road to the North 650 Road exit. Anyone with information about the incident Contributed Photo should contact the SherETHAN PERRINS, LEFT, AND HIS MOTHER, KRISTI, stand iff’s Office at 841-0007 or call Crime Stoppers at outside a testing room at the Scripps National Spelling Bee 843-8477. in Washington, D.C.
I was very pleased with how negotiations went. Everybody seemed to be on the same page with wanting to make changes that benefit GTAs and the university.”
Ola Faucher, director of KU’s human resources office. KU’s long-term strategic plan calls for an increase in graduate student pay to help advance recruitment efforts. In fall 2013, the average salary for GTAs with a 9-month appointment was $15,072, according to the KU Office of Institutional Research and Planning. At the time KU had 1,108 GTAs. Across the U.S., the average wage for college GTAs in 2013 was $31,810, more than twice that of GTAs at KU, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In a statement, KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said, “This agreement rewards graduate students for their contributions as instructors and will help us recruit talented scholars to continue
L awrence J ournal -W orld
on the new contract, and it “passed overwhelmingly” among the voting members. The new contract will last for two years, down from the typical threeyear contract of years past. GTAC had requested the change. “In the past after negotiations, things die down a bit over the next three years,” said Shane Willson, a Ph.D. in sociology at KU and a GTAC negotiator. “When it’s time to negotiate again, the people who were active last time have graduated and gone off.” The two-year contract will make it easier for the union to establish continuity for its goals and “help the next generation along,” Willson said. — Reporter Ben Unglesbee can be reached at 832-7173.
informed decision
Celebrating 133 Years!
At Marks Jewelers, we believe in educating you. We will not insult your intelligence with “misleading discounts”. We sell and service jewelry for what it is truly worth, every day. Marks Jewelers provides this service in a friendly, no pressure environment. The key is trust and honesty that turns customers into friends. This may not be how other jewelry stores do business, but it’s worked for us for 133 years, so we’ll stick with it. So please stop by today and discover how fun shopping for fine jewelry and gifts can be.
Marks Jewelers. Quality since 1880. 817 Mass. 843-4266
Bee CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A
Perrins is one of three Kansans in this year’s competition. He said he’s had the opportunity to meet the other two, as well as other participants. “It’s been a great experience just bonding with all the spellers,” he said. Perrins is “kind of nervous” about the competition, but felt confident from his practice. He said he typically studies one hour a day using flashcards, online quizzes and books. He arrived in Washington with his parents, two sisters and grandmother on Sunday. On Tuesday, all contestants participated in a closed-door pre-
liminary round of computer testing that set the tone for Kristi and Erik, the parents. “Just today, with the computer round, we were nervous and that wasn’t even something we could watch, so definitely when we’re in the room watching him spell and listening to it, I think we will definitely be super nervous,” Kristi said. “We’ve always believed in Ethan and he prepared well. He feels pretty confident going into it, but most of all he’s just ready to take in the whole experience and enjoy it.” The bee will be televised at 7 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. on ESPN 3 today. Semifinals will air at 9 a.m. on ESPN 2 on Thursday, and the finals will be later that evening at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
General Public Transportation
We provide door-to-door transportation as well as many additional services to residents of Douglas County including people living with disabilities. Call to schedule a ride: 843-5576 Monday-Friday Funded in part by KDOT Public Transit Program
Even if you don’t have a disability and live outside the Lawrence area we can help. Local transit service runs on a “first come, first serve” basis with no special designations for priority trips such as medical or other appointments.
advocacy, in home care, peer support, training, transportation, community education www.independenceinc.org