Jr./Sr. high spring testing scores mixed

Perkins County Schools Superintendent Phillip Picquet summed up the results of the junior/senior high spring testing scores this way:

“We showed some growth but it was not what we were looking for.”

School board members heard the report during their regular meeting June 21. 

The district uses MAP testing, Measure of Academic Progress, for their student assessment. That’s in addition to the testing required by the state.

The spring testing was compared to the results of the fall testing completed when school resumed in-person learning last fall during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The jury’s still out on what the lasting effects will be from missing half of a semester of school in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

Picquet said there’s no doubt that had some impact on the test scores, adding it’s likely a combination of things. 

The testing evaluates math, language, reading and science progress. 

The seventh, eighth and ninth grades each showed lower spring testing scores in reading and science, compared to the fall.

The eighth and ninth grade also lacked progress in math. 

Picquet said administration  and members of the school improvement committee will meet in July to look at ways to ensure student learning needs are met. 

Music position still open

Piquet said it’s likely the district will be short a music teacher when school begins this year. 

Picquet said music is one area affected statewide by a shortage of teachers. The position has been advertised since early spring after the resignation of Emily Hauck to return to her home area at Gering. 

Picquet said they are already looking at ways to ensure students still get music without overburdening the remaining music teacher, Jasmine Lehl.

Picquet said they still have several opening for para educators at the elementary level. 

The board approved the hiring of Rich Borman as a half-time business teacher. 

Renee Seiler teaches business along with tech coordinator duties. Adding Borman will allow Seiler to devote more time to an ever increasing need for tech services within the school. 

Lance Talich was hired as the head of maintenance.

The board also accepted the late resignation of Alexandrea Johnson, who has served as the 7-12 counselor for the past five years. 

In her letter of resignation, she said career options opened up for her and her husband with their family operation in Wyoming.

Picquet said there’s interest in the position but the late timing of the resignation  could affect filling the position this fall. 

That will mean sharing some duties amongst the administrators until a replacement is found. 

CARES dollars

The district received a total of $145,700 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds as part of the passage of the first CARES Act relating to COVID-19.

The district will receive another $327,000 from the second rounds of CARES funding approved by Congress. 

Picquet said at least 20% of the money must be spent to fund programming to address students’ academic health as well as their social emotional wellbeing as a result of the pandemic. 

The federal government has not yet released rules governing what the other 80% of funding can be spent on. 

LED lighting project

Board members gave their approval to begin replacing fluorescent lighting in the elementary and jr./sr high buildings with LED lighting. Combined, there are nearly 1,100 fixtures in the buildings.  

Picquet said the energy savings and reduced maintenance costs on existing fixtures and bulbs will cover the cost of the project in five years or less. 

Board members also approved a $6,000 contract with Wilkins Architecture Design Planning of Kearney to inspect the elementary facility  and multi-purpose room at the high school.

They will explore possible scenarios and options for possible improvements to those facilities. The oldest part of the elementary building was built in the early 1960s.

Policy review

The board reviewed a number of policies as part of their ongoing effort to keep policies current. 

They also reviewed student handbook changes that address make-up time for absences due to illness. 

Based on the situation, for example, if a student misses three days of school, they get six days to make up the work they missed during the illness.