By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
The state report cards came out Friday and districts around the county are analyzing the results. For Galion City Schools the scores meant mixed reading. The overall results were not great but there were still some encouraging signs and areas where the district improved.
Galion met 16 of the 24 indicators. At 66.7 percent, the result was slightly off last year’s 75 percent. Although they did improve scores in four areas and held pat many others, the state’s increased mark for a passing grade saw them lose ground in other areas.
In the Progress Grades, which studies math and reading at grades 4-8 and how much learning they did in a year, a Galion improved grades in three of the four categories. The fourth category was already an A, which they maintained.
Graduation rates also improved. The four year graduation rate stayed above 90 percent and maintained a B, and the five year rate passed 90 percent as well. This earned that category a B instead of last year’s C. This percentage is tracked over four- and five-year cycles, which means they look at a freshman class and then take the percentage of students in that class that graduate in the specified window of years.
The category that is proving difficult to improve is the Gap Closure area. This measures how well all students are doing regardless of background, i.e. economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, etc. Galion maintained last year’s rating of 53.9 percent. This resulted in another F score.
Randy Harvey attended his last meeting as interim treasurer. The five-year forecast is coming in October so some of the more detailed monthly budgetary reports are being held in reserve until they can be more thoroughly linked up with the five year forecast.
With that being said, the overall appropriations by fund were approved for the year. This school year’s total appropriations were set at a little over $21 million. This is mostly similar to last year, with less in the debt retirement fund as the school is not refinancing any bonds this year.
There will be a 6-percent increase in medical insurance rates, with dental and vision remaining about the same. This is seen as a very good number, as average is in the 11 to 12-percent range, and a bad year can see hikes of 25 percent.
Galion is in a true consortium with other schools which helps lessen the blow of a bad year individually. All the schools in this group are treated as one entity, which helps spread out the cost. While a school may pay slightly more coming off of a good year as opposed to if they were on their own, his helps lessen risk.
New full-time treasurer Charlene Parkinson was ratified to take the outgoing Harvey’s place. The board thanked. Harvey for his service and welcomed Parkinson to her new role.
Parent Greg McKeever expressed concern at something he heard from his high school son. Sept. 11 came and went without a ceremony, and the high school does not say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. Actually, the high school does not say the pledge of allegiance every week.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with saying it every day,” McKeever said.
Superintendent Mark Stefanik acknowledged that the Pledge was not a daily occurrence, but was under the belief that it was at least a weekly event. He promised to look into the issue. It was confirmed that the elementary says the Pledge every day.