North Putnam board discusses ISTEP scores

Friday, October 16, 2009

BAINBRIDGE -- North Putman Community School Board members received information from Superintendent Dr. Mary Lovejoy and Assistant Superintendent Kevin Emsweller about the school corporations test scores.

"We have a huge amount of potential at North Putnam. Our principals and assistant principals really care about the success of our students," Lovejoy told the board.

She discussed the spring and fall test results of the corporation's schools, noting among other things the discrepancies in gender during testing. She also commented on a noticeable issue with writing applications and language conventions throughout the school system.

"Boys versus girls are something we looked at closely and found significant differences in test scores," continued Lovejoy.

One example she gave was test scores in grade three for numerous categories of testing. In all categories the girls scored points higher than the males. The same issue recurred in each progressive grade level.

The sixth grade showed a large discrepancy with more significant differences between boys and girls and their scores.

Lovejoy and Emsweller went on to discuss strengths and concerns and strategies for improvement.

Each school principal also gave a short report on their individual schools that discussed strengths and weaknesses as well as strategies to improve tests.

One of the most important issues to be addressed will be helping students learn to be good test takers.

"Test taking is important for all students throughout their school," said Lovejoy. "One of the things that can be done is to read the questions before reading the story. This helps them answer questions correctly and become better test takers," explained Lovejoy.

Test scores for the corporation as well as the individual schools can be found on the Indiana Department of Education Web site at www.doe.in.gov/data.

In other business, the board approved bus driver contracts for 2009-10, applauded the artists from each school whose artwork was chosen to be displayed in the corporation office and approved a notification to tax payers in November for budget additions in the school bus replacement fund, debt service fund and others.

The board was informed of the resignation of Bainbridge Elementary School principal Dean Cook in January. They also approved hires and resignations of personnel and of extra curricular staff with a 5-1 vote with Andy Beck abstaining. Debbie Sillary was not present at the meeting. A list of names for those positions was not available at press time.

Board member Charlie Boller showed off a picture of all the little league football players from kindergarten to seniors. The photo will be available for purchase for $10.

The North Putnam School Board regularly meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.

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