Uploaded: Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 1:07 am
Residents voice concerns to school board about proposed math program changes
Senior cabinet raises, bond-funded laptop purchase also part of Tuesday meeting
by Julia Brown
A group of parents and students packed Tuesday’s school board meeting to express concerns about potential changes to the district’s math offerings.
The district has released a draft future math pathways proposal that recommends the phasing out of the middle school five-year pathway, an accelerated math program that currently allows students to complete math 6/7 in sixth grade, math 8/algebra in seventh grade and honors geometry in eighth. Under the current proposal, math 6/7 would be eliminated from middle school in the 2018-19 school year, math 8/algebra in 2019-20 and honors geometry in 2020-21.
A letter provided by Tri-Valley Asian Association president Sylvia Tian and addressed to superintendent David Haglund and teachers states parents “strongly oppose the proposal.”
“Every student should be provided with an appropriate place in the school,” an excerpt from the letter reads. “Math-passionate students should have a chance to enjoy the challenge and the inspiration of learning advanced math, which will pave their way to STEAM study.”
An online petition calling for PUSD to retain the current math program has received 1,007 signatures as of Tuesday evening.
Tian was one of 10 residents who spoke in favor of the continuation of the accelerated math program during the public comment period at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting. She said many parents were not aware that PUSD was considering changes to its math offerings and said she hoped there would be an opportunity for public input.
“We need the guardians and parents to understand what’s going on in our school district so we can be involved,” Tian said. “Our school district is renowned for its quality. Let’s push it up rather than drag it down.”
PUSD director of secondary education Ken Rocha said at the conclusion of public comment that the district has not yet presented a formal plan on future math pathways and that PUSD will be taking feedback at forums planned for Tuesday, Wednesday and Feb. 28. Tuesday’s forum will be held at Hart Middle School, Wednesday’s at Pleasanton Middle School and the final one at Harvest Park. All meetings will take place from 6-7:30 p.m.
“We owe it to ourselves to have a conversation publicly about how we can best serve our students and making sure we’re hearing our community’s voice as well,” Rocha said.