OMG you guys. It’s my favorite curriculum review- Social Sciences!
It’s Beckett, Schacht and Kieffer.
Schacht teaches American History, Sociology, Advanced Civics 1 and 2, and Econ. He also coaches football and scholastic bowl and the constitution team.
Kieffer teaches world geography, world history 1 and 2, and introduction to social studies. He coaches scholastic bowl and advises student council.
Beckett teaches american history, civics and current events. He coaches football, is the sophomore class sponsoring and coaches the constitution team.
Serious facts- when I ask kids their favorite teacher at SJO they usually say a social sciences teacher.
I legit love hearing these teachers talk about their classes. Civics classes and social sciences are vital to helping create active participants in our democracy.
I love that they teach world history classes. I always thought that was missing in my high school curriculum.
In the sociology class they are talking about SNAP and the shortages at the Eastern Illinois Food bank.
Schacht is talking about how the “We the People” contest fundamentally changed how he teaches and it is his passion.
They added Civics 2. They were 23/48 in the nation in the We the People contest. Civics 2 is a prep for it.
Discussing current events class. It is driven by what is happened in the last 48 hours. They discuss journalism versus blogging and news versus opinion. They also discuss media literacy, types of literacy, purposes and biases.
I love this so much. It is so important to discuss these things with high school kids so they know what is an opinion and what is fact.
I would LOVE to sit in this class so much!
They want to add an American History class that would include the cold war, civil rights movement, vietnam, 9/11, globalization. I want to sit in on this class too.
Softball bathroom/concession project is ongoing.
Discussing energy options for the district.
Math curriculum review: This is the presentation that was made last month. The board approved the changes requested by the math department.
Approved the risk management plan.
talking Tax Levy now.
Brooks is projecting the tax rate to be the same as last year or slightly below.
School report card time. It’s a gazillion pages. SJO did good. Exemplary to be exact.
The test scores this year are the first year the school went back to ACT. It was right in line with 2016 when they did ACT before. “If we are doing everything and doing well academically the other things naturally take care of themselves.” Page said.
You can check it out yourself at this site.
Gary is going in depth on some things. They are talking at length about absenteeism.
They approved it.
Athletics: Gary, Justin and Brian- wrestling program numbers have grown. The girls are in double digits. 10-12 are on the team. (SO COOL!) Wrestling team is expecting mid 30s total. Gallo has expressed concerns with the wrestling room size. SJO has suggested two practices for varsity and JV. “With the culture of our program they like to be together.” They are requesting to use the youth wrestling facility that Gallo owns off campus. Brooks said he is struggling with it because the district spent a lot of time, money and effort into the wrestling room. “I am excited about where the program is going,” Brooks said. Brooks said he trusts Gallo completely but coaches change. “If they totally left here and then we utilize the space for somewhere else and then we don’t have it anymore….”
“Our winter season is just tight,” Brooks said. “We just offer a lot of things.”
They are discussing liability and transportation.
No official decision made.
Board policy updates: its just state stuff that they make them update for policies.
Going into closed session.
They are out of closed already.
Good of the cause: GO SJO. Lots of fall sports had good seasons. Looking forward to football on Saturday.
Meeting adjourned.
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