Update on Peoria School Board's Grade Change Decision

District 150 OKs appeal change
Policy comes after school board changes grade of Richwoods student


Tuesday, February 19, 2008
By DAVE HANEY

Peoria- Two weeks after the District 150 Board of Education changed a Richwoods High School junior's English grade, the board effectively made that the last time it will do so.

The board, waiving a first reading Monday night, unanimously approved amending the school district's policy regarding grading and advancement, instituting a process that ultimately is "to be resolved at the building level, with possible input from the superintendent."

Only board member Linda Butler spoke publicly before casting a vote, saying her previous vote in support of changing the grade was not a vote against the district's teachers.
". . . The matter in which I cast my vote was concerning only that particular item," Butler said. "My vote was in no way a statement towards our general teaching staff . . . I gave my vote based upon the process available to this matter, and as Mr. Hinton has said, it's time to move on, so I hope that the action item we are now discussing is a clear statement that the board wants to do what is right on behalf of our educational programming."

The change comes on the heels of a disputed enriched English grade last semester, where the father of the Richwoods student challenged what he called "inconsistent and inappropriate" grading practices and described the grading method as "draconian punishment."

The grade change also riled several Richwoods teachers, leading several to speak before the board earlier this month, including the English teacherwhose grading practices were questioned, requesting the grade not be changed.

Ultimately, by a 5-2 vote, the board determined "an inappropriate grading system used to determine the grade."

Superintendent Ken Hinton said the new policy addresses concerns both with teachers and with parents while eliminating ambiguity the previous policy may have had.

Peoria Federation of Teachers President Scott Schifeling said teachers are happy with the change now that disputes will be settled at the building level, adding it was something "many feel the board never should've been involved with in the first place."

The revised policy lays out a review process parents or guardians may take to seek a grade change. According to the policy, the request must be made within two weeks after the grade is issued, and parents will first meet with the teacher for an informal discussion.

If the problem is not resolved, the parent must then submit a letter to the school's principal detailing the reasons for the review. The teacher will then write a response to the parent's letter.
The pair, along with the school principal and "any other appropriate staff," will meet to talk about the grade change. After notifying the superintendent of the request, the principal will issue a written decision that will be final.

Although the superintendent may engage in the dialogue about the change, the board will not be involved.

Dave Haney can be reached at 686-3181 or dhaney@pjstar.com.