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<p>Hi Everyone, I want to send this report regarding a recent meeting with the WOATRA board, Dr. Alan Burke, Jessica Vavrus and myself. I initiated the meeting on behalf of the WOATRA board. The purpose of the meeting was to meet Dr. Burke and gain a sense of the temperature in Olympia so to speak and how can we continue to build a positive relationship with OSPI. The meeting was positive and all the WOATRA members felt ground was gained in our relationship with OSPI. Here are the specific topics discussed during the meeting. 1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Budget cuts are affecting OSPI as well as all other facets of the educational world. Thus, OSPI is cutting its staff by 10%. The possibility of hiring consultants like Porsche is not likely as there are no additional funds provided by legislature for any extras. So the natural question that comes to mind is what about future material reviews? There are no materials reviews planned or mandated by the legislature in the near future. There is a plan in the next couple of years to rewrite the reading standards. Revisiting the reading materials posted on the website in 2013 is still planned by OSPI. 2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>OSPI is currently in the beginning stages of developing an intervention guide for reading and math. The purpose to help districts review materials and adopt a program. Jessica said this is in the beginning stages and doesn’t know what it will look like in its final form. I asked to be included in some of the discussions. She is promoting my being included in conversations in which representatives have not usually been included. My sense is the intervention guides will function as the review process, but each district will review for individual needs. As I find out more information about this development, I’ll let you know. The Reading guide will be based on 5 components of reading and the new reading standards that are forthcoming. 3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There is a movement to produce national standards. Dr. Burke was at a meeting in Chicago regarding the development of such national standards. This too is in the early stages and too soon to really know much about it; however, there is momentum behind the movement. This is supported by Supt. Randy Dorn. 4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Digital Leaning Commons (DLC) are becoming a part of OSPI. OSPI’s role will be overseeing the virtual academies. 5. ARRA money will be released July 1. The meeting in Spokane May 19 and 20 is specifically to discuss the release and the Title 1 guidelines. Except for Title 1, there will be no guidelines, other than the Feds, for districts in how the money is spent. 6. Dr. Burke will be covering more of the day-to-day responsibilities for Superintendent Dorn, who because of his experience in the Legislature is spending more time working with legislators during the legislative session than Terry did as Supt. This is a change in the leadership model. 7.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finally, we the WOATRA board members and I were invited back by Dr. Burke to meet on a quarterly basis to discuss ways for us all to meet the challenges being experienced by the education community and meeting the needs of districts across the state. I’ll be working with Judy Decker to schedule the next meeting for summer. If you have concerns or interests for the board to take to that meeting, please feel free to contact me or a board member and your concern/idea will be taken for discussion. I want to stress the positive nature of this meeting. Although I realize the climate for selling here in WA is not easy with all the reviews and recommendations—having a positive relationship with OSPI and an opening for the flow of information is great. We did specifically state to Dr. Burke and Jessica that WA State is not a big enough market for companies to make huge accommodations. I am certain he heard us. He seems willing to work with WOATRA to share information to benefit everyone. The four of us present at the meeting felt this meeting and the open attitude of sharing information would not have happened even 6 months ago. As things unfold in the near future, I am hopeful WOATRA members will have access to a much broader view of information. That’s all folks, Jody</p>
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