While the robo-call (and the agenda) said that the only topic to be covered at this special 8 a.m. meeting was the propane contract, that wasn't the case. About half of the 30 minute meeting was spent going over why Cloudcroft did not make AYP this year. There were several handouts provided by Mr. Hancock, which I have included here:
AYP Quick Facts
AYP District Summaries
Cloudcroft Schools Accountability Reports
Advances in New Mexico's Assessment & Accountability System
The bottom line is, way back in 2001-2002, No Child Left Behind (a Federal program), required states to submit plans with benchmarks. The overall goal was that 100% of students would meet proficiency goals in Math and Reading by 2014. In the classic style of kicking the can down the road, New Mexico set the bar low in the first several years, resulting in catch up in the later years. So now, we're in the later years and the bar is getting raised much faster, and the schools that puffed up and touted how great they were because they were meeting AYP in those earlier years (i.e. Cloudcroft) are now disavowing AYP as a valid measurement of anything, and the state of New Mexico is probably going to seek a waiver so it can create its own measurement of success.
To quote our school's superintendent: "There's two ways to make improvement: either really and truly improve, or make the test easier so that it looks like you're improving." So now that only 3 school districts in the entire state are meeting AYP...New Mexico is scrambling around to change the test.
Here is the article covering the meeting from the Alamogordo Daily News.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
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It is really sad to see that it is the Elementary and Middle schools that are struggling. Especially since those are the kids that are going to be most affected by the change to the 4-day week.
ReplyDeleteIt is simply ridiculous that our superintendent feels confident enough to suggest the test needs changing (so we look better) rather than improving education in Cloudcroft (so we ARE better)!! And even more alarming is the fact that the board just sits there and does not stand up for what is in the best interest of our kids!
In my opinion, if the kids had been receiving a good education they wouldn't have had any problem with any of these tests - no matter how high the bar is set. The trouble is, our schools aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing, namely educating our kids - and finally we see that the same thing is happening in Cloudcroft as well.
Since the board made their final decision on the 4-day week and upcoming year's budget, I have been asked by a few people not to fight, to let things slide, they feel it would only disrupt the community even more. They have told me that seeking a recall vote of the board would "rub salt in an open wound" in Cloudcroft. But I wish for people to realize that change isn't easy, and if you want to make things better, sometimes you just have to make a stand - no matter if you aren't of the same opinion as your neighbor. A healthy debate can only improve our school and community - not harm it.
The AYP results should be an eye-opener for all of us. We should realize that things have been going downhill for quite some time, and without parental and community support, things are just bound to get worse. But in the end, I guess it is much easier and more comfortable to ignore the obvious and go back to what we were doing before we woke up...
--Amanda Woeger
I'm posting this for Glena since she had problems posting to the blog:
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things to say about AYP, and I'm sure that I have forgotten some of what I used to know about all of that!! I can say that Cloudcroft Schools were destined to eventually fail under NCLB. Personally and professionally, I do not believe that that act is all bad. It did set standards and benchmarks so that all schools could measure progress. However, in the case of CMS, our test scores have been and are still high. There is a point where high-performing schools cannot continue to achieve the increased proficiency required by the state and NCLB. I believe that Cc Elem and MS are beginning the downward trend due to earlier high scores. I'm sure that there are other extenuating circumstances (such as the scores of sub-groups), but we are NOT a failure or setting lower standards in Cloudcroft. Amy Lane has been our testing coordinator for about four years, and I KNOW how diligently she has monitored our schools' progress. In the future, I don't know who will be the testing coordinator for our district, but I do know that it is a hugely important job.
As for Amanda's comments on the four-day week, I agree (and have expressed to board members) that the board should speak up in meetings regarding their opinions/comments and the four-day week. The more I talk to staff, the more I find that many of them do not support the 4-day week. In recent board meetings, I got the feeling that it was the majority of teachers who support the shortened week. ALL of them may reconsider after the AYP announcement. I wonder if it's too late to modify the calendar once again?? Truly, I don't know the answer to that.
Two board members (who voted for the short calendar) told me that they did it because THE TEACHERS wanted it. I'm not at all sure that the majority of our professional educators were in favor!! It was just presented that way by Mr. Snoddy and Mr. Rogers--in all sincerity, I'm sure.
Amanda, healthy debate is just that--healthy, but in order to debate, two sides/persons must speak their opinions and feelings. Board members, please hear this. You were elected to represent all of us, and to vote your conscience for the students and families of the school district. I have full confidence that you can and will do this.
Also, I am not in favor of recalling the five board members who VOLUNTEER their time, family, and finances to serve on the Cloudcroft Board of Education. Let's just communicate, communicate, communicate. Nothing productive comes from poor communication between the board, superintendent, administration, staff, community, families, and children. We are better than this!!! Let's talk, please. (And, just for the record, I consider any "anonymous" comment as invalid. Let's take some responsibility, too.)
Glena Muncrief
Retired Superintendent
Cloudcroft Municipal Schools
glena02ron@yahoo.com
575 687.2171