News
Churchill County school board members want additional information about the number of days teachers are out of the classroom for training.
Trustees received a report on teacher training at a recent school board meeting and asked that a report be prepared on the number of personal leave and sick days also used each year.
Trustee Dave Ash asked that the information be compiled to give the board a better picture of the number of days a substitute teacher is needed in Fallon schools.
Board member Paul Hinz asked that the total cost of providing substitutes be included in the report.
Trustees learned that teachers were out of the classroom an average of 2.8 days in October, 3 days in November and 1.8 days in December for training or other district business. That adds up to more than 500 days during the three-month period that a substitute was needed to cover a classroom in one of Fallon's schools.
Trustee Ron Evans said he computed the number of days teachers were out of the classroom for certain schools. He said as of Feb. 2, West End Elementary School needed a substitute for 238 days. At Lahontan Elementary School, substitutes were needed for 69 days that teachers were out, Evans added.
"My concern is that teachers need to be in the classroom," Evans said.
Teachers also receive training after school and on Saturdays. Beginning next fall, students will be released from class early one day a week to allow teacher training time. Minutes will be added to the other four days a week so no instructional time is lost.
Sue Chambers, federal programs facilitator for the district, reminded the board that No Child Left Behind requires that school districts provide professional development for teachers.
"Everything you see is research-based and approved by the state," Chambers said about the training sessions teachers must attend.
Director of Educational Services Jane Anderson said the No Child Left Behind Act includes increasingly higher standards, creating the need for teachers to stay up-to-date on teaching methods.
"We're always trying to keep ahead of the target," Anderson said. "Just when we think we're there, they raise the bar."
Not everyone objects to the amount of training in the district.
Christine Laird, who teaches in the early childhood program at Cottage School, said her time out of the classroom is worthwhile.
"I have never missed as many days as I have this year, but it is worth it," Laird said. "My plate is full but I love it. I totally support the training we've had. It has improved my teaching and student progress is up."
Churchill County High School student Rebecca Winder told trustees one math class is almost entirely taught by substitutes.
"He's coaching all these groups and I hardly ever saw that teacher. We had different subs," Winder said.
She suggested the board take a look at other reasons teachers are out of class.
Trustees received a report on teacher training at a recent school board meeting and asked that a report be prepared on the number of personal leave and sick days also used each year.
Trustee Dave Ash asked that the information be compiled to give the board a better picture of the number of days a substitute teacher is needed in Fallon schools.
Board member Paul Hinz asked that the total cost of providing substitutes be included in the report.
Trustees learned that teachers were out of the classroom an average of 2.8 days in October, 3 days in November and 1.8 days in December for training or other district business. That adds up to more than 500 days during the three-month period that a substitute was needed to cover a classroom in one of Fallon's schools.
Trustee Ron Evans said he computed the number of days teachers were out of the classroom for certain schools. He said as of Feb. 2, West End Elementary School needed a substitute for 238 days. At Lahontan Elementary School, substitutes were needed for 69 days that teachers were out, Evans added.
"My concern is that teachers need to be in the classroom," Evans said.
Teachers also receive training after school and on Saturdays. Beginning next fall, students will be released from class early one day a week to allow teacher training time. Minutes will be added to the other four days a week so no instructional time is lost.
Sue Chambers, federal programs facilitator for the district, reminded the board that No Child Left Behind requires that school districts provide professional development for teachers.
"Everything you see is research-based and approved by the state," Chambers said about the training sessions teachers must attend.
Director of Educational Services Jane Anderson said the No Child Left Behind Act includes increasingly higher standards, creating the need for teachers to stay up-to-date on teaching methods.
"We're always trying to keep ahead of the target," Anderson said. "Just when we think we're there, they raise the bar."
Not everyone objects to the amount of training in the district.
Christine Laird, who teaches in the early childhood program at Cottage School, said her time out of the classroom is worthwhile.
"I have never missed as many days as I have this year, but it is worth it," Laird said. "My plate is full but I love it. I totally support the training we've had. It has improved my teaching and student progress is up."
Churchill County High School student Rebecca Winder told trustees one math class is almost entirely taught by substitutes.
"He's coaching all these groups and I hardly ever saw that teacher. We had different subs," Winder said.
She suggested the board take a look at other reasons teachers are out of class.
