To keep its curriculum and instruction current and most beneficial to the student body, the Wright City R-2 School District will create a pair of study groups that will look to make adjustments to the current practices.The board approved the initiation of two 90-day study groups during its monthly meeting Oct. 18.The first group consists of 20 members and is charged to study recommendations in the area of increasing STEM (science, math, engineering and technology) experiences for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.These areas have garnered particular interest at the high school level in recent years, with Wright City sending its highest number of engineering majors yet to Missouri S&T from the graduating Class of 2016.“The goal of the STEM study group is to increase opportunity for students to get exposed to hands-on science, engineering and math at the younger levels,” said Superintendent David Buck. “This will allow them to build skills they can apply later in life.”The study group will take a look at the data trends and current practices to determine what the best programs are available. At the conclusion of the study, the group will present its recommended changes to the board — likely during the January meeting.“We’ve asked if they could give us a close-to-close neutral future or other options that would be an increase in budget,” said Buck. “When we get the budget in February or March, we can consider the options from there.”The STEM study group will hold its first meeting Monday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the West Elementary library. Building level administrators Dawn Day and Michele Reigh will serve as co-chairwomen of the STEM group.AssessmentThe second study group will focus on the area of assessment and the district’s assessment plan.This group consists of parents, teachers, counselors and administrators and will follow a similar pattern of looking at the data trends and evaluating current practices.“With the assessment we will have a big hole in our plan after this year,” said Buck. “How do we as a collective group want to have a new plan that drives our instruction on student performance.”The assessment study group will meet for the first time Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the middle school library. Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Hecktor will serve as chairwoman of this group.This group is expected to report back with final recommendations at the January board meeting.“Assessment-wise, I think it’s an open book,” said Buck. “After reporting back in January, we will have Jen (Hecktor) come forward with a new assessment plan for the board to review and approve in February.”Wright City Wildcats