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Local News

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Area schools get high marks
Diamond Mine Direct
By DENISE GRANT

Staff Writer

Area schools got high marks this year on the Ohio School District Report Card, but school officials say the rules are about to change.

"With the governor's new education law, it is all going to change, again," said Michael Lamb, superintendent of McComb Schools.

McComb was rated by the state as an "excellent" school district on the report card, released this week.

"Just when we figure out what the politicians want us to do and want us to teach, they change the standards on us... Like I said to my staff, the only thing that is constant in education is change," Lamb said.

The report card tracks student performance on state testing in reading, writing, mathematics, citizenship and science. The report card also factors in school attendance and graduation rates, and student improvement on test scores.

In all, there are 30 state standards on this year's report card. Some of those tests will be dropped in the future, including the Ohio Graduation Test, which is being replaced with the ACT college entrance exam.

Lamb spent the day Wednesday at a superintendent's meeting in Columbus learning about one of the biggest changes in the new education law: mandatory all-day kindergarten.

"We are going to have to figure out a way to squeeze it into our buildings," Lamb said.

Cory-Rawson High School posted the best test performance among Hancock County's high schools, Superintendent Jay Arbaugh is quick to point out. Test performance is measured by the "performance index" on the report card.

He said Cory-Rawson's elementary school also improved its performance by 10 points.

"It means our students are exceeding the state benchmarks by leaps and bounds, in spades," he said. "We're happy with the results, but we are not content. We want to be an 'excellent' school district and we are putting the plans in place to make that happen."

Cory-Rawson is rated as an "effective" school district on the report card.

The biggest bragging rights, however, go to Bluffton Schools, again.

Bluffton was the only area school district to post a perfect performance on the report card. The school district also posted a perfect performance in the 2006-07 school year.

"We know as a staff that we have to continue to make those changes that are going to come down from Columbus," said Bluffton Superintendent Greg Denecker. "We'll implement those changes and we'll get students ready for the test, but more importantly, we'll get students ready to be lifelong learners."

The district earned a rating of "excellent" with distinction, meeting all 30 standards and making "adequate yearly progress."

Under federal legislation from the No Child Left Behind Act, the performance of all students on Ohio's achievement tests is evaluated. Also evaluated is the performance of students who fall into four subgroups: racial/ethnic; limited English proficient; economically disadvantaged; and students with disabilities.

School districts are expected to show yearly progress, known as adequate yearly progress or AYP, for all of the students, and for each of the subgroups.

All schools are expected to be making progress toward a national goal of having 100 percent of students meeting all achievement, attendance and graduation requirements by the 2013-2014 school year.

Findlay City Schools, which has been rated as an "effective" school district for the past five years, missed the adequate yearly progress mark this year.

Findlay Superintendent Dean Wittwer said the city schools have more students in all of the subgroups than any other school district in Hancock County.

"That's not a complaint. That is a fact," he said.

Kathleen Crates, director of student services for Findlay Schools, said families often stay or are attracted to Findlay Schools for the many programs that serve children with disabilities.

The school district is now studying differentiated teaching in the classroom as a possible answer.

But this year, all eyes were on Washington Intermediate School, Wittwer said.

As city school officials continue to argue that the condition of a school building affects student performance, Washington came through, he said.

Washington School met only three of 10 academic standards on the 2007-08 Ohio School District Report Card, and failed to show "adequate yearly progress" with students.

More than 70 percent of Washington's students live at or near the poverty level, which is a very difficult demographic for schools to overcome.

The old Washington School building, at 701 N. Main St., was built in 1915 and was in need of extensive renovations. In 2002, the estimate was more than $2 million. The school was closed at the end of the 2007-08 school year and the building was sold at auction in June.

Students and staff were moved to the former Ben Franklin Elementary at 1100 Broad Ave. Built in 1969, it is one of Findlay's newest school buildings.

In 2008-09, the first year at its new location, Washington started turning the numbers around. The school district has moved out of "academic watch" status and is now considered an "effective" elementary school.

