During the Warsaw Community School Corporation Regular Board Meeting last night, Amy Sivley, chief accountability officer with the school corporation, presented board members with the concluding data for IREAD-3, a literacy test given to third grade students within the district. The data included students who entered into summer remediation and retesting after not passing the first IREAD test.
According to Sivley, a total of 64 students were eligible for the summer remediation program. Of the 64 eligible, 47 students attended the the program with a total of 21 students passing the IREAD-3 exam after summer school.
Though a total of 43 students still fall into the “do not pass” category, Sivley stated that only three would be reported as third grade students next year and will receive third grade reading instruction as well as participate in the third grade ISTEP and IREAD testing. Of the remaining students who fell into the DNP category, Sivley explained that one left the school district before the conclusion of the school year and 39 were eligible for the “Good Clause Exemption”. This exemption includes students who are not entirely fluent in english (level 4 or below English level), special education student with an I.E.P. or if they’ve been retained two times previously.
Of the eight elementary schools tested five documented a final pass rate of 100 percent. The three schools who fell just short of the 100 percent pass rate included Harrison Elementary School with a 98.7 percent final pass rate; Jefferson Elementary with a 98.9 percent final pass rate; and Lincoln Elementary with a 98.6 percent final pass rate.
WCS first time pass rate was 88.7 percent with 503 of 567 students passing the test. The school corporation tested 47 students during summer testing with 21 passing for a 44.7 percent pass rate. Though the school corporation tested an approximately 60 more students than last year, the 2013 pass rate saw a slight improvement from last year’s figures with a 99.3 percent pass rate versus the 99.2 percent pass rate documented last year.
In other business
- Dr. Craig Hintz announced during his monthly report that at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12, the naming of the 2013-2014 teacher of the year, support staff person of the year and special services person of the year will take place at Warsaw Community High School in the activity center. The program will conclude by 10:30 a.m. All staff will be welcomed back at this time.
- Hintz also took a moment to thank the 50 plus WCS educators who participated in the MSP-Professional Development Activity as well as partners for the event which included Ball State and Manchester Universities.
- The school board also approved an agreement with the Warsaw Police Department for the implementation of a school resource officer. This contract will hold a 7 year commitment between the school and the police department in staffing the new resource officer. An off duty law enforcement officer will be present in the schools everyday to help ensure student safety.
- According to Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott, for the month of June, revenues for all budgeted funds totaled $6,596,770, and expenditures for all budgeted funds totaled $10,418,247. For year-to-date, revenues for all budgeted funds through June totaled $32,619,609, and expenditures for all funds totaled $33,178,571. To see the school’s monthly financial report click here.
- According to Hintz, WCS is now currently fully staffed. Though Hintz did note that staffing is like a “snapshot” of a moment in time, the school did jump on efforts to fill a number of open positions at the close of the last school year. WCS Board Member Randy Polston noted the appreciation of many of the school corporation’s principals in the swift and direct approach taken to filling the open positions within their schools. To view the June personnel report click here.
- With the upcoming school year fast approaching, Dr. Hintz took a moment to note that the preschool programs at both Claypool and Leesburg are entirely filled. A total of two classes will be offered at Claypool and one class will be offered at Leesburg. In addition, Hintz noted that the half-day kindergarten program currently has a total of 15 students enrolled and will take place at Washington Elementary School.