Changes Expected as Students Begin the 2011-12 School Year

Parents of students in the Waukee school district may have noticed a few changes already taking place in the ever-growing district this year.

Beginning July 30, parents with children in kindergarten through 12^th grade received a letter with instructions on how to register their child online using the Infosnap Online Registration system. It’s a departure from the old paper system used in years past and is expected to save the Waukee school district nearly $15,000 each year.

“We are as nervous about it as our parents are,” said Waukee school  superintendent Dave Wilkerson.  “But the more we talked about it, the more we knew we needed to go this way.”

Jessica Stevens received her letter on August 1 and quickly registered son Hunter, 10, for fifth grade at Waukee Elementary using the new system.

“I just did enrollment for Hunter online,” she said. “All of the previous information was loaded, it took 10 minutes max and it’s in their hands. I don’t have to compile all the papers and numerous checks. It’s great!”

Parents looking for a more efficient way to find information about Waukee schools are going to love the ease of use of the district’s new website. Designed by Flying Hippo, a Des Moines-based web design company, the site is more streamlined and easier to navigate.

“I think parents will be pleased with it,” said Wilkerson. “I think they will be able to find everything they need to find. It’s cleaner, it’s more professional-looking and you can get to everything in just a few clicks.”

Wilkerson said the new design should go live before the first day of school, August 17.

A new grading format is being implemented with students entering sixth grade. Amidst some heated discussions, the school board voted to move away from letter grades to a more standards-based grading system last year. Indicators such as “exceeds expectations,” “secure,” “developing,” “beginning” and “needs continuous teacher support” will replace A-B-C-D and F grades.

“The thought has always been that the letter grade has meaning,” Wilkerson  said. “But it doesn’t demonstrate to us what a student can do.”

The new system is being piloted with sixth-graders during the 2011-12 school year and the seventh grade class in 2012-13 after which time it will be evaluated for use with eighth-graders during the 2013-14 school year.

Wilkerson reminded that change is good. The alterations made this year are a sign the district is changing amidst a growing student population. This year alone more than 7,000 students will fill classrooms throughout the Waukee school district.

“I like to stay positive and say the things we deal with are not problems, they’re opportunities,” concluded Wilkerson.