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School district tweaks teaching resources

by Janice Kurbjun
summit daily news

No teachers were moved, but position allocations were recently adjusted between elementary schools.

Summit School District’s finalized student count showed enough student movement to warrant shifting resources between schools.

The final count that’s cross-referenced with state records shows the district is up eight students beyond initial projections. The district had 3,123 students in 2009-10 and 3,131 this year.



Karen Strakbein, assistant superintendent of business services, said Frisco and Breckenridge elementary schools left some positions unfilled this school year. Because student populations at these two schools were lower than estimated, and Summit Cove and Upper Blue Elementary Schools were above predicted levels, district officials recalculated the number of teachers allowed to be hired at each school.

Strakbein said Summit Cove and Upper Blue filled the available staffing slots with part-time staff or qualified support staff. They didn’t necessarily hire new teachers, she added.



“Two of the four (buildings) were happy with the move,” Strakbein said, explaining that it’s not ideal to lose resources, but the two schools that gained them were delighted.

“Communities ebb and flow,” Strakbein said. “As a school district, you just need to watch that … and ensure all schools are viable schools.”

Summit Cove Elementary has at least a dozen students opting to be bused from Silverthorne Elementary – a school that did not make “adequate yearly progress” in 2008-09 according to state assessments. The state requires transportation be provided to other schools in such a situation. That option will end next year because Silverthorne Elementary made AYP in 2010-11, Strakbein said.

– Janice Kurbjun


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