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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - THREE State report cards in need of improvement By Wade Smith, Heppner Schools State o f O regon At the high principal s c h o o l w e r e c e iv e d a R ecently I received “ S atisfactory” rating under the State R eport C ards for academ ic achievem ent when b o th H e p p n e r H ig h an d 70 percent o f our students met Elementary Schools Needless the reading know ledge and to say, I am frustrated with the skills tests (11 percent above ratings that we received In my the state average), 70percent opinion, there are severe flaws o f our students met the math in the State R eport C ards, knowledge and skills tests (16 e s p e c ia lly w h e n w e ll p e r c e n t a b o v e th e s ta te perform ing schools such as average), 86 percent o f our H eppner’s are graded under students met the math problem the S ta te ’s “one size fits all” so lv in g te s ts (3 4 p e rc e n t grading schem e A lthough I above the state average!) and have voiced my concerns with 78 percent o f our students met the State of Oregon by phone, the w riting benchm arks (a email, and fax, I have yet to mere 4 percent below the state h e a r b a c k r e g a r d in g th e average). W hat percentage questions that I posed Below above the state average does is a b rief synopsis o f a letter a school need to be to at least that I posted to M r D oug be considered “ Strong?” Im provem ent: Kosty, Director ofTechnology W e r e c e iv e d a and Inform ational R esource “ Stayed A bout T he Sam e” M anagem ent at the O regon rating for the im provem ent Department o f Education c a te g o r y at H eppner A s m any o f you Elementary with the following know , a school can receive data: reading scores improved any o n e o f th e fo llo w in g ratings: Exceptional, Strong, from 90 percent to 93 percent S a tis f a c to r y , L o w , an d and m ath im proved from 80 U n a c c e p ta b le T h is y e a r percent to 90 percent since H eppner High School again last year. O ver a four-year received a “ Satisfactory” and trend Heppner Elementary has Heppner Elementary received im proved 16 percent in our a “ S trong,” dow n from last reading scores, 13 percent in y ear’s “E xceptional” rating o u r m a th s c o r e s , an d T he ra tin g sc a le u se d to decreased a mere 1 1 percent determ ine a sch o o ls’ overall in atten d an ce rates (w hich s c o re is b a s e d on th e pencils out to a handful o f students missing only one more following: day o f school!) H ow is a 29 |Overall Rating = "‘Student percent im provem ent in test Performance + * Student , Behavior + "‘Improvement + scores and a mere 1 1 percent decrease in student attendance ""School Characteristics “ Stayed A bout The Sam e9” Following is the letter H ow m uch im provem ent do I sent to M r Kosty: we have to m ake over a four- D ear M r Kosty, y e a r tre n d to re c e iv e an I have a few questions “ Improved” rating9 Have you ab o u t o u r re p o rt card for made any adjustments in your H eppner Elem entary School and Heppner High School, and “ form ulas” for schools, like look forward to your response ours, that have reached the 9 0 lh p e rc e n tile in te s tin g to the following questions: perform ance9 W hat happens A c a d e m i c if and w h e n ,w e reach 100 A chievem ent: p e r c e n t o f o u r s tu d e n ts At H eppner E le m e n ta r y S c h o o l w e p a s sin g ? H o w a re w e to received a “ S tro n g ” rating receive an “Im proved” rating under academic achievement when you can’t improve on a w h e n 93 p e r c e n t o f o u r 100 percent passing rate9 I students passed the reading find it extremely ironic that we tests (which by the way is 10 received an “ Improved” rating p e r c e n t a b o v e th e s ta te last year with similar results average) and 90 percent o f our Likewise, at the high school, students passed the math test w e also received a “ Stayed (11 percent above the state About The Same” rating with average) W hat percentage the follow ing data: reading p e e d s to be rea c h e d by a im proved from 62 percent to -school to be c o n s id e r e d 70 percent, m ath im proved e x c e p tio n a l9 95 p e rc e n t? from 63 percent to 70 percent, “Every single student passing at and o u r a tte n d a n c e ra te s 100 percent9 In my opinion, I im proved to 93 1 percent will be celebrating o u r 90+ L ik e w is e , h o w can a 15 percent scores w ith my staff percent