From the Superintendent’s Desk

Ed Klamfoth

As I’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, the Iowa Core Curriculum is something that all districts in the state are giving a lot of time and attention. Ed-Co is no different. Each of the days we have set aside this school year for professional development have been devoted to work on the Core, and we have only begun the work.

Most of our efforts lately have been around writing an implementation plan. This plan is getting our attention for two reasons. First, it will serve as a guide for our work towards fully implementing all aspects of the Iowa Core and, second, because it must be in place by July 1. There are six outcomes that are part of the Core, including: Leadership, Community, Continuous Improvement, Alignment, Professional Development, and Instruction. Within each of these there are several actions—28 total. As part of the implementation plan we’re required to consider all 28 of the actions and determine when and how we will address those, and to prioritize them according to our district’s needs.

This dynamic plan will serve as a school improvement guide for years to come. Not only does it address issues specific to the Iowa Core Curriculum, it also focuses on best practice in many aspects of education. Therefore, despite the great amount of time that is needed in order to do this well, giving it much attention is well worth the effort. This entire implementation process is one that will be a significant part of what we do over the next few years.