USD 234 board talks progress

USD 234 Board members couldn't offer enough praise to the district's teachers and students on Monday night.

One by one each school's principal gave an account of each building's Adequate Yearly Progress report.

USD 234 Special Education Coordinator Pennie Province was the first to address the board, giving them a report for the district as a whole. In reading, the district must receive a 72 percent proficiency in reading and a 64.6 percent proficiency in mathematics in order to meet AYP. According to Province, the district far surpassed the AYP goals earning a 83 percent overall in reading and 81.9 percent overall in mathematics.

Fort Scott High School, which needed to earn a 72 percent in reading and a 64.6 percent in mathematics, exceeded the target with an 88.1 percent in reading and an 86.3 percent in mathematics, according to FSHS principal Bob Beckham.

Fort Scott Middle School Principal Barbara Albright, who had prepared an AYP graph for board members, showed the board the progress the school has made since the 2003-04 school year. Although the school's score in both reading and math dropped a little during the 2004-05 school year, it has steadily climbed each year since then. This year's FSMS assessment score in reading was 85.3 percent, which is a jump from the target score of 75.6 percent. The middle school's mathematics score of 76.7 percent slid past the target score of 73.4 percent.

Both of the district's elementary schools also made AYP this year, surpassing the target goal of 75.6 percent in reading and 73.4 percent in mathematics..According to Winfield Scott Principal Dave Elliott, the students at his school earned an 82.5 percent in reading, and soared far above the target in mathematics with a 90 percent proficiency. Eugene Ware Elementary's reading score of 77 percent and an 82.2 percent for the students' mathematics skills was enough to secure AYP for the school this year, according to Eugene Ware Principal Billie Jo Drake.

USD 234 Superintendent explained to board members that the statewide AYP goals will continue to increase each year, reaching 100 percent by the year 2014. Board President Matt Ida congratulated all building principals for a job well-done in spite of the many variables involved in getting high enough numbers on the assessment tests. Board member Justin Meeks also congratulated the principals.

"Everyone did an outstanding job," he said. "Congratulations. That's a wonderful thing."

Also at the monthly board meeting, three FSMS teachers, Susan Foster, Tammy Stanley and Amy Lybarger, demonstrated some of the technological devices they use in the middle school mathematics classes. Through the use of new computer equipment, middle school students are able to learn mathematics skills through various interactive programs, which most students find more enjoyable than regular class work. According to Stanley, the interactive computer programs are available for other subject areas in addition to math.

The formation of a special committee to review the high school's activities policy was discussed at the board meeting. Board members decided to hold a work session at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the board office to discuss the policy. The objective of the work session is to be able to come out with a list of items board members would like to see implemented into the policy. This will allow the board to chose one member to represent the board as a whole on the special committee. The board will also discuss the most appropriate method of selecting other people to serve on the committee.

In other business, the board approved the following:

* Payment to Mid-America Roofing.

* Fundraising requests from FSHS art club and language arts department.

* A proposed list of special education hearing officers.

Board members also approved the following employment matters:

* Accepted the resignation of USD 234 bus driver Lee Norris.

* The employment of Josh Gier as middle school mathematics coach; Jacque Doty and Susan Stern as high school dance team coaches; Patty LaRoche as high school thespian sponsor; Stacia Weilert as assistant high school debate coach; Mike Hansen as Skills USA coach; Jayci Cosens as sixth grade girls basketball coach and Teresa Wunderly as a USD 234 bus driver.

* The addition of a part-time teaching position for each elementary school to relieve the large reading group sizes in the lower grades.