Juniors at Iola High School may have one less test to take.
Dr. Craig Neuenswander, superintendent of schools, told board members Monday night the McPherson district was seeking permission to use ACT results to determine average yearly progress for No Child Left Behind, instead of state assessment tests.
State assessments mean little to students, he continued, which “is a compelling argument for using the ACT.” Scores from the tests are a determinant of whether a student qualifies for admission to many colleges, including Kansas Regents schools — Kansas, Kansas State, Wichita State, Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State and Emporia State universities.
That also would increase the number of students who participate in ACT testing, which is voluntary now for juniors. Students may take the test earlier and then retake it as a junior — some do — to improve their scores.
David Grover, principal at Iola High, said last year 59 of about 100 juniors were tested through the ACT program.
The ACT and state assessment discussion arose from Neuenswander noting that admissions standards for Regents schools had changed. Mainly, he said, the change is to require a fourth year of math to keep the discipline fresh in students’ minds and prepared to perform well in college.
“No one argues with that logic,” Neuenswander said.
An alternative, he added, was that students who scored 22 or higher on their ACT could forego the fourth year of math.
Another aside, Neuenswander pointed out, is that requiring more math education would create a need for more math teachers, both in individual districts such as USD 257 and statewide. That could become critical, he said, because “they’re in short supply now.”
BOARD MEMBERS approved participation in the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which will use federal Title V money to pay salaries of people 55 and older the district will hire for 20 hours or more a week for lunchroom and office duties.
The program is meant to provide older people with a job while they continue to seek full-time employment. They will be paid minimum wage, $7.25 an hour, while working for the district.
Neuenswander said he expected one person to be hired immediately and another or two later.
MEETING AS Bowlus Fine Arts Center trustees, board members approved employment of Candace McRae as graphic designer and marketing director for the Center. Also hired as part-time bookkeeper was Tisha Herman.
