Othello School Board discusses teacher staffing

OTHELLO — Art and foreign language instruction, and getting and keeping teachers for subjects that aren’t considered core subjects, was a topic of conversation at the Othello School Board meeting Feb. 12.

The subject came up in a report from Desert Oasis High School, the district’s alternative high school. Isabel Pruneda is the DOHS representative to the board, and she asked about foreign language instruction.

Foreign language is a requirement for graduation. But no foreign language instruction is offered at DOHS, because there’s no teacher. Kids have the option of taking a test for the foreign language credit, but it’s a tough test. Isabel said she tried it and failed. There is an online program, but it’s very difficult, she said.

“Having a foreign language teacher is really important – we really need one,” Isabel said. Alternative school officials are looking at options, including sharing a teacher with either McFarland Middle School or Othello High School, Isabel said. The alternative school might not need a full time foreign language teacher, she said, but they need one or two foreign language classes.

A lot of kids at DOHS need the foreign language credit, Isabel said, enough so that it’s difficult for them to attend a class at OHS.

Assistant superintendent Pete Perez said district officials are looking at alternatives for DOHS. The high school and alternative school principals have been talking about the possibility of DOHS students going to the high school for one period of foreign language instruction. “There’s a level of collaboration happening between those two schools that’s new for our system,” Perez said.

Another possibility is a foreign language instructor from MMS teaching at DOHS for one class. “Is there a way to partner (a teacher from MMS) one period a day (at DOHS), just to make sure we meet the needs over at DOHS.”

Isabel said DOHS also might be losing its art teacher, and with that its art class, for the 2018-19 school year. “I believe we have a formal resignation of a fine arts position at OHS and DOHS,” Perez said. But there are candidates for that job, and he expects that position to be filled, he said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.