Dr. Bob Cockburn, during his Stat of the Month report to the Wawasee school board Tuesday evening, talked briefly about Northwest Evaluation Association growth data. He compiled statistics showing how students performed from the fall of 2011 to the fall of 2012, the fall of 2012 to the fall of 2013 and the fall of 2013 to the fall of 2014.
“We wonder what happens in the summer months,” he said, explaining why the reports were structured from fall to fall instead of fall to spring.
Mary Lou Dixon, school board member, noted it appears third grade students did not do so well on NWEA testing. Joy Goshert, director of instruction and curriculum for the Wawasee district, said at first she saw the same thing but then later realized when students enter the third grade in the fall, it is the first time the test is not read to them and it does make a difference with test scores.
Dr. Tom Edington, superintendent, said reading scores showed increases throughout the school corporation.
In other business, there was discussion about the 2015-16 school corporation calendar. Goshert noted the calendar is similar to other recent years, but school could actually end before Memorial Day in 2016 because the holiday falls later in the month, assuming there are no days to be made up because of weather cancellations. The school board approved the calendar and also approved a survey asking for public input on the calendar. Goshert said it has been several years since a survey has been done.
She noted one of the questions to be asked is what people think of a non-traditional calendar such as used by Goshen. And also whether taking the Wednesday off before Thanksgiving is preferred and then having only one day off for fall break. Dixon pointed out more can be done in October as far as trips taken by families than can be done near the end of November.
During her report to the board, Goshert noted ISTEP+ statewide readiness testing did not go very well Tuesday. A makeup testing day is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20. And during his report to the board, Edington said construction projects including a new Syracuse Elementary are moving forward because the mandatory waiting period after last month’s 1028 Hearing has expired.
Other agenda items included:
• A total of $2,902 was raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the result of the No Shave November and Jeans For Genes campaign.
• It was noted Kristi Harris, math teacher at Wawasee High School, participated in the development of the LearnZillion Helpline, a resource to help with math and language arts.
• The board approved entering into an agreement with the Wawasee Yacht Club where WHS has limited use of the club for a fall class, such as using sailboats of individuals belonging to the club.
• A ski trip for Milford School fifth through eighth grade students was approved by the board.
• The board approved an overnight trip to Chicago for eight WHS students to attend the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Conference.