Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE -ÊA preliminary report on Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.'s 1999 ISTEP+ results were given by Superintendent Dr. Karen Boling Monday at the school board meeting, and the results could be better.
At the Feb. 7 meeting, Boling will give a more in-depth report on the results.
She said the scores do not show individual progress and to get a better picture of the student body, one needs to compare the classes year by year, not just look at one year. Such a comparison will be made at the Feb. 7 meeting.
On the 1999 tests, in grade three, 54 percent were above the state standard and 45 percent below in English and language arts. In mathematics, 59 percent were above standard and 41 percent were below.
Grade six English and language arts scores were 50 percent above and 50 percent below standard. Mathematics for the sixth grade students were 55 percent above and 45 percent below standard.
English and language arts scores for grade eight were 62 percent above standard and 38 percent below. Mathematics were 50 percent above and 48 percent below for grade eight.
Tenth-grade students did the best on the ISTEP+ test, with 70 percent above standard in English and language arts and 58 percent above standard in mathematics. Only 26 percent of 10th grade students were below standard in English and language arts and 38 percent were below standard in mathematics.
The school board also approved the questions for a survey on "View of the Valley," the corporation's newsletter that is mailed five times a year and gives a report on what the corporation is doing. The publication costs $25,000 annually but is mailed to 5,700 households at 91 cents per house per issue.
The questionnaire will be attached to report cards and a telephone survey also will be conducted.
The survey will ask if the publication informs the person about key community educational issues; if the information in the publication is valuable and not available from other sources; what other information might be included in the publication; what part is most useful and least useful; overall suggestions; if the person is comfortable with the tax dollars being spent on the publication; and how often it should be sent out.
In other business, the board:
• Tabled a decision on the high school feasibility study. Several companies bid on the feasibility study and the bids ranged from $2,000 to $43,000. The board wanted more time to study the information that arrived with the bids.
• Approved the 2000-01 school calendar. The first full day for students will be Aug. 18. Christmas vacation will be Dec. 20 to Jan. 3. The last day of school for students will be May 31.
• Approved a contract with Sprint for long-distance services. By switching from AT&T to Sprint, Tippecanoe Valley technology director Brad Hagg said, the school corporation will save approximately $350 per month.
Hagg also said he removed 13 phone lines that are unnecessary and it will save the corporation more money.
• Approved the purchase of two Thomas body/Freightliner chassis buses from Kerlin Bus Sales & Leasing Inc. for a total of $97,188. Kerlin had the lowest of four bids.
• Approved a resolution to transfer year-end appropriations. At the end of each year, appropriations within funds are transferred to not leave a negative balance in any one fund.
• Approved the reorganization of the board of finance. The president and secretary of the school board will be the president and secretary of the board of finance. Bruce Andrews is president and Tom Weaver is secretary.
• Approved Dekko Einstein grants for a total of $2,264.
• Approved hiring Jonathan Ocock as the middle school language arts teacher; Scott Backus as head varsity baseball coach; Chad Nelson as assistant wrestling coach at the high school; Kim Merley, cheerleading sponsor, middle school; Melanie Vanlaningham, assistant cheerleading sponsor, middle school. The board also approved a request for the high school wrestling team to attend state finals in Indianapolis from Feb. 18 to 20.
• Approved claims by a vote of 4 to 1. Board member Mark Wise questioned the purchase of an aluminum fertilizer spreader for salt and fertilizer by the maintenance department. Maintenance Director Larry Sanders said he purchased the $2,500 spreader because it is better than the one they have now and it should last a lifetime. Wise voted against approving the claims.
• Was presented with information on Tippecanoe Valley's "Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Intervention Plan" by Brett Boggs, chairman of Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Local Advisory Committee of the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. Boggs will return in February to answer any questions the board may have.
Tippecanoe Valley school board members are Bruce Andrews, Fred McSherry Rod Eaton, Mark Wise and Tom Weaver.
