Schools looking toward ISTEP

BERNE — South Adams Schools have delayed the start of ISTEP testing, and the extra time will be used to help students with preparation.
Elementary school principal Shellie Miller told South Adams School Board at its meeting Tuesday 63 elementary school students began ISTEP boot camp this week with middle school students to follow next week. Testing dates were pushed back after the state board of education announced last week it would extend the deadline to March 20.
Also Tuesday, board members approved a change to math textbooks for kindergarten and first graders and were reminded about several upcoming career and technical education (CTE) events.
The ISTEP boot camp is an after-school tutoring program that runs for an hour Monday through Wednesday for three weeks. Its focus is on helping students who need assistance in specific areas and to teach general test-taking skills.
Teachers selected students they thought might benefit from the voluntary program, and then called parents to explain the opportunity and ask for approval. Miller said all of those who were targetted are enrolled in the boot camp.
“I’m so thankful for the teachers taking that extra time to make that personal connection so we were able to answer questions,” Miller said. “I just think that makes a big difference in our attendance.”
Preparation for the test will continue with an ISTEP blitz, which is similar to the boot camp but will include all students and will be held during the school day.
Board members also heard from technology director Myra Moore that the ISTEP stress test showed the school had plenty of bandwidth to handle the process. Testing at South Adams will be March 10 through 13, with the following seven days left for make-up testing before the deadline.
The board approved changing math textbooks for kindergarten and first graders to Saxon from McGraw-Hill beginning in the 2014-15 school year.
Miller reported teachers have been unhappy with the McGraw-Hill product.
They said it is too fast-paced, the workbook pages are confusing, directions are unclear and it doesn’t focus enough on building a foundation of skills. Kindergarten and first grade teachers at SAES voted unanimously in favor of the change, she said.
“When I met with teachers … last summer, one thing I heard … at every meeting was our math series is not what we need for our kids,” Miller added. “It’s not helping our kids. We’re having to supplement and add to it to make it what we need it to be.”
Superintendent Scott Litwiller reminded the board of the upcoming CTE Fair for freshmen and juniors scheduled for Feb. 18. It will also be open to eighth graders on Feb. 17. The fair is designed to inform students about the various CTE classes the school offers.
There will also be a sophomore CTE field trip Feb. 26 to showcase the classes South Adams offers in partnership with Jay County, Adams Central and Bellmont. And the school will host a career fair for high school students March 3.
In other business, board members Arlene Amstutz, John Mann, Ray Gill, Julie Mansfield, John Buckingham, Amy Orr and Landon Patterson:
•Approved the hiring of spring high school coaches Brad Buckingham (baseball), Mike Wynn (boys golf), Clint Anderson (track), Jessie O’Dell (softball) and Kyle Sprunger (tennis). They also hired tutors Sandy Sprunger, Laura Bergman, Ashton Morgan, J.D. Keller, Lois Bailey, Kathy Bauman, Kristie Brown, Jeff Bradtmiller, Kemper Amstutz, Cindy Sprunger, Susie Amstutz and Janene Teeter.
It also approved the retirement of Family and Consumer Science and business teacher Deb Hosier, who has taught at the school for 33 years, and a leave from April 16 through the end of the school year for choral teacher Jennifer Thomson.
•Congratulated SAHS cross country coach Clint Anderson and junior runner Sawyer Miller. The Indiana Track and Cross Country Coaches Association named Anderson its small-school coach of the year and Miller its Class 2A runner of the year.
Also congratulated the Auto Service Technology Class for taking seven of the top 10 places at the regional SkillsUSA competition. The top five finishers — Chance Reynolds, Cody Brewster, Robbie Vore, Ryan Owen and Jacob Wooster — will compete at the state level in March.
•Approved overnight/out-of-state field trips for the FFA livestock judging team Feb. 14 and 15 to Rensselaer High School, Feb. 28 through March 2 to Blackhawk College and April 11 and 12 to Joliet Junior College.
•Were reminded there will be a work session and special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25.[[In-content Ad]]