Making the grade

By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members received a crash course in the federal No Child Left Behind Act during their Thursday, Sept. 25 meeting.Cliff Carmody, director of the Southwest West Central Service Cooperative, Marshall, talked about how the legislation will affect the way education is delivered in Luverne. And that’s not so easy to explain, considering the implications of the law are still taking shape. "It changes daily, so a meeting you went to a week ago, may no longer be relevant today," Carmody said.He said the law set out to ensure stronger accountability for results and increased flexibility and local control."I would say there is no such thing as local control," he said. "Right now, ‘local control’ means local people can complain to you (board members) about things you can’t do anything about."He talked about districts being tested for Adequate Yearly Progress, but said it’s not necessarily fair. "If you have one group of kids that doesn’t make the grade, you don’t meet AYP," he said, adding that average citizens may not be aware of why their district didn’t meet AYP."Start communicating with your public today about some of these things, so that if and when you don’t meet AYP, your public isn’t banging on you about it."He called the tests "heat-seeking missiles that will find and punish failure," because district’s not meeting AYP stand to lose funding.As part of the No Child Left Behind intent to improve quality of education, it requires higher quality staff in schools.For example, paraprofessionals (formerly known as teacher’s aides) now need to have two years of post-secondary education or demonstrated skills on a formal state or local academic assessment.While the intent is good, Carmody said, it will cost districts money. "The minute we require more certification for paraprofessionals, you’re going to see them ask for higher pay, and they should," he said. "But it’s going to squeeze an already restricted budget."He said law, despite it’s good intentions, is asking districts to do the impossible. He compared districts to private businesses, which, in hard times, can’t afford to be innovative; they concentrate on being efficient."You’re being asked to be both innovative and efficient, and I don’t hear the state offering any money," he said. "The law is asking you to do something I’m not so sure you can do."In other business:
The board adopted the proposed property tax levy at $1.49 million payable in 2004. This is the maximum levy amount allowed by the state, but it represents a decrease of $63,306 from last year’s levy. The board will certify the final levy amount in December.
District principals reported that students will attend assemblies on the subject of harassment following the Cold Spring shooting initiated by a boy who had been relentlessly harassed.
Board member Don Bryan asked Middle School Principal Stacy Gillette if students can accept cash donations in lieu of buying magazines.While 40 percent of magazine sales benefit the school, Gillette said cash donations can be accepted, and that she’d instruct students selling magazines as such.
The board approved a resolution supporting the local JOBZ application, which would mean the district agrees to tax abatement on new businesses if the zone is approved.
The board approved hiring retired Middle School Counselor Keith Erickson as part-time Alternative School math teacher.
The board approved the district’s policy on the Pledge of Allegiance, per new Minnesota legislation requiring districts to have a Pledge policy on record.
The Oct. 23 School Board meeting was rescheduled to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28.