District 362 achieves adequate yearly progress in all measures
The Littlefork-Big Falls School District is among the top in regional results for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II testing in reading and mathematics.
The L-BF Board met Wednesday in regular session and reviewed those assessments as well as the district’s adequate yearly progress results.
Reports show L-BF the top achiever in MCA II math in a group of nine northern districts which includes L-BF, International Falls, Grand Rapids, South Koochiching, St. Louis County, Lake of the Woods, Hibbing and Virginia.
L-BF was above the state average of 65.89 in math showing 77.17 percent of its students proficient in the standards set by MCA II. That percentage also shows an increase from the L-BF’s 2009 measurement of 75.70 percent against the state’s 2009 63.86 percent average.
In reading, L-BF measured close to Virginia which reports 80.80 percent of its students proficient in reading next to L-BF’s reading assessment of 79.21 percent proficiency. The 2010 state average in reading proficiency is 72.34 percent.
In addition, L-BF achieved MCA II adequate yearly progress in all measurements which include reading and math in all populations including the Title I Program population with special needs.
Superintendent Fred Seybert attributes the district’s overall success to the L-BF teachers.
“We have a highly motivated staff dedicated to meet the benchmarks and standards set for all disciplines including reading and math,” Seybert told The Journal, adding that the school board’s continuing policy is to put curriculums in line with state standards.
“And our staff is on a mission to meet those standards,” Seybert said.
Asked if he thought the school’s smaller size played a role in L-BF’s success, the superintendent said he believed that size does play a role in L-BF achievement. But he added that should enrollments increase significantly, L-BF would still implement small class sizes and keep the student-to-teacher attention ratio a priority. The board would hire more teachers or distribute classes accordingly, Seybert said.
District 362 also received a very positive on-site state evaluation of its Title I services, said Seybert.
In other business, Seybert updated the board on a program entitled Achievement Improvement Monitor which will be presented to teaching staff for kindergarten through sixth-grade in a workshop prior to the start of school this fall.
AIM is the computer monitoring of students’ progress by teachers, based on direct, frequent and continuous assessment throughout the year. The program is also used for AYP accountability, Seybert said. Based on the in-service feedback received from L-BF faculty, Seybert said, a decision will be made on the implementation of AIM.
The board granted a Title I leave of absence for Susan Hams as well as accepted her resignation as assistant girls basketball coach. Hams will be taking a year to work in the Babbitt Embarrass School District. Also approved was the hiring of Scott Jean as junior high volleyball coach.
The Minnesota School Boards Association conference dates are Aug. 5 and 6, and Seybert plans to attend, he said.
The board approved the district’s five-year health and safety management services contract with Northeast Service Cooperative and MacNeil Environmental Inc.
