‘Ottawa’ School Board Delays Controversial Changes to Special Classes for Gifted Children
Controversial changes to programs for gifted children at the public school board are on hold while staff come up with more options.
After a lively debate Tuesday, trustees concluded more study is needed.
Proposed changes to specialized classes for the gifted were fiercely opposed by parents. Trustee Christine Boothby initially asked the board to end public discussion of the issue and leave the program alone.
Trustees recommended a compromise that would leave the door open to changes. Another report would come back by the end of 2017.
Staff periodically review programs to find ways of improving them and saving money. A staff report on the gifted program proposed reducing the number of specialized classes and shifting more students into the regular classroom. Segregated classes would be eliminated in Grades 1 to 4, and offered to fewer students in older grades. More training would be provided to teachers to support gifted kids in regular classrooms.
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