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Garrison School's Math Scores Show Slight Decline Overall
Seventh and Eighth Grade scores show "significant" drops
by Margaret Sternberg
The June 20, 2007 meeting of the Garrison Board of Education was the last meeting of the 2006-7 school year and the meeting in which it was announced that preliminary figures on the NYS Math Tests for the Garrison School showed a slight decline.
Responding to a recent article in The Journal News, Superintendent Gloria Colucci confirmed that the percentage of students achieving at Level 3 or Level 4 had declined from 2006 to 2007; however, she clarified that the information was based upon the same class moving up one grade, specifically last year's third grade becoming this year's fourth grade, and continuing on through.
She said that 97 percent of the current third grade students had scored at either Level three or four. Also scoring at Level three or four were 86 percent of fourth graders, 93 percent of fifth graders, and 91 percent of sixth graders.
Colucci explained that, due to the school's small number of students in each grade, even one student moving up or down between Levels two and three could "skew" the percentage rate.
As compared to the other grades, the seventh and eighth grades show "significant" drops, mimicking past drops. In seventh grade 73 percent of students scored at Level three or four, while in eighth grade 70 percent scored at Level three or four. Comparing the eighth grade from this year to the eighth grade of last year, the percentage passing increased by 2 percent.
The school is prohibited from reporting the actual number of students who scored below Level three if that number is below five, due to the possibility of being able to identify the students involved.
As soon as all of the reports are available, Colucci said the school will do its "item analysis" in order to determine how to address the declines. Students who scored in Level one or two are automatically eligible for Academic Intervention Services ("AIS") that provide educational support. This year students receiving AIS all scored at Level three.
In other news, it was announced that the Highland Falls school budget had been defeated twice, and the district will be required to be on a contingency budget this year. Approximately $700,000 will be cut from the district's budget, and most of the cuts will occur in transportation and programs in the lower grades. Transportation cuts will not affect Garrison.
The cuts will have "minimal impact" on high school programs, and no Honors or Advance Placement courses will be affected by the cuts. Cuts are planned for the athletics program.
Superintendent Colucci said Garrison is considering purchasing a K-12 Alert System in order to provide nearly instantaneous messages to parents concerning any emergencies, such as closing on a snow day, special notices for targeted groups such as sports teams, etc. The district will receive proposals from two companies.
Following an extensive discussion concerning what announcement the current eighth grade could make at their graduation regarding the use of the $1,790 raised by the class during their Walkathon, the Board concluded that the monies would be used for the purchase of engraved Bluestones that would be used to define the Fitness Path, and that announcement was subsequently made at graduation.
The purchase of a school security system moved forward that evening as the Board approved for $6,550 the purchase and installation of two security cameras/recorders, a flat screen monitor for the main office, and a magnetic door lock and remote release. Monday through Friday the doors will be locked once the children have arrived and will remain locked all day. The system will be installed over the summer.
Two budget transfers of $78,500 and $36,670.68 were approved, respectively, for the window replacements, and the Smart Board technology installation. Also approved was a $380,000 transfer from the Fund Balance to the Debt Service Reserve to be used for future paying down of debt.
The Board conducted the first readings of a new and an amended policy. The amended policy, "Entitlement to Attend - Age and Residency," is being altered to conform to revised NYS law and requires that a student stay in attendance in school until either the last day of the session of the school year in which the student turns 17, or when graduation requirements have been met.
The other policy, "Student Photographs/Digital Images on Websites," requires that photos on either the website or in an e-newsletter be from a distance, with no student identifiable, unless prior written permission is obtained from the parent or guardian.
The next meeting of the Garrison School Board will be Tuesday July 3, at 7pm and will be the district's annual Reorganization Meeting.
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