USD 234 board learns how assessments differ

Two local teachers asked the members of USD 234 Board of Education if they would rather have a physical or an autopsy.

Fort Scott Middle School teachers Joyce Cowen and Patty Giltner spoke with the board concerning assessments for learning on Monday night. As illustrated by the demonstration they conducted, there are two ways to discover if students are learning the required information.

A summative assessment is used to determine the amount of knowledge gained after the teaching is completed, and a formative assessment is used to determine how much the students are learning while the teaching process is still going on.

Cowan said summative assessments can be compared to an autopsy. The autopsy is a needed procedure, but by the time it is performed, there is no way to go back and fix any of the problems that have been detected. However, formative assessments, Giltner said, can detect how much a student is learning while the information is still being taught. The two teachers compared this process to having a physical because with a physical, a person would be able to detect problem areas and improve on them. The presentation stressed the advantages of formative assessments.

A written statement in the Power Point demonstration said a formative assessment "shows students' areas of weakness and success; helps focus attention on students who need assistance most and often ask for it the least; identifies students needing help earlier in the semester; provides better information for teacher instruction; and promotes student optimism through success."

Although the two teachers agree that formative assessments are very important in order to know how well their students are retaining information on a daily basis, Giltner and Cowen said both types of assessments are equally important.

Also on Monday, the board recognized Fort Scott High School teacher Morgan Croan for her selection as one of the Pittsburg State University Mathematics Department's Outstanding Secondary Mathematics Teachers for 2007.

The board members discussed whether they would approve splitting the cost of the school resource officer with the City of Fort Scott. The district agreed to pay $16,000 toward the school resource officer program for the 2008-09 school year. Several school employees who were present at the meeting discussed with the board the importance of this officer. Many of those employees said that current school resource officer Toby Nighswonger has made a huge positive difference in the schools.

In addition, the board also approved the following items:

* Resignations of Eugene Ware Elementary School secretary Brenda Coffman and district bus driver John Cassett.

* Hiring of Amanda Hall as Coffman's replacement.

* Hiring of Jason Fryar as technology coordinator and technician, and Jayci Cosens as FSMS girls' basketball coach.

* Adding half-time speech and language pathologist position.