Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Oct. 14, 1993, edition 1 / Page 8
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Schools To Use End-Of-Year Testing Results To Gauge Pupil Improvement BY SI SAN USHER Brunswick County students won't be taking pre-lests this week as planned. Instead, in an approach that won initial ap proval from the Brunswick County Board of Education Monday night, their performance on end-of-year tests this spring will lie compared to last year's test results. Assessing student performance is part of an effort to increase accountability by students, teachers and schools lor what students learn dur ing the course of a school year. The state end-of year tests check to see how well students have mastered the state curriculum tor their grade lev el. At one time. Brunswick County Schools had considered developing its own set of pre- and post-tests to use at the beginning and end of each school year. The state has end-of-year tests in place for grades three through eight in most subject areas, with tests more aligned to the new state curricu lum due out within the next several years for so cial studies and science. "We believe this is a better way of collecting data on student performance." Assistant Super intendent Jan Calhoun told the board in announc ing the change. "The state is doing some good things w ith assessment. As long as the state is do ing well, then I think we need to hook onto that." he said. Calhoun said choosing to use existing test re sults rather than developing new tests means ac cepting the idea that any changes in student per formance from the end of one year and the start of the next school year are not significant. On a new "developmental scale score" that al lows tracking of student performance on the end of-year tests from one year to the next, an in crease of five points represents "average" pro gress for the year. As soon as the work can be done, students' test results from last year w ill be "re-rostered." or broken down and regrouped by current class as signments. This will give teachers an idea of w here their class started this year. Additional information, such as how well stu dents performed in relation to specific curriculum items, takes longer to reconstruct, but can be made available eventually. Calhoun said. "We just need to set aside the time to do it." If class assignments are made earlier, as in late spring or early summer, some data could be in the hands of teachers before or when school begins each year. "This will mean teachers can develop addi tional diagnostic tests to find out what students know and what they need to learn." targeting their teaching as needed. "This is not something we're going to do tomorrow. We're talking about a dif ferent way of teaching, a significant change, and change does not come easily. It requires support." Calhoun said he hopes the staff reorganization plan he intends to present to the board by year's end w ill provide the kind of support needed. "1 think if we can get this extra too! to the uWe believe this is a better way of collecting data on student performance. " ? Jan Calhoun, Asst. Superintendent teachers it would be marvelous." said hoard chair man Donna Baxter. He said additional work is needed in devising assessment approaches lor the high schools, where students take end-of -course tests in each subject, and for students in k-2 classes. In first and second grade, students are observed by teach ers using a developmental skills checklist. Calhoun said he thinks reservations about the use of subjective observation for assessment can be addressed by training teachers to insure consis tency in what is looked for. Mary Yates, president of the Brunswick County chapter of the North Carolina Association of Teachers, reminded the board that the associa - tion docs not support use of test results as the only means of assessing student teacher performance. "Testing is only a part, a small part, of assess ment." she said. Some Schools Lack Books Calhoun told the board steps are being taken to correct book problems in some county class rooms. Orders for most text and trade books were submitted last March, when "the total book allo cation wasn't known, the assistant superinten dent's post was vacant and the orders were not re viewed that closely." As of Sept. 1. he said, the warehouseman ad vised that S256.(HH) had been spent, with a S2().(MM) shortfall and some books still awaiting order. Usually the state allocation for books is sup plemented with local funds, but this year S7(M)(M( for books was cut w hen the local budget had to be reduced. To help offset the loss. Calhoun is returning some books for credit since some classes didn't materialize because of a lack of students, check ing for books to borrow from other schools and systems; and putting into place safeguards to make sure a similar situation won't happen in the future. In addition, the schools have received ad ditional money for hooks from the state. "Unfortunately we are dependent on the state's ability to get them (books) out to us and I understand they are running about one month be hind," he said. "It's no comfort. I know, but there are other school systems across the state in the same situation." The shortage of some textbooks and trade books in certain classes doesn't fully explain why FROM FOUR MILE REEF U.S. Coast Guard Tows Pleasure Boat To Shore A 20- foot pleasure boat was towed to shore by the U.S. Coast Guard last week after losing power off Lockwood Folly Inlet. BMCS J.D. Arndt. chief of the USCG Station Oak Island, reported Tuesday. At about 12:15 p.m . the station received a call from the fishing boat "Hunter Lynne" reporting a boat dis abled at the Four Mile Reef. Arndt said. Because the boat was not equip ped with a radio, the station did not issue a Marine Assistance Radio Broadcast to request assistance from commercial salvors. Instead, the sta tion launched its 44-foot patrol boat, which located the stricken vessel and towed it to Capt. Pete's Marina in Holden Beach. On Oct. X at about 9:30 a.m.. the station was called from its group of fice in Atlantic Beach requesting Oak Island to make a communica tions check of the area marinas for help in locating a missing vessel. This was in response to a "May