BURKET - The Tippecanoe Valley School board reviewed fall 2008 ISTEP results during its monthly meeting Monday night at the Burket Educational Center.
Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation Curriculum Director Angie Miller presented the results of the 2008 fall ISTEP testing.
In English Language Arts, improvement was shown by students in every grade except third and eighth.Compared to the state in grades 3-10, Valley beat state averages except in grades, 3, 4 and 8.
Miller noted that increased attention to reading school-wide has been a factor in the improved scores by students.
In math, scores dropped from 2007 in grades 3, 4 and 8.
While discussing the test scores it was noted that there were drops in middle school grades.
Board member Mark Wise noted that other school corporations have seen dips in test scores for middle school students.
"I don't think it's isolated to Valley. I think it's middle school kids," said Wise.
TVSC Superintendent Brett Boggs also expressed the corporation's desire to challenge advanced students as much as possible as a means to increase test scores.
"We want to try and make our high achievers attain a higher level and challenge them," said Boggs. "We need to keep challenging these folks.
The spring ISTEP testing starts in March with a written portion of the test while the rest takes place at the end of April and in early May.
The board heard a presentation on a printing and design class that will be held at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Dan Franklin, who will teach the course, told the board that the class fell by the wayside during the high school's renovation.
Franklin, Boggs; TVHS Principal Kirk Doehrmann; the school corporation's director of technology Brad Hagg; Tim Harman, owner of Harmony Publishing; Bruce Hazelet, who is in human resources at R.R. Donnelley and Sons; and Bill Kovach, who is the director of the Warsaw Area Career Center, were on a committee that helped develop the course.
Franklin told the board that his hope is for the program to take care of all in-house printing for the school corporation.
Kovach told the board that they can get $900 per student funding from the state for the program and an additional $150 per student if other schools are involved.
Warsaw and Whitko students will also be able to take the class in the 2009-2010 school year.
A. Hattersley and Sons were chosen to complete the guaranteed energy savings contract at Burket.
Four bids were handed in for the contract before the board decided on A. Hattersley and Sons.
The board approved the purchase of two buses.
One bus is a 72-passenger bus while the other is a 45-passenger bus with the ability to transport six wheelchair-bound passengers.
The buses are scheduled for delivery in July.
Per the suggestion of board member Hal Hoffman, the two buses that are being swapped out by the school corporation will attempt to be sold online.
In other business the board:
n Recognized Burket students Tiffany Grindle, Niya Sainer and Jason Pearson for their success and progress while attending the alternative school.
n Approved the consent agenda along with the claims and payroll.
n Appointed board president Bryan Murphy and board secretary Rod Eaton to those same roles on the board of finance.
n Approved the resolution to transfer year-end appropriations for 2008.
n Were presented the investment register for 2008.
n Approved the use of the Tippecanoe Valley Middle School gym for AAU basketball practices on Sundays.
The board's next meeting is Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School.
