Over the past several months a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to get ready for our change in grade configuration to K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 in the fall of 2012. We are working very hard to ensure that there will be a smooth transition for students and teachers as we go to this new configuration. The question that I am asked most often recently is how teachers will be assigned once the configuration change is complete. I want to share with you some of the work that has been going on over the past year and what will continue right up to the start of school next year.
A key component of the change is a staffing process that works well for teachers as well as for the district. While it is possible that there will be some difficult disruption to teachers as our staffing needs are determined in the new configuration, we know that disruption can be minimized through a thoughtful process that incorporates teacher interests and skills. We have worked with the Lake Washington Education Association, which represents teachers, to develop jointly this one-time process.
Naturally we want to ensure that staff members are placed in positions they want and for which they are qualified. We want teachers and their new principals to have a chance to meet before the teacher accepts the new assignment. And we want teachers to learn about their placement as early as possible. We have worked to ensure that as many of these interests as possible can be met.
By the time this article is published, teachers will have just finished responding to a survey to let us know if they are interested in moving from one level to another – elementary to middle school or junior high to high school. Teachers from any grade can request such a move, not just the sixth or ninth grade teachers. Once we have that list of teachers who are willing to move from one level to another, the HR department will review each teacher’s information to determine if they are appropriately credentialed to teach the grade level/subject requested. That will give us the list of teachers willing and able to make the switch. The review will be completed by the end of November.
Meanwhile, our business services department is looking at the number of students in each school and at each grade level, as well as other enrollment trends, to determine enrollment projections for next year. That information will help us determine the number of students we have and ultimately the number of teachers at each level and school we will need. From this, we can then begin matching interest with need to start determining school and grade level assignment for staff for next year.
From December 1 through January 31, the initial transfer offers will be made as we work through the staffing process described above. By mid February, our normal transfer process for any teacher who wants to move from one school to another will start. Special education teachers and specialists, other specialists and staff in programs such as Quest will make their requests for changes at this time as well. By the end of April, other staffing needs will be determined. From May 1 to August 31, our normal staffing processes will continue until school starts in September.
Once the initial process for staffing involving teacher moves is complete at the end of January, that will enable a lot more work to be done. Space planning within schools, physical moves, teacher assignments – those all hinge on which teachers will be in which buildings and what subjects they will teach. Teachers themselves will be able to start thinking about their new assignments and what they will need to do to prepare.
In addition to this district-wide staffing process, there are plenty of other items that are being worked on at both the district level and within each school. Soon more information will be available about many additional programmatic details such as middle school athletics, transitions and orientation. Schedules have been drafted and activities are being planned. This is a very exciting time for all students and staff.
Work is going on throughout the organization and this is “top of mind” for our schools and the district. I wanted to assure you that this work is critical to us as we know that a smooth transition depends upon it. And we all know that smooth transitions make a difference in the life of our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chip Kimball
Superintendent
Lake Washington School District