increase in testing and and students as “Exceptional” im p ro v e d a tte n d a n c e be testing results I find it ironic considered “ Stayed A bout that 90 percent will earn any The Same?” student an “A” in any class, but is not good enough for the A tte n d a n c e a n d B ehavior: At o u r e le m en ta ry school we received a “Strong” rating under attendance and behavior and the high school receiv ed an “ E x c e p tio n a l” rating A lthough I agree that these scores are reflective o f our school ’ s strong attendance and extrem ely low dropout rates, I find it questionable that “ Student B ehavior” can be ju d g ed solely on attendance and dropout rates School C h a ra c te ristic s: Both schools received “ E x c e p tio n a l” ra tin g s fo r school characteristics with our high student test participation s c o r e s a n d a 0 p e rc e n t ex p u lsio n ra te I have no concerns over this category and rating scale Again, I em phasize t h a t th e r e a re s e v e re inadequacies in the State o f O r e g o n ’s R e p o r t C a rd system The D epartm ent o f Education has touted that the report card is valuable in that it, “ ..c o m m u n i c a t e s inform ation to parents about school p ro g re ss and achievem ent in a clear, concise, w ell-defined, and understandable [way] ” You a ls o s ta te th a t th e “ . . inform ation is valid, stable, and reliable.” I disagree It is discouraging that schools that start “tow ards the bottom ” o f p e r f o r m a n c e le v e ls an d increase their test scores to “ a v e ra g e le v e ls” receiv ed “ Im p ro v e d ” ra tin g s [(ex. M eadow Park Middle School: reading scores (65 percent to 72 percent), math scores (55 percent to 75 percent) and declined attendance scores by 1.1 p e r c e n t r e c e iv e d an “ Improved” rating)] where as w e h a v e “ r e a c h e d th e perform ance ceiling” at 90+ p e rc e n t at H eppner Elementary School and earned a discouraging “Stayed About The Same” improvement and m ere “ S tro n g ” perform ance ratings I am proud o f my staff and students w ho have put forth trem endous tim e and effort into their performances on the S tate T ests I look forw ard to celebrating our a c h ie v e m e n ts w ith o u r stu d e n ts and c o n stitu e n ts A lthough our R eport Card ra tin g s do n o t a c c u ra te ly reflect our accom plishments, the discouragem ent it brings will not slow our steadfast goal o f continued im provem ent W e will ju st have to sit and wait for the rest o f the state to “ c a tc h up” to our “ Satisfactory” scores Respectfully, W ade A. Smith Principal H eppner Schools * Behavior Rating For elementary and middle schools the Student Behavior rating is based on a tte n d an c e rates during the tw o m ost recent school years, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 For high schools the Student B ehavior rating will be based on attendance and dropout rates during the tw o most recent school years, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 "■ Im p ro v e m e n t R ating T he Im provem ent rating is based on improvement during the past four years in perfo rm an ce on statew id e assessments, attendance, and dropout rates * S c h o o 1 C haracteristics The School Characteristics rating is based on o n e in d ic a to r th e percentage o f eligible students that particip ate in O regon Statewide Assessments “Sad is Not Bad" program receives donation "■St ude nt Perform ance: T he Student Perform ance Rating will be based on student performance o n O re g o n S ta te w id e Arletha Brannon, treasurer for the Morrow County A ssessm ents during the tw o Employees AFSCM E Union Local 2497 (includes m ost recen t school years, employees from the court house, road department and 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. the hospital) presented Molly Rhea, Hospice Director, For elem entary and m iddle with a check for $350 for the "Sad is Not Bad” program, which helps educators and others talk to children about s c h o o ls th e S tu d e n t grief. P erfo rm an ce ratin g is the average o f scores on Reading and M ath K now ledge and Skills statew ide assessm ents over the last tw o years For high sc h o o ls the S tu d e n t Perform ance rating will be c a lc u la te d as a w e ig h te d com pilation o f the Reading, M ath Know ledge and Skills, W riting, and M ath Problem Solving tests 50th Anniversary Debt Free class to be held in Boardman D ebt F re e and Prosperous Living is the title o f a s e m in a r