Major Changes Coming To A Local Elementary School

Over summer break, a local elementary school will work to restructure curricula for the upcoming school year.

School administrators said students at Dora Erickson Elementary can expect big changes this fall. It all comes down to state requirements not being met. Administrators said student achievement in reading, math, and language arts fall behind what’s mandated by the state.

When school starts in September, students can anticipate a longer school day, a curriculum with extra focus on reading and math and school uniforms. It’s all part of Dora Erickson’s “We Believe!” project, which will focus on student potential in and out of the classroom and prepare them for college and the workforce.

“Students learn differently, so you really have to find where they’re at,” said John Murdoch, principal at Dora Erickson. “They all grow at different rates well, so just because a third-grader is in third grade doesn’t mean they grow at a third-grade rate. There are some that are higher and lower.”

A typical school day will be extended by one hour by starting earlier and ending later. This additional time, over the course of a school year, provides students with more than 20 additional days of school.

“Focusing on points the students are scoring low in, but also [working with] the advances students and finding where they’re at and focusing on those as well so we’re not just teaching to one part of our population,” said Murdoch.

While the dress code is still in the works, Principal John Murdoch said the uniform will most likely be slacks, collared shirts and black shoes. Dora Erickson is looking at partnering with vendors such as Wal-Mart, Old Navy and Target to provide the most affordable items possible. Families will also be able to trade clothing items with other families.

“We’ve found that most of these clothing items can be purchased from $6 to $12, so we’ve focused in on very affordable clothing items to help families out because we know everyone is financially stretched out right now,” said Karla LaOrange, director of elementary education for School District 91.

Apart from having a longer school day, Dora Erickson students will also start school on Sept. 11, one week later than all other District 91 students.

If you have an opinion or suggestion on the restructuring process at Dora Erickson Elementary, you can reach Principal Murdoch at 208-525-7612.