Does double dosing work?

That question came up Oct. 13 during a broader discussion between Highline School Board members about trust and one member's outspoken frustration with the district's curriculum.

Double dosing involves giving students extra instruction in subjects that they may done poorly on in standardized tests.

Highline schools superintendent John Welch told board members that elementary students spend 90 minutes per school day on reading, 30 minutes on writing and 60-70 minutes on math.

Board member Susan Goding contended that doesn't give the students enough time to study science, social studies and other subjects. She suggested reading and math instruction could be integrated into other subjects.

Welch remarked, "I am not the poster child for double dosing."

He indicated that the district has cut back on double dosing.

"We will still do some until we have a better way or I am directed otherwise," Welch said.

The superintendent noted he is held accountable for the district's student test scores and indicated additional instruction in reading and math is a way to raise scores in those subjects.

"Choices can be made," Goding replied.

She suggested school board members stand behind the superintendent if test scores go down because of desired changes in curriculum.

Goding made light of Welch's concerns over accountability.

"The federal government's greatest punishment is to give out more money," Goding joked.

The district has received $1.8 million each for Cascade and Chinook Middle schools as part of federal school improvement grants.

The funds are to be used to transform education at the two schools and will extend for three years.

Highline Education Association president Stacie Hawkins urged board members to make sure the money is being used for transformational programs.

"If we can't do new and exciting things there with that much money, I'm afraid we can't do it elsewhere," the teachers' union president declared.
The doubling dosing comments came following a long discussion in which board members Bernie Dorsey, Michael Spear and Angelica Alvarez expressed irritation over an Oct. 1 Times/News op-ed piece written by Goding entitled "Support Highline school change."

They indicated that board members should support decisions made by the board. Dorsey expressed doubt that Goding would represent the board's positions on state advisory boards.

Goding replied that she often airs her education views on blogs and Facebook.

She also said the board had not taken a position on the subjects she wrote about in the Times/News op-ed.