More Than 90 Percent of Pierceton Third-Graders Pass IREAD
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Teresa Smith-
They were: for March - Taven Ousley, Pierceton Elementary School; Jaidyn Gilbert, South Whitley Elementary School, who was also recognized by state representative Kathy Heuer; Sydney Trump, Whitko Middle School; and Trevor Hogen, Whitko Middle School; for April, Riley Young of PES; Lucinda Steury of SWES; Sarah Pepple of WMS; and Kurri White of WHS. Ousley, Gilbert and Young attended the meeting.
Donna Lehman, Whitko Special Services director, gave a presentation on Safe Schools - Mental Health Support. She focused on the work between the school's mental health therapists and students and, in some cases, their families and the services they offer. There are individual, group and family sessions as well as crisis intervention and behavioral plans to assist students.
The PES mental health therapist is Rhonda Graney; Kris Cassady is the therapist at SWES; Victorial Cornell and Kelly Goode both work with WMS and WHS.
Graney talked about a child who was unable to be in a classroom situation when she first attended school and how she was helped to gradually adapt to not only the classroom, the teacher and students, but to thrive academically, too.
Renee Messmore and members of the Grace Dynamic Group presented information on a survey recently held regarding one-to-one technology at Whitko. One-to-one technology means each student has access to an electronic device for learning.
Messmore said 317 students, 88 faculty members and 184 parents completed a series of questions on Survey Monkey. Messmore said the group was surprised to learn that 78 percent of households have a laptop; 83 percent of the students use an electronic devise at least one hour in the evening and 85 percent said they are familiar with electronic tools.
Only 32 percent of the parents had heard of one-to-one learning. Once the concept was described, 80 percent of the parents were in support of it. When asked if they were willing to attend a class, 68 percent said they would. More than half, 67 percent, said they thought test scores would be better if students used electronics to learn.
Conversely, 68 percent of the faculty routinely use electronic devises and 58 percent described their skills at using computers as basic to none. Most, 60 percent, were unaware of the learning sessions about one-to-one learning available through the Indiana Department of Education and only 51 percent thought test scores would improve with an electronic-based curriculum.
School board member Roger Boggs asked Messmore if she thought the Whitko school district was ready for one-to-one learning.
She said the district must make sure the teachers are ready to teach that way. The teachers also are concerned that the infrastructure is in place to support the system, as Whitko experiences frequent "crashes." The students are ready and their parents are in support of it, so the community climate is there.
"You can show them so much more of the world," Messmore said, using one-to-one learning.
Principals’ reports –
Eric Speicher, PES principal, reported that 91.1 percent of the school’s third-graders passed the IREAD-3 test. Of 68 students, 62 passed the test.
There were five perfect scores. Two general education students failed the test and one, he said, had the highest-non passing score.
He said 215 second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-graders in the Accelerated Reader program have earned the prize of attending a Fort Wayne Tin Caps game for free. He said twice as many parents will also attend the game, making it a true community event.
Bruce Hansen, SWES principal, also reported on his school's IREAD-3 results with 93 percent, or 64 of 69 students passing the exam. He said there were six perfect scores and only one general education student failing the test.
Parrish Kruger, WMS principal, said there is talk about adding a robotics class to the curriculum. This has stemmed from ongoing interest in the Lego Robotics competition. This year the team went on to state competition and did very well there. However, the local team was up against students who attend a regular class for the programming, building and engineering-based competition. The Whitko students meet twice a week after school for an hour.
Teresa Knepple, the robotics team sponsor, said class participation would be based on ISTEP math and science scores and 28 students have shown an aptitude for the class.
Dave Parker, WHS principal, thanked the mental health therapists for their work, saying they really help with some of the students for which "learning is realistically the last thing on their mind."
He said Patty Weybright is sponsoring a "You Lead" group for freshmen and sophomores based on the Leadership Whitley County group's teachings.
Other items -
Superintendent Steve Clason said the recent Indiana State Police school bus inspection revealed only very minor items to attend to on the vehicles.
Fort Wayne Roofing was approved as the bidder for the 2013 roof project, and, according to maintenance director Dirk Felger, the bid came in $100,000 less than anticipated.
A $700,000 bond was sold for the district at .67 percent interest, and the district will pay $10,000 in interest through 2016. The tax-rate will not be affected.
In personnel items -
George Hainje and Rita Mohr, who both have been employed for more than 40 years, are retiring their positions. Hainje is the WMS assistant principal and Mohr is a SWES teacher. Their retirements are effective at the end of the school year.
Troy Mann also is resigning as a WHS teacher after 10 years employment, effective at the end of the school year.
Dawn Wilkinson has resigned as varsity cheerleading sponsor at WHS
Monica Wagner was hired as resource assistant at PES and Joe Busz was hired as elementary spring coach at PES and SWES.
The board also approved the positions of technology systems manager and technology student advocate.
Approved a cell phone allowance for the transportation - maintenance - technology secretary.
Approved the salary of the 2013 driver training program.
Approved an agreement with Troy center to provided seven positions for alternative learning services.
Approved proposed summer school programs.
Demonstration
Members of the WMS Lego Robotics Program gave a demonstration and explanation of their program.
The next school board meeting is May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the administration office in Pierceton.
