By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Matt Henderson brought the Bucyrus Board of Education up to speed on the recently released district report card. Highlighting the somewhat confusing nature of this ever evolving set of standards, Henderson called it a “very dense report.”
It is also being implemented in stages, with the final format not being put into full effect until fall of August 2016.
The district scored an “F” in the Achievement Indicator. This indicator measures how well the district did in all the areas (indicators) in which they were assessed. Each district is assessed in 24 indicators, and the Achievement score shows how many of these areas 80-percent of the students passed. Bucyrus met 10 of the 24 indicators for a percentage of 41.7 percent.
Another of the areas receiving a good deal of attention is the Performance Index. This shows the distribution of the student population into the various levels of ability. For instance: what percentage of the student population is gifted, proficient, below proficient etc. A perfect score in this category would be a 120, Bucyrus scored a 92.5 for a percentage score of 77.1 percent. This resulted in a “C” grade. Although it was noted that Bucyrus has improved in this category every year since 2010.
One area where the school excelled was the value added. This measures teacher contribution to a student’s learning; are they learning more than one year’s worth in one calendar year? Are they learning less? And so forth. Bucyrus received an “A” in this category.
The school year’s four-year graduation rate was 81.2 precent and the five-year rate was 86.8 percent, both of those numbers earned a “D” grade.
While conceding that there is room for improvement, Superintendent Kevin Kimmel called for the “proper perspective” when considering these figures. Kimmel stressed that this is a “one-shot test” and “we educate kids 180 days a year.”
“It doesn’t necessarily define us,” Kimmel said.
In the financial report, Treasurer Ryan Cook has happy to announce that real estate collections are up 5 percent over last year, and the general fund receipts are up 2 percent over last year. After 18 months the solar panel project is underway at the high school roof and should be completed in about eight weeks. 2002 panels will be installed which should generate a half a megawatt, saving the district 30 percent on its electrical bill in the first year alone.
In discussion items, Kimmel recommended to the Board a Resolution Determining Impracticability of Transporting Private School Students. This is provided for in the Ohio Revised Code when the customary transport duties by the home public school would overly onerous. The District can instead make a payment to the affected families at a rate set by the state. Currently, this rate is set at $250 per year per student, but could change in May. The payments are made at the end of the school year so they May 2015 number will be the amount paid.
This is in reference to the merger of Bucyrus Holy Trinity and Galion St. Joseph. Holy Trinity is committed to the idea of bussing the students themselves, but the bus they had purchased failed an inspection and the drivers they had intended had not completed necessary training. In the interim, Bucyrus City Schools is bussing the eight students in question to Galion. While Kimmel expressed his desire to continue this until Holy Trinity can complete its end of things, he was reluctant to commit to this practice full-time. A commitment of this sort would cost the district in the region of $25,000.
Kimmel did offer the suggestion of placing the two Holy Trinity Drivers on the Bucyrus substitute list, so that in the event of a breakdown of the Holy Trinity bus, they could drive a Bucyrus bus instead.
Also in discussion, the Player’s Choir was given permission to begin fundraising activities for a trip to New York City. Working with Music Festivals Company, which sponsors competitive shows, and in tandem with the Colonel Crawford Vision Choir, 28 Bucyrus students can begin work that will allow them to compete in NYC and experience some of the City as well.
The following students were honored for having their artwork selected to be displayed at the Lincoln Administrative Building:
Rose Buckelew, Zoie Collings, Deven Deskin, Aziana Jefferson, Cameron Johns, Kameron Lewis, Jackson Moody, Hannah Piatt, Cassie Randall, Andrew Randolph, Seayra Spears, Jasmine Sweeney, Brandon Taylor, and Kaity Wells.