BOARD APPROVES TEACHERS' DEVELOPMENT PLAN

JACKSON -- Teachers in the Jackson school district should get a boost in their professional education with approval of a new professional development plan for the district.

Jackson Board of Education members unanimously approved Tuesday a plan that would help meet the district's educational goals for the current 1998-99 year.

The district has budgeted $56,000 for professional development workshops, seminars and conferences. The same amount was earmarked last year, but the district spent $69,794.

Nearly $13 million has been reserved for school districts across the state to use for professional development. The funds are based on a statewide mandate that requires each district to set aside 1 percent of its anticipated state funds for professional development. At least 75 percent of the budgeted funds must be spent this year.

If there is money remaining, it is carried over to next year's professional development budget, said Fred Jones, assistant superintendent for curriculum and personnel.

A committee of 12 teachers helps decide which goals the district sets. Those goals then become the basis of the professional development plan. There are at least four goals per building and 10 for the district.

Past goals revolved around maintaining safe school environments and crisis management, particularly after the school shootings in Oregon and Jonesboro, Ark., Jones said.

This year, the goals are centered more on assessment tests and scoring as the school prepares for a move from the Missouri Mastery and Achievement Tests (MMAT) to Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) testing.

Part of the MAP test focus this year is in science and to help demonstrate the range of science and technology learning, Bob Bartley, technology coordinator for the district, offered an Internet demonstration to board members Tuesday.

Board members got a glimpse of the Web sites available to teachers for classroom use. Some include lesson plans in English literature as well as science experiments.

Using the Internet allows teachers to move from textbook curriculum to a goals-driven curriculum, said Superintendent Dr. Howard Jones.

Jones would like the district to use more of its funds to put computers and multimedia tools in every classroom.

"I'd like to move as aggressively as we can but not jeopardize our position," he said.

Now four of the district's buildings have computers in almost every classroom. The remainder have access to computers through the library or teacher workshop areas.