o f fe r e d on Thursday, Feb. 19. The class is scheduled from 6-9 p.m., at the Boardman Center of Blue Mountain Community College. T h is w o rk s h o p is d e sig n e d for m iddle class A m ericans who want a debt- fre e , stre s s-fre e life sty le . Would you like to pay off your consum er debt, credit cards, car payment, etc. in one to five years? Then pay o ff your 30- year mortgage in another three to four year? You can do this with your current income- no second jo b or living like a h e r m it. L e a rn s p e c if ic powerful and proven strategies that work- every single time. This workshop utilizes a linear m ath, critical path technology to eliminate all your debts. Bring a list o f your debts w ith current balances, monthly payments and interest rates (principle and interest only for mortgages) along with a calculator to class. D uring the seminar, you will develop your own debt elimination plan th a t can be im p le m e n te d immediately into your lifestyle. Tuition is $35 and pne- r e g is tr a tio n is r e q u ir e d . Minimum enrollment level must b e m e t in o r d e r fo r th e instructor to hold the class. Call 4 81-2099 or 4 2 2 -7 0 4 0 for more information. Rebekah Lodge hosting card party The Holly Rebekah Lodge will hold a card party this Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m . at th e lo d g e h all in L exington. C ost is $4 per person. Everyone is invited to attend. Give the gift of Fitness for your Valentine! Buy one month for him / her, get one month free for yourself! (Good through February only) G ift c e rtific a te s a v a il able Fitness Center /if the Heffner video Store) 676-8223 Wisharts Jim and Cam Wishart are celebrating their 5011’ wedding anniversary with an Open H ouse at the H eppner U nited M ethodist Church, Saturday, Feb. 28,2004, from 2-4 p.m. The W isharts were m arried Feb. 20, 1954. at St. M ark’s Episcopal Church in Hood River. They have four children. Sally Brown of Bonneau. SC, Susan Combs o f Prairie City. Jimmy Wishart o f Pendleton and John Wishart o f Hood River. They have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Jim is retired from banking and Cam works part-time at Murray Drugs. During their marriage, they have lived in H<xxJ River, Union. Prairie City, Arlington and Heppner. Please join them in their celebration. No gifts, please. Dave Hall takes office as NASAE H eppner FFA chapter. president [From the laiCirande Observer! Former Wallowa High Sch(X)l FFA advisor Dr. David H a ll, to o k o f f ic e a s th e P resid en t o f the N ational Association o f Supervisors of A g r ic u ltu r a l E d u c a tio n (N A SA E) on Jan. 1. H a ll, a g r ic u ltu r e education specialist for the M ontana O ffice o f Public Instruction, has been serving as the president elect of the N A SA E. His election to the presidency took place during the NASAE Annual meeting in Louisville. KY. The NASAE represents the hundreds of state staff working in behalf of Agricultural Education/FFA, across the nation. O ne o f H all’s duties will be to continue serving a three-year term as a m em ber o f th e U n ite d S ta te s D epartm ent o f E ducation's N a tio n a l C o u n c il fo r A g r ic u ltu r a l E d u c a tio n . According to Dr. Larry Case. U S D E C o o r d in a to r fo r A g r ic u ltu r a l a n d R u ral Education. 'T heaxincil serves as the voice for agricultural education. Dr. H all’s peers have placed significant trust in his abilities” Hall has been involved in agricultural education and the FFA O rganization since 1964. w hen he jo in e d the < He was a very active m em ber during high schtxil and served the O regon FFA A ssociation as a state FFA officer. He was later elected student body p resident at O regon State L lniversity w here he a lso se rv e d as c o lle g ia te FFA president. He taught high s c h o o l a g r ic u ltu r e f o r a c o m b in e d 14 y e a rs at W allowa and C rook County h ig h s c h o o ls . He w a s a member o f the ag ed faculty at Penn State University for eight years and has been the ag dd specialist/state FFA advisor in M ontana since 1997. Hall is the son of Gene and Harriet Hall of Heppner. Spaghetti Feed at basketball game T h e r e w ill be a Spaghetti Feed on Saturday. Feb. 7 from 4-6:30 p.m.. at Heppner High Sch(x>l during the Heppner versus Sherman County games. Menu includes: s p a g h e tti. F re n c h b re a d , salad, dessert and beverage. Cost is $5 per plate. CUSTOM BANNERS Heppner Gazette-Times 676-9228
