Don Shrubshell photo

Sarah Read, at center with arms crossed, leads a team-building exercise with Columbia Board of Education members, from left, Michelle Gadbois, Steve Calloway, Ines Segert, Jan Mees, Tom Rose, Rosie Tippin and Karla DeSpain yesterday at the district’s Administration Building. Read is president of Communication Center Inc.

Columbia Board of Education members yesterday laid out some changes they’d like to see this school year, including becoming more involved in district decisions and shortening monthly board meetings.

The list of short-term goals developed after a two-hour communications presentation at the board’s annual retreat.

"Board members are not engaged as much in some issues. Maybe think about engaging us a little more," board member Tom Rose said, looking at central office administrators seated behind him. "Sometimes I feel disengaged. I’m always willing to do more."

He pointed to the recent administrative decision to require teachers to remove personal appliances such as coffeepots and mini-refrigerators from classrooms. The district hopes the measure will save $250,000 in utility costs. Rose said he’d like to hear later in the school year whether those savings are being realized.

Rose also said the board might want to consider having more input on curriculum decisions.

Colleague Ines Segert agreed, adding that the school board needs to tackle the district’s controversial math program this year.

"We have to address in a board meeting the discontent with the math curriculum," she said. "We have to address legitimate concerns about the curriculum, and it has to be openly addressed."

For two years, parents have publicly criticized Columbia Public Schools’ elementary math program because they say it’s too focused on concepts and not strategies. Although district administrators say students are allowed to use traditional algorithms so long as they understand them, parents have complained that children aren’t getting the skills they need to succeed in higher-level math.

Collective bargaining is also likely to be a hot-button issue this year, although board members mentioned it only in passing yesterday. The Columbia Community Teachers Association has spent the summer months hashing out details of a proposed umbrella organization that would encompass all teachers’ groups. But the Columbia chapter of the Missouri National Education Association wants teachers to vote for one exclusive representative to bargain on their behalf.

Board member Karla DeSpain said she would like the board to conduct shorter monthly meetings. Board agendas often now include lengthy administrative presentations before action items. That means board members often make decisions between 11 p.m. and midnight. The board’s communication committee is expected to discuss details of the meetings’ format at a later time.

Board members spent the bulk of yesterday’s retreat learning about how perceptions, attitudes and emotions affect communication.

Sarah Read, president of Communication Center Inc., led the board through several activities designed to teach them how to dissect dialogue and become better listeners. The program cost the district $1,200.

Board members began the retreat by listing their vision for the school year. Members agreed they hope to select a strong superintendent to lead the district, and several members said they want to rebuild relationships between the school system and the community.

"I hope for an improved sense of trust in the district, administration and board from community and teachers," Rose said.

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