The INDEPENDENT, September 4, 2003
Page 13
anks school administrators tackle reasons for poor test scores
Banks School Board ap their involvement and presence provements. Math textbooks
proved modifications to several at school events and in class will be purchased for all grade
policies, mostly to bring them rooms is greatly appreciated by levels this year as part of the ef
into compliance with new regu the staff. Kelly agreed that visit fort to improve math skills, ac
lations and heard positive re ing programs is a good way to cording to McGlasson. Admin
ports from school administra let staff know that the board is istrators agreed that it was im
tors about the beginning of the an active part of the team.
portant to note that this year’s
school year. Superintendent
The superintendent’s evalu scores included both students
evaluations were reviewed and ation was, as usual, very posi- with disabilities and students
discussion of the board’s self- tive, with the only possible neg- previously counted as having
evaluation was postponed to ative being some concern met the standard (by condition-
the next meeting.
about the board’s ability to dis- ally meeting the standard) who
Board members Doug Nord- cuss policy with the administra- are now counted as NOT hav-
holm, Gene Kelly and Willis tion. McGlasson assured the ing met the standard,
Meeuwsen discussed com board that she, and all of her
Elementary Principal Marty
ments by an unidentified board administrators, are willing to Voge told the board that, while
mem ber in regard to the discuss policies. She also told reading and math scores were
board’s goal of attending the board that they can request statistically comparable to
school events. Nordholm sug- a review of any policy.
statewide
averages,
math
gested keeping a record of
McGlasson told the board scores in both third and fifth
board visitation and attendance she had requested that each grades dropped, as did reading
at events, but he dropped the school adm inistrator develop scores in the fifth grade. Voge
suggestion after Meeuwsen ob an analysis of their students’ told the board that a math in
jected. Superintendent Marilyn statewide test scores, accom centive program, Spotlight on
McGlasson told the board that panied by an action plan for im- Math, would be implemented.
Voge also told the board that
regular and prompt attendance
would be emphasized at Banks
Elementary this year.
Pacific University students
will work with students not
meeting the standard at Banks
Junior High, according to Prin
Banks
The power to amaze yourself
cipal Mark Everett. Reading
T h e w o rld ’s largest
scores have dropped over the
women’s fitness & weig
last four years. Everett said that
loss franchise!
Calli (503) 324-9262
staff has engaged in in-service
Guinneu World R ttordt 2002
fo r more information!
training to improve reading abil-
COMING
SOON!
¡ties for all students. Math
scores indicated a slight in
crease over 2002. A class for
students who score below
benchmark is offered to eighth
graders.
As previously reported, math
scores at Banks High School
took a nose-dive last year. Prin
cipal Jim Foster said that at
least four major issues were re
sponsible for the decline, in
cluding changes in which stu
dents are included in the test
results, delays in the purchase
of textbooks because of unsta
ble funding, an additional test
component and staffing issues.
Foster said he was pleased
with the response of his staff,
which met over the summer to
develop an action plan. Text
books have been purchased, a
new,
slower-paced
math
course will be offered, and cur
riculum will be revamped to ad
dress deficient areas, Foster
explained.
Following an executive ses
sion, the board ratified con
tracts for both certified and
classified employees for the
2003-2004 school year.
Education costs money but,
then, so does ignorance.
Winners at Jim ’s Sentry
Supermarket
Auto and Truck Show
included Best Chrome
for Jerry Schlegel’s
‘50s classic, above,
Roger Shaw, who won
Best Truck (below), and
Don Caudil,
whose Harley
won Best Paint.
3 CORNER FILE
3/4” $4.50
BAR TIPS.............. $ 1 2 . 0 0
BAR WRENCHES $ 3 . 0 0
SUHL
Hats
$5.00
T he B anks
C hamber , or C ommer . ce
iCHrtr cook oft
U n d er T he B ig W h ite T en t
k ^ S e p t e m b e r 2 6 th O 2 7 th
H l
i
I
Power Equi
Mon-Fri
42425 N.W. Banks Road, Banks
503-324-5221