District sets goal to improve testing scores
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
ST. IGNATIUS —The St. Ignatius School District’s annual yearly progress scores were unveiled at the monthly school board meeting. The district did not meet the AYP goal scores as set forth by the No Child Left Behind Act, but Superintendant Bob Lewandowski said the district would review academic goals to address both reading and math scores.
The standard objective in reading is set at 83 percent. Students at St. Ignatius scored 77 percent in reading. The standard objective for math is 68 percent and students scored 61 percent in math.
Lewandowski said that staff, board and administration would review Measures of Academic Progress, Mont CAS, as well as other indicators of academic progress at the first staff professional development day on Monday, Aug. 22.
“The focus will be to identify student outcomes and develop goals for those outcomes,” Lewandowski said. “The focus this year will be on the fidelity of our teaching practices so that outcomes can be effectively measured and compared to educational programs and practices.”
Other measured progresses were participation, attendance and graduation rates. The measurable objective for participation was 95 percent and the district scored 100 percent. The measurable objective for attendance is 80 percent and the school scored 93 percent. The minimum for graduation rates is 85 percent and St. Ignatius School District is at 85 percent.
“Working together and communications are key in educational success and closing achievement gaps,” Lewandowski said.
During last month’s school board meeting, a new way of evaluating teachers was adopted and is part of the district’s strategy to improving student scores.
The new system provides specific descriptions of the four domains of teaching: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction and professional responsibilities. The administration will use a software program called Observation 360 to track teacher progress and provide feedback.
Teacher Terry Cable had questions about the new evaluation that she raised at the meeting.
Cable said she and other teachers did not know how the evaluation rubric worked. There were also questions of actual evaluation time, along with assignments that the teacher must fill out and how all information is used.
Teachers will have three professional development assignments a month where teachers must answer a series of questions and 10 days later reflect on what they learned and answer. Lewandowski said the assignments will be based on topics and will include five to 10 minute videos that the teachers will watch.
“Where do you get that time?” Cable said about the monthly assignments.
“We have never been educated on it and the time,” Cable said. “Just because we disagree or ask questions does not mean we don’t believe in the same things.”
Lewandowski said questions will be addressed and the evaluation will be discussed at the meeting on Monday.
The school board postponed adopting the teacher evaluations in the teacher handbooks until Lewandowski and Cable, who is the Montana Education Association coordinator for the district, could meet and all questions regarding evaluation could be discussed.
In other news, the school board quickly approved a budget of 3.8 million for the 2011-2012 school year.
Elementary Principal Cherie Stobie then updated the board on a growing number of enrolling kindergartners.
Currently the elementary has 44 kindergartners signed up and the number may continue to grow.
“We’ve been told there are four or five more out there,” Stobie said.
Stobie said usually the maximum number for kindergarten classes is 20 students. Anymore than that is overwhelming for both teacher and students. Stobie said she plans to supplement the large numbers with certified teacher substitutes.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Stobie said. “You want people to come to our school.”
Athletic Director Alan Pule reported to the board that the first day of fall activities has started for volleyball, football and cross-country.
Pule said they have also drug tested 62 students with no positive results.
A new boys basketball coach was selected from five applicants. The board voted to approve Patrick T. Irvin for the head coach position.
Meal prices for the new school year have increased as requested by state authorities.
According to Lewandowski, the district had to increase funding so they would not lose federal funding for free and reduced lunches.
Breakfast prices for adults was $1.48 and is now $1.55, lunch increased five cents to $3, and student prices increased by five cents.
At the end of the meeting, Lewandowski gave an update on the proposed playground, which will cost an estimated $110,000 for the equipment and installation.
Stobie, who is on the playground committee, said they recently sent off a grant worth a potential $25,000.
Lewandowski said the district is spearheading the effort, they will provide maintenance and insurance, but said, “We need to keep the community factor involved.”
