Special education suffers; there has been improvement, but there are still formidable problems in achievement for students of the International Falls school district.
Annual yearly progress (AYP) reports are in for Falls schools as measured by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II testing, and results are both hopeful and disturbing.
Before the Falls School Board Monday, elementary Principal Jerry Hilfer disbursed extensive data and graphing on the district’s reading and math comparisons with state averages over a period of years. Hilfer remarked that fortifications made by the district appear to be positively affecting test results, particularly in the elementary grades. He also acknowledged that a clear and significant, below-average measurement in math continues.
Math in the district
In 2006, the percentage of proficient math students in the Falls was 10-percent lower than the state average; and in 2007 was 10.9-percent lower than the state average. In 2008, math achievement in District 361 was 10.7-percent lower than the state average. In 2009, it was 11.9-percent lower than the state math average. Currently, math AYP in the district is still 10.5-percent below the state average.
Regionally in a 2010 cross comparison of nine districts which includes the Falls, Grand Rapids, Littlefork-Big Falls, South Koochiching, St. Louis County, Lake of the Woods, Hibbing and Virginia, only the South Koochiching District at 52.71 percent fell below International Falls’s percentage of 55.39 in MCA mathematic measurement. Littlefork-Big Falls achieved the highest percentage of that group with 77.17 percent. The state average was 65.89 percent.
Reading in the district
Hilfer reports that three years ago the district and the state average in reading were the same. Last year the percentage of proficient reading students in International Falls was 7.5-percent below the state average. Two years ago district reading was 6.6-percent below the state average. This year, the district is 1.1-percent below the state average in the percentage of proficient reading students.
Regionally, in the group of nine, the Falls fell more into a mainstream of percentages in reading for 2010. The Falls district received a 71.16-percent rating against the state average of 72.34 percent. Littlefork-Big Falls again weighed in the highest with 79.21 percent of its students proficient in reading skills.
AYP status
In both reading and math this year, Falls Elementary School made adequate yearly progress for all students and all sub groups (American Indian, white, special education and that population which uses free or reduced lunches.)
Falls Elementary did not make AYP in special education reading in 2008 and 2009; and in 2010 did not make AYP in special education math.
Last year, the school did not make AYP in reading with all students, special education and those who use the free or reduced lunches. The Falls Elementary white population also did not make AYP in math last year.
Although the Falls elementary grades are showing progress and will continue to use the Response to Intervention program initiated last year, the school will also continue to be identified as “In Need of Improvement,” Hilfer said. This is because annual yearly progress must be shown for two consecutive years before the status is removed. “Last year we had a very good (reading) plan and it helped us,” Hilfer said. “We’re going to keep that going.”
Because of the elementary school’s previous failure to show AYP for its special education population for two consecutive years, it is required by the state to publicly report this condition as well as notify parents with a school mailing to all households. In addition, it must continue a school improvement plan and set portions of school allocations for Title I and professional development.
Falls High School
High School Principal Tim Everson reported to the board less-than-adequate yearly progress in math, Title I and special education for the high school. Everson said new math curriculums, parent informational meetings, an AYP plan as well as letters to parents are being planned to address this issue.
The 2010 MCA reading report for the Falls grade eight shows slight growth over last year at 65 percent proficiency. This is compared to the state average of 68.9 percent.
The 2010 MCA math report for the Falls grade eight shows a decline from last year, the district showing only a 48-percent math proficiency (62.24 percent in 2009) against the 2010 state average 58.55 percent.
Again, L-BF was both the math and reading leader in grade eight, showing a 93.33 percent mathematics proficiency.
Hilfer’s report explains that Falls High School did not make 2010 AYP with the special education population in math and reading, nor did it make AYP in math for the free/reduced lunch population.
In 2009, Falls High School did not make adequate progress in math with the American Indian and special education populations, nor did it make AYP in reading with the free/reduced lunch population.
AYP overall
This year, District 361 did not make annual yearly progress in math with its special education population. In 2009, all schools in the district did not make AYP in math with all students, nor did they make AYP in reading with the free/reduced lunch population.
Superintendent Jeff Peura said he appreciated that the positive results which have been shown are due to “the hard work of Jerry (Hilfer) and his staff; and I know Tim (Everson) is going to piggy-back and get on that.”
Nordquist still on leave
In other business, the Falls School Board approved a continued medical leave of absence for Stuart Nordquist as head football coach, and removed from Monday’s agenda the school board member’s renewal as the 2010-11 head football coach.
The board went on to approve, without discussion, the continued service of currently acting head coach Jay Boyle for the 2010-11 season.
In response to a letter from Falls Recreation Director Bill Mason and District 361 Athletic Director Don Rolando, the board unanimously agreed to allow a 2009-2010 retroactive lettering for members of the International Falls Figure Skating Club.
The district will have a student overload in senior level math, one period per day, according to Everson. He suggested to the board that the district seek to hire someone for the math position in a subject in which students have been consistently measured as below average. New math curriculums are also planned, he said.
Nordquist said that in the interest of budgeting, the .20 full-time equivalent position should be fulfilled by Dean of Students Kevin Grover who is also a math teacher. Nordquist said Grover’s dean position is evaluated as a .80 FTE already and the action would make sense. Because district math already shows such deficiency, Everson said he thought it more prudent to hire someone to focus on the issue.
Stacy Frederickson, district business manager, said the same math overload occurred last year and the district was budgeted to hire someone for the position. Peura agreed that this should be the first choice, although remarked that finding someone qualified might be difficult. “But for one year, we should see what we can do and get off that AYP status,” Peura said. The board agreed to post for the position.
Lengthy discussion ensued between Peura and the board on a clarification of the district’s summer van use and its system of mileage and use calculation. District vehicles are used for summer varsity trips as well as for community programs by district employees and non-employees. Peura called for specifications on policy criteria for reimbursements and charges based on the events involved.
Frederickson said she needed itemization for accounting purposes. Peura suggested that she check with other districts and the auditor for direction in the matter.
Peura reports that there are two individuals who have expressed interest in filling the appointed replacement for the late Roger Jerome’s school board position. The board agreed to meet adjacent to the next regular meeting for discussion.
Math in the district
Regionally in a 2010 cross comparison of nine districts which includes the Falls, Grand Rapids, Littlefork-Big Falls, South Koochiching, St. Louis County, Lake of the Woods, Hibbing and Virginia, only the South Koochiching District at 52.71 percent fell below International Falls’ percentage of 55.39 in MCA mathematic measurement.
Littlefork-Big Falls achieved the highest percentage of that group with 77.17 percent.
The state average was 65.89 percent.
