School board reviews accountability results

Published 12:17 pm Thursday, October 25, 2018

Clark County Public Schools Board of Education discussed state accountability results and tabled various items in its meeting Tuesday.

Board members Judy Hicks and Ashley Ritchie were absent and excused from the meeting.

Christy Fulks Bush, Title 1 component specialist, discussed the state accountability cut scores. The district surpassed all of the recommended state threshold cut scores overall, she said.

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This year is a transition year for Kentucky’s new accountability system. Schools will be identified only for the federally-required accountability designations of Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) — those with one or more low-performing groups — and Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) — those in the bottom 5 percent by level (elementary, middle or high); or that have a four-year graduation rate of less than 80 percent. All other schools will be designated as “other,” according to the presentation.

“There is a little issue with TSI,” Bush said. “If you happen to be in it for more than three years, you are automatically put into CSI.”

Indicators contributing to how KDE classifies a school for the 2017-2018 school year include:

— Proficiency which is based on student performance on tests in reading and mathematics

— Separate Academic Indicator which is for elementary and middle schools only is based on student performance on tests in science, social studies and writing

— Growth which is also for elementary and middle schools only is based on student growth toward proficiency in reading and mathematics tests; and English learners’ growth toward English attainment

— Graduation Rate which is for high schools only is the percentage of students who graduate within a specified period compared with the cohort of students who started high school the same year.

— Transition Readiness which is for high schools only is based on students earning a high school diploma and meeting either academic or career readiness as defined in Kentucky’s accountability system.

Bush said the transition readiness would include all schools next year. Bush noted new categories would be added in the coming years.

However, not all components of the transition readiness indicator are available for reporting this fall, according to a release from the Kentucky Department of Education.

This year’s data will include college admissions exam (ACT), Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Advanced International, industry certifications, Career and Technical Education End of Program assessments and KDE/Labor Cabinet-approved apprenticeship; dual credit and verification of exceptional work experience will be included in transition readiness starting in the 2018-19 school year, once data are available. High school transition readiness also is based on English language learners’ attainment of English language proficiency.

Conkwright Elementary School, Baker Intermediate School, was labeled as a TSI school; KDE cited students with a disability as a targeted area for improvement. Robert D. Campbell Junior High School was also labeled as a TSI school with KDE citing African American students as a targeted area for improvement.

Justice Elementary School, Shearer Elementary School, Strode Station Elementary School and George Rogers Clark High School were labeled as other.

No district schools were labeled as CSI.

Greg Hollon, director of pupil personnel and student support services, gave the monthly attendance report. He said Strode Station led the attendance record for the second month in a row. Hollon also said attendance for the second month of the school year is higher in comparison to last year’s numbers.

The board also discussed possible initiatives resulting from the On the Table forums earlier this year. The board approved the On The Table Report and expressed its appreciation for the collaboration with the Clark County Community Foundation.

The board did not make a motion on the initiatives.

The board approved a Campbell/GRC greenhouse project proposal not to exceed $30,000. GRC Principal David Bolen said the funding requested in the proposal would allow both greenhouses in the CCPS System to become fully functional and operated in tandem with one another.

GRC currently grows lettuce that is sold to the food service department and served in the cafeterias. Cucumbers are being grown on an initial basis to determine viability for

production and sales. GRC will also expand into Plasticulture in the Spring with broccoli and cauliflower production.

Bolen said the schools estimate the students could cultivate about 300 plants for use in the cafeterias. RDC would expand into aquaculture through a partnership with KSU along with strawberries. The Clark County FFA is working with a local farm store to be their vegetable plant vendor in the spring.

Bolen said the seed money would allow the greenhouse to become fully functioning and grant the program the startup funds to become self-sufficient and able to sustain the program moving forward.

The proposal generally addresses the polycarbonate exterior panels rehab, fan motor replacements, system control panel replacement, irrigation system upgrade, vegetation tables and assorted seedlings.

In other action, the board:

— tabled the purchase of a welding electronic brake press for the Area and Technology Center

— tabled the approval for adding two new districtwide school resource officers position

— tabled the approval to purchase vehicles for school resource officers not to exceed $50,000

— approved proposed safety/security project list not to exceed $75,083.10

— approved pay application #1514-22 to RossTarrant Architects, for the GRC gymnasium and athletic fields project (BG 16-238) for $9,263.46

— approved pay application #1829-05 to RossTarrant Architects, for the GRC fields house and athletics phase 3 project (BG 16-334) for $124,333.29

— approved pay application #10 to Codell Construction, contractors and suppliers for the GRC gymnasium and athletic fields project (BG-16-238) in the total amount of $1,109,107.38

— approved pay application #16 to Performance Services, Inc., for Guaranteed

Energy Conservation Savings Project (BG 17-178) for $378,311.05

— tabled the approval of air conditioning system proposals for the RDC library

— approved authorize superintendent to advertise for bids for the GRC field house and athletics phase 3 project (BG 16-334), pending KDE approval of construction documents

— approved allocation to Junior Achievement for $2,500

— discussed the establishment of a “Safety Task Force.”

— discussed the status of the Community Education Program

About Lashana Harney

Lashana Harney is a reporter for The Winchester Sun. Her beats include schools and education, business and commerce, Winchester Municipal Utilities and other news. To contact her, email lashana.harney@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0015.

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