The head of Highline's teachers union on March 10 ripped into the district's application for a federal grant that could bring up to $2 million a year to reform Chinook and Cascade Middle schools.

Highline Education Association President Stacie Hawkins termed the application "unbelievable" and "fundamentally flawed."

She charged the proposed plan was too heavily weighted toward administration and administrative support and not enough toward student needs.

She noted the application asks for $25,000 for an executive level coach and staff to manage the transformation but only $20,000 for student social and emotional support.

Hawkins also indicated the proposed reform plan puts too much of the onus on teachers to raise academic achievement.

"It just one tune to dance to-we just need to fix the teachers," Hawkins declared.

She cited generational poverty, racial tensions and gangs as among factors contributing to why Chinook and Cascade students struggle in school.

Hawkins said Highline administrators should "push back" on grant dictates from the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

She said teachers have ideas on school reform and they intend to keep making suggestions.

Superintendent John Welch replied there would be "an opportunity to reshape the grant."

He noted that his interpretation is that the application is not as heavily weighted toward administration as Hawkins stated.

"The best would be a student-centered plan," Welch added. "I hope we are headed that way."

Board members also heard an update on the district's new math plan.

The district opted to purchase the Discovering Math textbook series that has been controversial in some districts. The textbooks are more "inquiry based" than the more traditional textbooks offered in the Holt series.

Earlier this year, the Seattle School District lost a lawsuit when a King County Superior Court judge called Seattle's decision to go with the Discovering series as "arbitrary" and "capricious."

Two Highline districts teachers told board members they like Discovering.

"The new curriculum tells the story of mathematics and students can relate to stories," teacher Bethany Tate said.

However she noted, any textbook needs supplementing.

Tate also praised the high level of coaching and support form her colleagues in adopting the new program.

Highline High teacher Cherie Clymer demonstrated the online capabilities of the new curriculum.

Carmen Gonzales, assistant director of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,) reported that the academic rigor of the district's math programs has increased with elements of algebra being introduced in fifth and sixth grades.

She also announced a $226, 500 Boeing planning grant to broaden project based learning programs first used at Aviation High School to three other classrooms.