Board review ISTEP (01/11/06)

BERNE — ISTEP scores and Indiana state graduation requirements were the primary focus of the South Adams Schools Board of Education Tuesday.

Principals from all three schools boasted positive results, but admitted there was room for improvement as well.

South Adams Middle School principal Scott Litwiller reported that while the percentage of students in fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh grades who passed either the math or language arts portions of the test or both was above the state average, the seventh grade math scores fell below the state average.

“While we want to celebrate, we also want to ask ‘why?’” said Litwiller. “We need to evaluate where we are not doing as well and make adjustments to improve that.”

Third graders at South Adams Elementary School also showed positive results, with 71 percent passing both the math and language arts sections. Third grade is the earliest year the test is administered.

“Our goal is not necessarily to have the most successful third graders in the history of the world, but to give them a solid base from which to work when they get to the fourth grade,” said South Adams Elementary School principal Jeff Rich.

South Adams High School principal Brent Lehman reported that the test scores for eighth and ninth graders were similar to scores the same group of students posted in previous years, but that this year’s tenth graders posted slightly lower scores than they did as ninth graders. However, these results are consistent with state averages.

“We need to be careful how closely we measure our percentages,” said Lehman. “Our grades only have about 100 kids in them, so if we go up a point, that’s great, but we need to remember it is only one kid.”

The test administered to tenth graders is also a state graduation requirement, but those who fail one or both sections can retake the test their junior and senior years. Lehman reported that there were still seven seniors who failed the test and would be meeting with parents and administrators in the coming weeks to determine a course of action.

“Some of these students will be eligible for a waiver,” said Lehman, “but probably not all of them. The kids have to decide that it is important to do well.”

Lehman said that more detailed ISTEP results and a clearer plan to raise ISTEP scores will be forthcoming as the results for individual students, and not just the grade level, become available.

Work is also in progress for the schedule of courses for the 2006-2007 school year at South Adams High School.

Effective with the incoming freshmen this fall, the state of Indiana requires biology and math credits earned in high school, as opposed to eighth grade, as a graduation requirement. The state has also tightened requirements for the Academic Honors diploma.

While biology and high school math are already requirements for graduation from South Adams, Lehman said he would like to offer more advanced placement (AP) courses to students pursuing their Academic Honors diploma. Currently, there are only two AP courses available.

“If those kids need two AP classes, we need to offer more than two AP classes,” said Lehman. Currently, some students travel to other area schools for AP classes, and Lehman said he hopes to be able to add AP English 12 and AP U.S. history to the course book. AP calculus and AP European history are currently offered.

The board granted Lehman permission to continue discussion about possible solutions.

In other school news, Rich reported on a “body safety” program sponsored by Adams County Child Protective Services that will be presented to elementary school students.

The program, which Rich said was brought to his attention by the PTO, will educate students about appropriate physical contact. Slated for early March, a parent meeting will be held before the event.

Parents will then have the option of whether or not their child will attend the event. Counselors will be available to speak with the students following the presentation.

The presentation will be made at other Adams county elementary schools as well.

The board also elected officials for the board of finance. Tony Mellencamp will serve as president, and Arlene Amstutz will serve as secretary.

Also, an additional 40 feet was granted to the town of Berne from the athletic fields by the high school for a retention pond. The pond, which will be roughly four feet deep at its deepest point and cover 360 square feet, will be done by Fleming Excavating, Inc. of Decatur and should be completed by April.[[In-content Ad]]