State changes test rules

BERNE — A test that had been taken only by some students seeking dual credit will be expanded in an effort to identify students in need of additional help.
A change in state policy will require all students who do not score at least a 46 on the PSAT during their sophomore year to take Accuplacer, South Adams High School principal Trent Lehman told South Adams School Board at its Tuesday meeting.
The board also approved a new athletics department website through Varsity News Network beginning in the 2014-15 school year.
In the past, the Accuplacer test, which measures college and career readiness, was required only of students who scored below 46 on the PSAT and were seeking to earn dual credit through Ivy Tech Community College. The new requirement goes into place immediately, with students required to take the test this spring.
About half of the South Adams junior class is affected, Lehman said.
“You want kids to be college and career ready. The argument is that 46 on the PSAT is a pretty good score,” he added. “But what’s good about the Accuplacer is it shows where their strengths and weaknesses are, so really it gives you good data. …
“We’ll use that data the best we can to help kids grow and learn.”
In addition to students taking the Accuplacer test, the school must also have a plan for skill development/remediation for those students failing to meet the score requirements. The state has suggested MyFoundationsLab, an online learning program through Pearson Education, as a possible remediation tool.
But no out-of-school program is required.
“We can make the remediation free,” said Lehman, noting that he plans to meet with teachers and discuss options. “Several of the schools I’ve talked to are just going to implement it within the junior English class and junior math classes.”
The unanimous vote, with board members Julie Mansfield and Amy Orr absent, to approve the new athletics website came following a presentation from South Adams athletics director Jason Arnold. He touted the ability to customize the new website and offer more features than are available through the current site, which is part of the school’s main site.
The new site through VNN, a Michigan company currently being used by more than 50 Indiana schools including Jay County (jcpatriotsathletics.com), will cost a one-time fee of $900.
“You can see a lot of opportunities here for all of the sports that we have,” said Arnold. “I think this gives us a better format to put our product out there.”
Coaches will be given access to update scores for their sports on the new site. They will also have the ability to write summaries of their competitions, with Arnold approving all content before it is posted
Arnold also noted the athletics department will be able to post physical, emergency and concussion forms to make them more readily available to parents. VNN can also synchronize the athletics department’s email, Facebook and Twitter accounts.
“It gives us an avenue to really get out a lot of information and put information all in one place,” said Arnold. “There are ways to market the programs a little bit better.”
In other business, board members Arlene Amstutz, Ray Gill, John Buckingham, John Mann and Landon Patterson:
•Heard a report from technology director Myra Moore that 63 staff members attended the school’s recent technology fair. She said there has been positive feedback for My Big Campus, a Learning Management System the schools are now using.
Moore also reported that after spring break all printers in the schools will have a default setting of printing on both sides and in black and white. The change is part of South Adams’ effort to save money on supplies.
•Approved price increases of five cents for school lunches to comply with the National School Lunch Program. The new costs for the 2014-15 school year will be $1.70 for elementary school lunch, $1.85 for middle and high school and $2.80 for high school.
•Learned from facilities director Dave Vorhees about $26,000 has been spent this winter on snow removal. The school’s staff handles the plowing, and Vorhees estimated outsourcing the work would have cost about $40,000.
•Approved an overnight field trip for the auto service and machine trades students competing Friday and Saturday in the SkillsUSA State Contest; the hiring of Aimee Buckland as girls soccer coach and Brandon Willis as middle school assistant track coach; the resignation of Dan Bollenbacher as assistant baseball coach; a family medical leave of absence for bus driver Dawn Wanner; and on second reading changes to policies, including sections about family medical leaves of absence, bullying and harassment.
•Heard from student representative Chris Inniger that there were 47 donors at the school’s blood drive Feb. 28. He also said the service committee is planning a spring social for the residents of Swiss Village Retirement Community.
•Set its next meeting for 4 p.m. April 8. Board members will hold a work session beginning at 8 a.m. and will spend most of their time touring the school and visiting classes.[[In-content Ad]]