The Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board took a first step Sept. 27 Gtoward adopting a number of policy changes and additions in the aftermath of the past session of the Arizona Legislature.
The board unanimously approved 13 first reads on such policy changes, which were required by new state laws passed in the session.
The policies all will go back to the board’s Policy Committee — which is a committee of the whole for the board — then come back for a second read and final approval.
Most of the policy changes were minor in detail, like adding a definition of what a textbook is under two different policies.
Some were more substantial, like a whole addition on what can be taught in “family life education,” or sex education. Board members were quick to point out that GPS does not offer comprehensive sex ed classes in the district, so the policy is irrelevant to it, but the passage of state law meant the district needed to include it in the district’s policies.
Other items
The board unanimously approved rate hikes on community education offerings and rentals. Community education is self-funding, so rising costs, particularly in staffing, necessitated the rate hike, Community Education Director Jared Ryan said. The board studied the matter at its previous meeting Sept. 13.
Staff reviewed for the board the district’s instructional coach model implementation for this school year. The district now has 41 instructional coaches in place across GPS campuses. The district considers the coaching to be student-centered, more about helping students learn than about fixing teachers, said Melinda Murphy, GPS’ professional development director.
Tom Blodgett Senior News Editor | Gilbert @sp_blodgett
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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