Day" call heard in the Wrightsville Beach area the previous day. Coast Guard vessels and the U.S. Marine Corps helicopter "Pedro" searched the area for two days with negative results, Arndl said. Action has been suspended pending further information. Sunday evening at about 7 o'clock, the station was called by the vessel "Integrity" reporting that a red Hare had been sighted on the Intracoastal Waterway near the Elizabeth River. The station launch ed its 21 -foot in datable fast-re sponse boat to investigate. The boat searched the entire area with negative results that night and again the next morning. The station received no overdue or missing per sons reports, but continued to issue Urgent Marine Information Broad casts. Action has been suspended pend ing further information. Arndt said. every student doesn't take home a textbook in every subject, something parents may not under stand. "Our teachers are moving away Irom text book strategies." said Calhoun, particularly in subjects such as science and literature. Literature classes may rely more on "trade" or student choice reading books, tor instance. His recommendations for preventing book shortages include registering students for classes earlier in the spring, making it more difficult lor students to change advanced course selections, holding firm on book allocations to individual schools and adding local funds for book purchas es back into the budget. "It's been my experience that you can't oper ate the textbook account on what the state gives you. You have to supplement it with local funds." said Calhoun. Other Business In other business the board: ?approved on second reading a policy limiting travel reimbursement to 25 cents a mile; ?met behind closed doors before approving per sonnel actions (see related story this issue); ?approved an amended budget resolution for 1993-94 that reflects the consent agreement reached with Brunswick County Commissioners. The budget will leave the school with a $58,000 fund balance. Finance Director Rudi Connor said the Local Government Commission recommends, but does not require, a fund balance of 7 percent to 10 percent of the current expense and capital outlay budgets. For Brunswick County Schools that would be S700.000 to SI million, noted board member Bill Fairley. "I wish the county commissioners were here and understood this." he said. ?heard from Technology Director Gene Zuck on the status of computer installations, training and usage in the county schools Student work station labs and teacher work stations have been set up in each school, linked to the school's computer in formation management system. So far 250 faculty and staff have received basic training, with 2 rep resentatives of each school receiving seven days of training in application of specific software. The current emphasis is on continued (raining, plan ning. and exploring ways to make best advantage of the newly-installed systems. ?heard from Assistant Superintendent Bill Turner that more improvement to air quality has been made at Lincoln Primary School by checking every duct and vent and equalizing air flow to all classrooms in one building. He said his staff will be checking and adjusting airflow in other class rooms and other schools, using equipment bor rowed from the state. Efforts are also being made to clean and dry carpeting in the third grade pod and to dry the classrooms. School employees have also discontinued use of an air freshener that proved to be an irritant. ?scheduled a special meeting Monday. Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the central office in Southport to dis cuss personnel and attorney/client matters. CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PAINTING Warper Coiqpaify KEITH & JILL WARNER 579-4272 Free Estimates Fully Insured INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING ATTENTION TO PREPARATION Power Washing ? Wallpaper ? Carpentry Screening riOft" DISCOUNT MTH ADi I Exp. Jan. 30, '941 I 1 C1993 ThE BRUNSWICK BEACON! Woodmen offers a w ide variety of life insurance plans which provide flexibility of insurance protection and tax-deferred interest features. To find the plan that meets your needs, contact: Jimmy Marshall Larry Heustess Brunswick Square ? Hwy 17 S , Shallotte 754-8400 y- Jgjfc Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society Home Ollicc: Omaha. Nebraska |H UJ u Urn IEMBJ PHOTO CONTRIBUTED Biotechnologist Visits School Charles Lipari, a former biotechnologist with Schering and Plough pharmaceuticals, discussed his experiences in the development of antibiotics and in cancer research on Sept. 2S and 29 with the Shallottc Middle School career exploration students of David Hol den. He also discussed applications of genetic research to agricul ture, food processing, disease prevention and crime control. Shown above are l.ipari (left) and students Likendreia Scott and Adam Girard. Waterfront Dining Locals Appreciation Specials (In The Riverboat Lounge) MONDAY M?n. Nite Koothall FREE HOT DOGS I $1.500 Cash & Prizw TUESDAY All \ou Can Kat Spaghetti, Meat Sauce Salad-flarlic Bread S2.49 THURSDAY PRIME RIB Potato, Salad $799 FRIDAY 16 Oz. T-Llone Potato, Salad IQ98 Friday's - Lire Dixieland Jazz wIDoc McClure .! iM ofT H wv 17 & Hwy 90, l.ittleJ<ivpr,J>C nccvpt^d (803 1280-OOS8 Chiropractic Center of Shallottc/Occan Isle Hwy. 179, Occan Isle, 579-3502 Dr. H.J. "Skip" Davis ?Full Spine Technique ?non-Force Technique ?Blood Chemistry ?Sports Medicine ?Diagnostic X-Ray Call for appointments. Most Insurances Accepted Mon.-Fri. 8:30- 12 & 1:30-5:30. Thurs. 8:30-12 C1993 The enUNSWiCK Bf ACQ* A BDairi|l Oueen WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF "DAIRY QUEEN*" SPECIAL Regular Sundae 99* (nuts extra) (Good October 14-20) Serving real ice cream and fresh fruit topping since 1950. Shallotte Plaza 5701 E. Oak Island Dr. 1002 North 3rd St. Shallotte ? 754-2545 Long Beach ? 278-5371 Wilmington ? 763-5053 "9? . Sfr - ???????I ifli it' Champagne Cabinets bv Aristokraft Yvonne Stevens Home ? Shallotte Eddie Carroll Construction AllskAllift We instal1 or d0 Yourself SEA COAST TRADING CO. 754-6630 ? 120 Blake St., Shallotte
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 14, 1993, edition 1
8
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75