Tutoring Task Force Volunteers Needed
The Superintendent and the Board of Education are currently reviewing the practice of private tutoring in The Winnetka Public Schools. This review was initiated in response to the identification of a meaningful percentage of students receiving tutoring as identified by the 2006 Winnetka Caucus Survey and by the recent District 36 survey. In addition to the survey data, both the Board and the District’s administration had concerns regarding the liability surrounding private tutoring in the school buildings.
To address the threshold issue of liability, the Board consulted with both legal counsel and its insurance representative in December 2009. Their opinion found that there is “significant risk” of liability for both teachers individually and the School District as an entity if the practices of private tutoring and private music lessons are continued in our school buildings. Moreover, neither the District’s insurance coverage nor the statutory provisions which normally protect teachers and schools from liability of this nature, are applicable to this practice.
Given this advice, the Board determined that it was in the best interest of all constituents to suspend all tutoring and music lessons, which currently take place in the public schools as of December 19, 2009. The Board recognizes, however, that private tutoring is a long-standing practice in the community, and is considered by some parents to be a valuable part of their children’s education. It also recognizes that other parents do not hold this view, and have no desire to incorporate private tutoring into their children’s elementary education experience.
The Board believes it is possible to create a policy that will (1) be respectful of all viewpoints regarding private tutoring; (2) align with the District’s child-centered, progressive education philosophy; and (3) protect teachers, the District, and taxpayers from liability. To that end, it is creating a Tutoring Policy Task Force to continue the examination of tutoring practices in our school community, with the end goal of creating a comprehensive policy on private tutoring. While it is not feasible or necessary to create such a vehicle to review the majority of District policies, the Board believes this type of review is necessary given the myriad of issues surrounding private tutoring, and the impact these issues have on students, parents and teachers.
The Task Force will be comprised of Dr. Herrmann, Superintendent; Dana Crumley and Susan Whitcomb, Board of Education Members; five teachers representing each of the District Schools; and volunteers from the community. The Board has set criteria for volunteers, which can be accessed at www.winnetka36.org. Participants should be available to attend 4-6 meetings from January-May 2010, and be willing to spend 6-10 hours reviewing supplementary materials (educational research articles, sample policies, etc.) during the same time frame. We strongly encourage all interested community members to apply.
January 5, 2010
To address the threshold issue of liability, the Board consulted with both legal counsel and its insurance representative in December 2009. Their opinion found that there is “significant risk” of liability for both teachers individually and the School District as an entity if the practices of private tutoring and private music lessons are continued in our school buildings. Moreover, neither the District’s insurance coverage nor the statutory provisions which normally protect teachers and schools from liability of this nature, are applicable to this practice.
Given this advice, the Board determined that it was in the best interest of all constituents to suspend all tutoring and music lessons, which currently take place in the public schools as of December 19, 2009. The Board recognizes, however, that private tutoring is a long-standing practice in the community, and is considered by some parents to be a valuable part of their children’s education. It also recognizes that other parents do not hold this view, and have no desire to incorporate private tutoring into their children’s elementary education experience.
The Board believes it is possible to create a policy that will (1) be respectful of all viewpoints regarding private tutoring; (2) align with the District’s child-centered, progressive education philosophy; and (3) protect teachers, the District, and taxpayers from liability. To that end, it is creating a Tutoring Policy Task Force to continue the examination of tutoring practices in our school community, with the end goal of creating a comprehensive policy on private tutoring. While it is not feasible or necessary to create such a vehicle to review the majority of District policies, the Board believes this type of review is necessary given the myriad of issues surrounding private tutoring, and the impact these issues have on students, parents and teachers.
The Task Force will be comprised of Dr. Herrmann, Superintendent; Dana Crumley and Susan Whitcomb, Board of Education Members; five teachers representing each of the District Schools; and volunteers from the community. The Board has set criteria for volunteers, which can be accessed at www.winnetka36.org. Participants should be available to attend 4-6 meetings from January-May 2010, and be willing to spend 6-10 hours reviewing supplementary materials (educational research articles, sample policies, etc.) during the same time frame. We strongly encourage all interested community members to apply.
January 5, 2010