It met five of 10 academic standards, but is still falling short of the adequate yearly progress mark.

Findlay Schools will return to the polls in November, seeking a 4.3-mill bond issue to help pay for construction of two middle schools and a career technical center.

The bond issue is expected to raise about $54 million, and would be matched with $19 million from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

One middle school would be built on the current site of Donnell Middle School, 301 Baldwin Ave. The second middle school would be built behind Glenwood Middle School, 1715 N. Main St.

Wittwer is pleased with Findlay's performance on the state report card and is looking forward to the coming change. He likes the switch to the ACT exam.

"We had 289 students take the ACT last year, and our numbers have steadily improved over the past five years. Our kids are well above the state average," he said.

Fostoria and Carey schools were the only local school districts remaining in "continuous improvement" status on the latest report card.

"There was a solid overall improvement in the district," said Fostoria Superintendent Cynthia Lemmerman. "But there is much improvement to be made."

"A district improvement plan is in place," she said. "... We're not there yet."

On the Net:

www.ode.state.oh.us



Grant: 419-427-8412,

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14 Comments (2 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
MichaelJGardner wrote:
Bluffton
“ It might we worthwhile to take a look and see what Bluffton is doing. According to The Courier

"Bluffton was the only area school district to post a perfect performance on the report card. The school district also posted a perfect performance in the 2006-07 school year." ”
Friday, August 28, 2009 5:53:21 PM
Andy wrote:
J
“ "Excellent education is the result of great teachers with highly motivated students, lacking either and the most modern, high tech building will still result in unacceptable results."

I agree 100%. But I think these things are also intertwined. Modern buildings can motivate students and attract great teachers. All three elements can also stand alone, but I see a strong connection. ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:00:42 PM
MichaelJGardner wrote:
Well Said
“ J,
Nicely done, Sir! (or Madam) ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 8:46:54 PM
j wrote:
What
“ Excellent education is the result of great teachers with highly motivated students, lacking either and the most modern, high tech building will still result in unacceptable results. Findlay problem is not with the age of its school buildings, that is just a red herring, being used to justify brand new building. The only thing that new school building will do is make Findlay taxpayers poorer. ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 8:19:20 PM
MichaelJGardner wrote:
It is logical
“ Bob,
What I meant to prove was that there are varying levels of success in older schools and two of them are excellent or better.

Meaning the age of the school doesn't necessarily predict the academic performance.

Which is logical.

She was the one that carried the argument to new middle schools, not me. Maybe read her post again? ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 6:55:10 PM
Bob Uhaul wrote:
Mikey Poo
“ Central, Donnell, and Glenwood are indeed different. That's why you cannot use these schools in an attempt to disprove Jennifer's hypothesis. Jennifer is using a fixed population base, Washington students, to advance the theory that improved facilities lead to improved learning. You are attempting to disprove her hypothesis by stating that three entirely separate populations have separate levels of acedemic success. Your arguement is illogical. ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 6:05:40 PM
MichaelJGardner wrote:
New Middle Schools
“ Jennifer,

Suggest you take a look at

www.reportcard.ohio.gov

Look up the results for individual schools and see how Central, Donnell and Glenwood are doing.

I'll give you a hint. One of these three is not the same as the other two. Seems like something other than the age of the schools may be affecting outcomes. ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 5:45:14 PM
Jennifer wrote:
Findlay does well with its large population
“ And new middle schools will help even more. Look at the statistics for Washington -- coincidence? I think not. Decent facilities DO help academics! ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 3:18:13 PM
Shawn wrote:
Have the Facts Please
“ The potential requirement for all students to take the ACT is part of the Governor's education bill, not a direction from the Findlay City School district. Please have all the facts correct before forming personal opinions. ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 1:45:38 PM
Brian wrote:
From the State
“ FCS didn't decide to make students take the ACT, that would be the state that decided that.

 ”
Thursday, August 27, 2009 1:43:28 PM
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Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.