Beaverton School District tackles math conflict

Lawyers are asked to look into possible problems with adoption of new curriculum

By Ray Pitz

The Beaverton Valley Times, Nov 23, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (26 Reader comments)

The Beaverton School District has hired a law firm to look into complaints that the adoption of its new math curriculum was tainted by conflicts.

The Portland law firm of Miller Nash will study complaints from three people over concerns related to adoption of the new curriculum.

In addition to determining if the district complied with state law in the curriculum adoption process last year, the district wants the law firm to look into whether there was a conflict of interest involving current or former district employees involved in the process.

Early this week, three people — Christi Feldewerth, who served as chairwoman of the district’s budget committee last year; John Wilkins, a former Beaverton School Board member; and Mike Mihalik, a district parent — met with district officials to discuss the math curriculum issue.

Some people have approached the school board with their concerns. However, Superintendent Jerry Colonna said he treated Monday’s meeting with the community members as a formal complaint.

Colonna said the district will look into questions from the group and make sure there were no conflicts or violations of state regulations.

“We really feel this is the way we should deal with this,” said Colonna.

In a letter to attorney Jeffrey Austin, the district is asking for answers to such questions as:

-- Did the process and procedures employed by the district in adopting the math curriculum materials comply with state law and district board policy? In addition, it’s asking the firm to review citizen involvement in the adoption process.

-- Did current or former district employees involved in the math adoption process have a potential or actual conflict of interest that violated state law? Specifically, what were the relationships between and among Teachers’ Development Group and the Oregon Mathematics Leadership Institute.

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