Students returning to area schools next week will likely notice some changes, including new or improved buildings, upgrades to security and more frequent testing to monitor advancement.

Change is inevitable from year to year, and 2013-14 is no exception. Here’s a rundown of a few of the biggest changes in place this year for La Plata County’s three public school districts – Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio:

Durango

The first day back will be a short one for students in Durango School District 9-R.

That is because Mondays are now early-release days, meaning students will be released about 90 minutes early to give teachers time to participate in “Professional Learning Communities” – a time to analyze student-performance data and adjust instruction to improve outcomes.

Early-release days were moved this year from Fridays to Mondays, drawing objections from some parents who said it would be an inconvenience to working families.

Superintendent Dan Snowberger defended the decision, saying Friday afternoon is the least productive time to accomplish important tasks.

“We need our teachers to have time to look at their data, to make structural adjustment, and to dialogue with other professionals around what they’re doing in their classroom during the week,” he said.

“At this point, we hear no more from parents,” he said. “I can’t say that means they’re happy about it.”

The biggest change at 9-R this year is the district’s new approach to curriculum and tracking student learning, Snowberger said.

The Transitional Colorado Assessment Program provides an annual snapshot of student learning, but more is needed to assess students throughout the year, he said. That’s why the district is implementing “common formative assessments,” which allow teachers to know before the day is over whether their students are mastering the subject matter or if they need to try a new approach.

The state measures progress in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, art, music and physical education. But testing no longer focuses solely on student regurgitation of knowledge, but rather student application of knowledge. Third-grade students are not just taught how to multiply, but why multiplication is used, Snowberger said.

“It’s a very different way of measuring students’ success,” he said. “It’s a very different day in education.”

Teachers also will be evaluated differently, with 50 percent based on student outcomes in standardized tests and 50 percent on evaluations done by administrators.

Principals will be encouraged to get out of their offices and be “instructional leaders,” Snowberger said.

He wants principals to provide coaching and feedback to teachers rather than be seen as managers of their buildings.

“Principals know the stakes are high,” Snowberger said.

Children with special needs will no longer be put into a one-size-fits-all program, he said. Instead, specialized programs have been identified to meet the needs of each student.

A transition program for special-education students ages 18 to 21 has been moved out of the high school to the Commons Building, 701 Camino del Rio. The program helps students transition to independent living – for example, learn how to balance a checkbook, access public transportation, access jobs and keep a job.

Three surveillance cameras have been installed on every school bus. Footage will be reviewed in the event of a fight or other security issue. Buzz-in doors have been installed at some rural schools as a security precaution.

Snowberger said he hopes to see more parent participation this year, whether it’s participating in surveys or attending community forums that seek feedback.

“We really want to hear from them,” he said. “It is important that parents recognize their voices are as important as anyone else’s.”

Bayfield

Bayfield School District also is implementing systems to measure student learning with more frequency, which allows them to make adjustments if students are not grasping concepts or if they are falling behind, said Superintendent Troy Zabel.

“If we’re measuring against those evidence outcomes all the time, we can tell when kids are struggling in those areas and respond to it,” he said. “It’s just a good change in practice.”

Measuring progress can be as simple as quizzing students on new concepts as they leave the classroom, or making them more formal to include testing, he said.

Similar to Durango’s early release days, Bayfield will have late-start days almost every other Wednesday to carve out a time for teachers to discuss performance and teaching methodology.

The district will focus on improving math scores this year, Zabel said. Elementary teachers will receive a deeper instructional understanding in math, and a math coach was hired to work at the elementary school. The district also increased staffing in math at the secondary school.

The school district also made changes to the entrances at the primary, elementary and middle schools to increase security, Zabel said. Visitors will have to be buzzed in to gain entry to the schools, he said.

The school district and the Bayfield Marshal’s Office have received a grant to fund a school-resource officer, which will allow for a full-time deputy to teach, visit and patrol the schools. The officer will be hired in October or December, Zabel said.

Construction continues at the high school to add a new performance-arts auditorium, auxiliary gym, baseball stadium and classrooms for performance arts. Those should be completed in time for next year. The high school entrance will be revamped with security in mind, Zabel said.

“The energy and enthusiasm is off the charts,” he said. “I’m really excited. We’re ready for kids next week.”

Ignacio

New construction is a focus in Ignacio. The district will unveil a new middle school and administration building this month. A new elementary school is scheduled to open in January, and the new high school will be ready by the fall of 2015, said Superintendent Rocco Fuschetto.

Every subject has been aligned to the Common Core and State Standards, and staff members have developed a scoring rubric for every standard and benchmark, he said.

Laptops will be given to every student in third grade through 11th grade. The school owns the computers.

State testing will be done online next year, and it is important to have students familiarized with computers so they can concentrate on the test, Fuschetto said.

“Technology is important to us,” he said. “We want to have our kids ready and trained on the computer so the technology doesn’t become a problem for students taking the test.”

“There’s a lot of good things going on,” he said.

shane@durangoherald.com