Dear Betty

I have received your e-mail of March 16. We appreciate your continuing interest in our math program.

As you know, the Okemos Public Schools re-evaluate all its programs, course offerings and instructional methods as a regular part of maintaining our educational system. With regard to mathematics, we are currently planning to conduct an audit of our middle school. The audit will begin this spring, and we are adding two middle school parents from each middle school to the planning team for this audit.

In reviewing Dr. Schmidt's presentation, it is clear that he recommends the educational system, in addition to teaching formulas and facts, provide more conceptual learning. He was adamant that students need both content and process. In fact, he cautioned the board about lifting a math textbook or math program from another country. For example, if we were to do this, we might totally eliminate tracking at the middle schools. Tracking is a process which many of our middle school parents value and which we have placed into the middle school program this year in response to parent wishes.

We believe that the Okemos Public Schools continues to be on the forefront of instruction and that we are moving in the direction recommended by Dr. Schmidt. However, as you know, a school district must adhere to existing expectations and standards established by the State of Michigan, the federal government, and parents in general. Therefore, it is essential that Okemos schools pay attention to and develop instruction that aligns with M.E.A.P. and IOWA test of Basic Skills because these are the standards by which our schools are judged. We frequently receive requests for test score data, and we are proud of the high level of achievement our students exhibit. Although he is critical of these tests, they are the benchmarks as determined by our legislature and practices across our nation.

We will share Dr. Schmidt's ideas with the middle school math audit team and review algebra and geometry that is in our middle school math program. Like you, we recognize that children's minds are precious things and continue to evaluate our programs to offer the best instruction available within the appropriate perimeters of this country's educational system.

Sincerely,
Lee K. Gerard
Deputy Superintendent