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Educators Prepare for New School Year Despite Uncertainty

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Over 100 educators from more than 30 different school districts in southern Illinois attended a two-day professional development workshop this week in Williamson County.
The Regional Offices of Education hosted the event to update educators on the best practices in English, math and science.

Regional Superintendent Matt Donkin says this is also part of what teachers are required to do by state law to keep up to date on evaluations, student growth and curriculum changes through Common Core.
 
"Maybe that was a little of the problem the last couple of years with curriculum. We did a lot of changes, but didn't give parents, or teachers, or anybody a whole lot of a head start on the training, so they were kind of learning as they went along too. These are the kind of things we do at workshops like this."

Donkin says they are learning these new techniques with the knowledge that this could be a chaotic year for them and the students if their schools shut down due to a lack of money. Donkin says the uncertainty also spills over to the students' families.
 
"We see that, even as we do on snow and emergency days in the winter time, where families want to have 'at least let us know the night before so we can make babysitting plans.' But, you can imagine that's going to be a big issue. Kids are at school so parents can work and do all the things they need to do during the day."
 
Donkin says if schools are forced to shut down it could also hurt some students who rely on school meals for their nutritional needs.

Donkin says a fully funded state budget is important because K through 12 education depends on higher education and social services to do its job more effectively.

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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