MENTONE – Spring ISTEP+ testing was full of computer problems statewide, but the state considered only two Tippecanoe Valley students’ tests as being interrupted. Chrissy Mills, Akron Elementary School principal and Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. testing coordinator, reported on Valley’s ISTEP+ results to the school board Monday night. She said with all the interruptions they experienced in the spring, Valley sent all students’ tests in third through eighth grade to the state for review. “Only two students’ tests were considered interrupted, and they were both from Mentone. It’s very disappointing,” she said. Once the results come back from the state, she said the school corporation can’t question it. Only a parent may request the state rescore their student’s test. “It’s very interesting as they (all) were interrupted,” Bryan Murphy, board president, remarked. Mills said it “took forever” to get ISTEP+ testing done this year. By the third week, students weren’t taking the testing too seriously. She did say, however, that the data was very interesting to look at and Valley does use the data a lot when doing interventions with its students. Mark Wise, board member, asked how Valley compared with the state average. Mills responded they don’t know yet. Science scores just came in this week, and they’re waiting on social studies scores. According to the numbers provided by Mills, 91 percent of all Valley third-graders passed English/language arts. In math, 88 percent of third-graders passed in spring. In fourth grade, 94 percent passed English/language arts, while 81 percent passed math. For fifth grade, 79 percent passed English/language arts and 76 percent passed math. In English/language arts, 73 percent of sixth-graders passed, while 83 percent passed in math. At seventh grade, 66 percent passed English/language arts and 72 percent passed math. For eighth grade, 68 percent passed English/language arts, while 61 percent passed math. Mills also provided a three-year comparison of ISTEP+ results to the board. Third-grae English results went from 81 percent passing in 2011 to 92 and 91 percents in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Math went from 77 percent passing in 2011 to 90 and 88 percents passing in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Fourth grade had its best results this year, increasing in English to 94 percent passing from 83 percent in 2011 and 78 percent in 2012; and increasing in math to 81 percent passing from 79 and 68 percents passing in 2011 and 2012 respectively. English at fifth grade increased from 68 percent in 2011 to 73 in 2012 and 79 percent passing in 2013; while math decreased from 79 percent in 2011 and 81 percent in 2012 to 76 percent in 2013. Sixth-grade English scores went from 73 percent in 2011 to 76 percent in 2012 and back to 73 percent in 2013. Math increased from 66 percent in 2011 to 78 in 2012 and 83 percent passing in 2013. At seventh grade, the percentage of students passing English dropped from 69 percent in 2011 and 73 percent in 2012 to 66 percent in 2013. Math increased from 54 percent in 2011 to 74 percent in 2012 and 72 percent in 2013. Finally, in eighth-grade English, 57 percent passed in 2011, 72 percent passed in 2012 and 68 percent passed in 2013. Math increased from 60 percent passing in 2011 to 67 percent in 2012, but dropped to 61 percent in 2013. As the last business of the school board meeting, Superintendent Brett Boggs reported the school corporation at the end of August started work on its strategic plan process. A 40-member commitee has been formed to develop the strategic plan, including community representatives, administrators, teachers, board members, students and business representatives. Facilitators are Dr. Bruce Stahly and Dr. Dennis Cahill of Administrator Assistance. The committee has been broken into four subcommittees, which are student achievement; curriculum, instruction and evaluation; communication, marketing and community relations; and facilities and finance. The subcommittees were split, Boggs said, as to have parent, community, school and business representatives in each one. The subcommittees have another meeting before the committee finalizes the recommendation to the school board Dec. 4. The committee will then make its recommendation to the board 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 9. Last week, Boggs stated, the committee finalized its vision statement, which reads, “Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. does whatever it takes to equip all students to be outstanding – today, tomorrow and beyond.” The mission statement also was finalized, and it reads, “(TVSC) is committed to student success through development of character, leadership and literacy.” “I think when all is said and done,” Boggs told the board, “we’ll have something to guide us for the next few years.”
