School district responds to TAG complaint

True to his word, Sisters School Board Chairman Glen Lasken sent John Shepherd a written response to Shepherd's complaint about the program for Talented and Gifted students (TAG) at Sisters High School.

The five-paragraph letter, dated December 22, did not mollify the complainant, however. When asked his reaction last week, Shepherd said he found the letter "vague and ambiguous." He said, "They seem to be saying that they're doing a good enough job, but they're not."

Shepherd made a 10-minute appearance before the board at its December 13 meeting, alleging deficiencies in the TAG plan developed for one of his own children and in the TAG program at the high school generally. He asked the board to form a committee of parents and teachers to review the program and make recommendations for improvement.

Lasken's letter noted that several people have suggested the formation of some kind of committee to examine the TAG program.

"The board has directed the superintendent to discuss the formation and expectations for such a committee with members of the administrative team and provide a plan for reviewing district TAG services and programs at the January board meeting," he wrote.

His letter added, however: "It is important to understand that incorporating new ideas and strengthening existing programs requires more than developing strategies to do so. It also requires resources in the form of time and funds. As I am sure you are well aware, the level of funding for education has not yet been determined by the state. We will not be able to make any financial commitments to the TAG program until we are told what our overall level of funding will be, and develop our own budget."

With respect to Shepherd's son, Lasken said, "Input from the staff indicates that the high school has developed an individualized education plan for Thomas that provides many of the services you highlighted... such as differentiated instruction and assignments, acceleration, and cluster grouping."

Shepherd said he disagreed with that favorable assessment of his son's plan. He said he hoped to talk to Lasken before the next board meeting to get a better sense of what the letter meant generally.

If it simply constituted a rejection of his complaint and a denial that the TAG program is substandard, Shepherd indicated, he might be forced to appeal to the state, "which would invoke an audit where they (state education officials) would look into it. And I don't think that's in the district's best interests. I would hope to avoid that because that's kind of playing hardball..."