There will be a Friend of Education award presentation at the May meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
They were: for March - Taven Ousley, Pierceton Elementary School; Jaidyn Gilbert, South Whitley Elementary School, who was also recognized by state representative Kathy Heuer; Sydney Trump, Whitko Middle School; and Trevor Hogen, Whitko Middle School; for April, Riley Young of PES; Lucinda Steury of SWES; Sarah Pepple of WMS; and Kurri White of WHS. Ousley, Gilbert and Young attended the meeting.
Donna Lehman, Whitko Special Services director, gave a presentation on Safe Schools - Mental Health Support. She focused on the work between the school's mental health therapists and students and, in some cases, their families and the services they offer. There are individual, group and family sessions as well as crisis intervention and behavioral plans to assist students.
The PES mental health therapist is Rhonda Graney; Kris Cassady is the therapist at SWES; Victorial Cornell and Kelly Goode both work with WMS and WHS.
Graney talked about a child who was unable to be in a classroom situation when she first attended school and how she was helped to gradually adapt to not only the classroom, the teacher and students, but to thrive academically, too.
Renee Messmore and members of the Grace Dynamic Group presented information on a survey recently held regarding one-to-one technology at Whitko. One-to-one technology means each student has access to an electronic device for learning.
Messmore said 317 students, 88 faculty members and 184 parents completed a series of questions on Survey Monkey. Messmore said the group was surprised to learn that 78 percent of households have a laptop; 83 percent of the students use an electronic devise at least one hour in the evening and 85 percent said they are familiar with electronic tools.
Only 32 percent of the parents had heard of one-to-one learning. Once the concept was described, 80 percent of the parents were in support of it. When asked if they were willing to attend a class, 68 percent said they would. More than half, 67 percent, said they thought test scores would be better if students used electronics to learn.
Conversely, 68 percent of the faculty routinely use electronic devises and 58 percent described their skills at using computers as basic to none. Most, 60 percent, were unaware of the learning sessions about one-to-one learning available through the Indiana Department of Education and only 51 percent thought test scores would improve with an electronic-based curriculum.
School board member Roger Boggs asked Messmore if she thought the Whitko school district was ready for one-to-one learning.
She said the district must make sure the teachers are ready to teach that way. The teachers also are concerned that the infrastructure is in place to support the system, as Whitko experiences frequent "crashes." The students are ready and their parents are in support of it, so the community climate is there.
"You can show them so much more of the world," Messmore said, using one-to-one learning.
Principals’ reports –
Eric Speicher, PES principal, reported that 91.1 percent of the school’s third-graders passed the IREAD-3 test. Of 68 students, 62 passed the test.
There were five perfect scores. Two general education students failed the test and one, he said, had the highest-non passing score.
He said 215 second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-graders in the Accelerated Reader program have earned the prize of attending a Fort Wayne Tin Caps game for free. He said twice as many parents will also attend the game, making it a true community event.
Bruce Hansen, SWES principal, also reported on his school's IREAD-3 results with 93 percent, or 64 of 69 students passing the exam. He said there were six perfect scores and only one general education student failing the test.
Parrish Kruger, WMS principal, said there is talk about adding a robotics class to the curriculum. This has stemmed from ongoing interest in the Lego Robotics competition. This year the team went on to state competition and did very well there. However, the local team was up against students who attend a regular class for the programming, building and engineering-based competition. The Whitko students meet twice a week after school for an hour.
Teresa Knepple, the robotics team sponsor, said class participation would be based on ISTEP math and science scores and 28 students have shown an aptitude for the class.
Dave Parker, WHS principal, thanked the mental health therapists for their work, saying they really help with some of the students for which "learning is realistically the last thing on their mind."
He said Patty Weybright is sponsoring a "You Lead" group for freshmen and sophomores based on the Leadership Whitley County group's teachings.
Other items -
Superintendent Steve Clason said the recent Indiana State Police school bus inspection revealed only very minor items to attend to on the vehicles.
Fort Wayne Roofing was approved as the bidder for the 2013 roof project, and, according to maintenance director Dirk Felger, the bid came in $100,000 less than anticipated.
A $700,000 bond was sold for the district at .67 percent interest, and the district will pay $10,000 in interest through 2016. The tax-rate will not be affected.
In personnel items -
George Hainje and Rita Mohr, who both have been employed for more than 40 years, are retiring their positions. Hainje is the WMS assistant principal and Mohr is a SWES teacher. Their retirements are effective at the end of the school year.
Troy Mann also is resigning as a WHS teacher after 10 years employment, effective at the end of the school year.
Dawn Wilkinson has resigned as varsity cheerleading sponsor at WHS
Monica Wagner was hired as resource assistant at PES and Joe Busz was hired as elementary spring coach at PES and SWES.
The board also approved the positions of technology systems manager and technology student advocate.
Approved a cell phone allowance for the transportation - maintenance - technology secretary.
Approved the salary of the 2013 driver training program.
Approved an agreement with Troy center to provided seven positions for alternative learning services.
Approved proposed summer school programs.
Demonstration
Members of the WMS Lego Robotics Program gave a demonstration and explanation of their program.
The next school board meeting is May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the administration office in Pierceton.
There will be a Friend of Education award presentation at the May meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
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