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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/03/2009 10:07 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/03/2009 10:07 AM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Partial Recap Mark Twain School Board Meeting October 1, 2009 At Copperopolis Elementary School~by Charity Maness
Copperopolis, CA....Meeting reconvened to open session with all board members present, Eltringham being back from an extended multi month vacation, and many parents and citizens in attendance. Many charts and graphs were shown to elaborate the rise in API test scores throughout the school district. API, Academic Performance Index, is a public schools accountability system that measures achievement based on state requirements. Early on in the presentation it was pointed out by a member in the audience that the graphs....
only included children in the areas of Economically Disadvantaged, Students with disabilities, and English learners (English as a second language). When asked why? The Superintendent pointed out that this was the district “focus.” To bring the children in the lower performing test areas to a higher performing test area. Unfortunately, this opened the flood gates to multiple comments about the REST of the children in the school district and the implied lack of focus on them.
Multiple questions were asked about raising the bar, expecting more from kids, praising good teachers, keeping in check those that do not perform well year after year, and finally, bullying. This form of “open” communication left plenty of questions unanswered. Jennifer Eltringham pointed out that she was tired of “the negativity,” asking that people “come to them with ideas and solutions” to their complaints. (Seeming to misunderstand the function of the School Board is to attempt to solve problems and offer solutions not to solicit them.)
Karen Tafjen praised the schools high scores and questioned what the school did differently this last school year to have a 29 point raise in the API and asked if it can it be recreated. Julia Tidball stated, “Each teacher has made a professional growth goal” with the “target Language Arts.”
It was then pointed out by another member of the audience that there is a discrepancy of the description “high scores” in the Mathematics area. Specifically pointing to the near plummeting Math scores at the sixth grade level for the last two years, and then a large rise in scores at the seventh grade level. Superintendent Northington stated “this was being reviewed.”
It was pointed out three times throughout the evening by three separate parents that Copperopolis Elementary had lost quite a few high test scoring families this year to alternative schooling methods. The question was posed, “With the loss of so many high scoring children do you feel it will bring the test scores down?” Principal Julia Tidball offered her explanation. “We have lost children of all levels” feeling it will have no effect on the final API scores for 2010, pointing out that Copperopolis has always been a transient town. After that statement was made it was pointed out by a member of the audience that ALL of the high scoring families she was referring to that have left Copperopolis Elementary still reside in Copperopolis. There were no further comments.
At this time it was necessary for me to leave the meeting while discussions on the floor continued to include clarification of the goals the District has put forth, multiple parents pointing out the vagueness of the overall District Goals.
For more minutes please see the Mark Twain Union School District web site.
Comment section of agenda:
Board:
Eltringham- new grandma
Randall- no comment
Rollings- no comment
McGeorge- pleased that the para educators have been reinstated stating that they will “help with reduction in class size”
Student Representatives:
Student Representative Brianna Simpson from MT addressed the Board and informed them of the canned food drive, campus clean up and recycling program the student body is currently promoting.
Student representatives Grace Garcia and Danielle Ribeira from Copper addressed the Board and informed them of the Thanksgiving canned food drive in progress to benefit the local Copperopolis Food pantry, the girls basketball team has been practicing hard, and that they are excited about spirit points for good behavior.
Principals:
Keller (MT)- thanked Board for reinstatement of para educators and reminded people of progress reports in two weeks.
Tidball (Copper)- some classes participating in Copperopolis Community Center historical walking tours and historical art and essay contest. Maggie Rollings has Read Naturally up an running with new volunteers. This programs focus is on English Language Arts.
Certificated:
Wychopen- happy to have classified back, will help with the larger class sizes and pressures of those numbers
Classified:
Carrero-“Thank you.”
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