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 After roll call, Brooks mentioned some queries he has had about
the recent hiring of Laura Irwin. He said that there will be an
interim superintendent and Irwin will serve as principal since she
has just worked one year in an administrative position and
superintendents need to have worked at least two years in
administrative roles.
Brooks also noted that the board let the public know about Irwin's
hiring as soon as possible and actually hired her sooner than they
had planned because word was getting around. He asserted that there
will be no loss of funding during this time. Jennifer Hamm will work
until June 30 and may consult with Irwin on what will occur going
forward. Brooks asks that everyone work with Irwin to help make the
transition seamless.
Brooks next offered a question and answer session for community
members. CEL parent Leslie Starasta thanked Hamm for the increased
use of technology during Hamm's time at the school.
 Starasta then said that she felt the board did not follow procedure
on hiring the new principal/superintendent. She also explained that
a note on the school's website stating that Hamm had resigned and
that the board was hiring a replacement would have been nice, and
she noted that the information had just been posted on the site.
Starasta also expressed concern that there were only five board
representatives instead of seven when the board vacancies were
filled.
Finally, Starasta asked for more transparency from the board. CEL
parent Mark Shew echoed many of Starasta's sentiments, also thanking
Hamm for her work and thanking the two new board members for
stepping in.
Next, the board approved the agenda and minutes from recent
meetings. Hamm clarified that both the new board seats will be up
for election in 2017.
Hamm then shared the 2014-2015 benchmarking results
(see
Pdf of slideshow),
focusing especially on the spring data such as attendance, MAP
[Measure of Academic Progress] test results, which are common core
aligned and non-timed, and the AIMSweb [standard universal screening
assessment] test results, which are not common core aligned and
timed.
She expressed concern about attendance this school year, noting that
74 students (25%) have been absent between 10 and 20 days, 13
students (4%) have been absent between 21-30 days, and one student
(>1) has been absent more than 31 days. Another concern Hamm
expressed is the disconnect between MAP and AIMSweb data. She said
many schools are dropping the AIMSweb test and the recommendation is
that it only be used for progress monitoring.
Hamm noted a correlation between the number of absences and some of
the test scores.
For example, during the math and reading spring tests, only 45 % of
the kindergarten class was present and 36% met or exceeded reading
scores, while 77% met or exceeded math scores. For first grade, 55%
were present and 71% met or exceeded reading scores, while 77% met
or exceeded math scores.
 In second grade, 60% were present and their reading and math scores
were the same as the first-graders.
The third-graders had 69% present with reading scores at 69%, while
math scores were at 73%.
The fourth-graders had 69% present with reading scores at 64% and
math scores at 75%.
The fifth-graders had 68% present with reading scores at 81% and
math scores at 73%.
The sixth-graders had 71% present with reading scores at 57% and
math scores at 71%.
The seventh-graders had 68% present with reading scores at 89% and
math scores at 79%.
Finally, the eighth-graders had 43% present with reading scores at
80% and math scores at 77%.
During the winter testing when most of the classes had between 59%
and 81% of students present for testing, the lowest reading scores
were 61% (kindergarten) and the highest 86% (eighth grade), while
the lowest math scores were 69% (fifth grade) and the highest were
92% (second grade).
Hamm noted that when students are absent, they miss important
information. For next year, Hamm suggested that the school continues
sending attendance letters to parents and meet with those who have
missed more than 15 days of school. She also suggested a need to
research the attendance policies other districts have and consider
revising the policy. Right now there is little deterrent for
absences, but Hamm said that numerous absences may lead to retention
as there is a correlation between absenteeism and achievement.
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Hamm noted that in addition to achievement, attendance also impacts general
state aid, which is the largest funding source at the state level.
New board member Dwane Morris asked about having parents send in doctor's notes
after a student has missed a couple of days. Hamm thought that idea was good,
but worried about homeless and uninsured families. She suggested that the school
might help provided resources for these families.
As for this year's benchmark assessments, Hamm used the projector to show a
graph indicating that 77% met or exceeded winter benchmarks, while 69% met or
exceeded spring benchmarks. She expressed concern about the 8% drop between
winter and spring and wants to see higher scores on the MAP tests.
To compare data between the MAPS and AIMsweb test, Hamm displayed side by side
results for kindergarten through eighth grade. Hamm emphasized the scores for
kindergarten, first, and second-graders since the early math and reading skills
are so important.
For the MAP test, kindergarteners scored 77%, first-graders 77%, and
second-graders 89%.
While on the AIMSweb test, kindergarteners scored 59%, first-graders 46.5% and
second-graders 74%.
She stated that the school plans to implement a phonics program for grades K -
1st, and grammar program from grades 2nd - 8th, plus an academic vocabulary
program.
Hamm also said the school may hire a Title 1 teacher for push-in intervention
for a whole class and Tier II intervention and pull-out groups for Tier III.
There are also plans to utilize AIMSweb for tier III [students who need more
intensive intervention].
In addition, there are plans to develop school-wide intervention plans for
computation.
After Hamm's presentation, Regional Superintendent Mark Jontry and assistant
regional superintendent, Diane Wolf, spoke about the consolidation of Logan
County Regional Education office (ROE) with the Bloomington Regional Office of
Education as of July 1, 2015. Jontry and Wolf welcomed CEL to their ROE and
explained that they can provide services to teachers, students, and school
districts, as well as being a resource, answering questions, and providing
trainings. Wolf showed attendees the ROE website and its many resources
explaining that the office is active with teachers, administrations, and school
boards, and acts like a translator for what happens in Springfield. She also
noted that the ROE works on truancy outreach, work with homeless families, and
work with homeschool families. In addition, the ROE can help with professional
development, evaluation systems, in-services, and licensing online for teachers,
substitutes, and paraprofessionals. The ROE also works with students working on
their high school equivalency by providing the GED testing program. Finally,
Wolf showed a list of contacts who will answer questions and mentioned that a
retired superintendent mentors new superintendents. Jontry said that the ROE
will help the school through the time of transition.
As the open part of the meeting drew to a close, the board discussed new
business that included several action items. Brooks stated that Toft would hand
out diplomas at the Friday graduation.
Among other action items approved were the hiring of Jennifer Luckhart for the
2015-2016 breakfast program, raising lunch fees by ten cents for next year,
hiring Greg Hoffert as a part-time summer maintenance worker, reaching a
memorandum of understanding with the CEL Education Association, establishing a
chess team student activity account after a local dentist donated $350 to the
team, setting up a sick/personal leave payment agreement with one of the staff,
and the posting for girl's basketball coach for 2015-2016.
The next board meeting will be Tuesday, June 16. The public is welcome to attend
the open session.
[Angela Reiners]
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