[Southsider2k12]

http://mcasnow.mcas.k12.in.us:81/departmen...or-mchs-niemann

Public Hearings set for MCHS, Niemann
by admin — last modified 2011-09-28 15:13

Public Hearings have been set for two Michigan City Area Schools, in compliance with state statutes. These meetings will be held to discuss the schools’ placement in the “academic probation” category under Indiana P.L. 221 and to hear testimony by the public regarding their school improvement plans.

The meetings will be held:

at Michigan City High School on Wednesday, October 5 at 5:00 p.m.
at Niemann Elementary School on Thursday, October 6, 5:00 p.m.

Both meetings will be held in the schools' library media centers.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/1...04618653796.txt

Public hearings set over status of two schools

By Amanda Jacobson
Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, October 1, 2011 5:07 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The public will have the chance to listen and comment on the state of two local schools at public hearings next week.

In accordance with state requirements under Public Law 221, a ranking system of schools’ ISTEP+ and Adequate Yearly Progress performance in Indiana, two public meetings have been scheduled to discuss the probationary status of Michigan City High School and Niemann Elementary School.

The MCHS meeting is at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, and the Niemann meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. Both meetings are at each school’s library media center and will give the public a chance to offer testimony regarding each school’s pending improvement plans.

Visitors can access copies of the plans at each meeting, Betsy Kohn, Michigan City Area Schools director of communications, said. Each meeting is open to the public, and no reservations are required.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/1...d8212668795.txt

Improvement

MCHS outlines plan at hearing
By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, October 6, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Michigan City Area Schools officials held a mandatory public hearing Wednesday night regarding the high school’s “probationary” status, describing why it’s on the list of schools receiving a D grade and what educators plan to do to improve when next year’s results are handed down as part of Public Law 221.

According to Associate Superintendent Xavier Botana, a public hearing is necessary for any school receiving the low score, which is based on overall test performances in math and English, as well as progress over time.

Botana told a group of about 30 concerned teachers and parents that this year is the second in a row in which the school landed on probationary status. And even though the school’s total score is higher than it was a year ago, Botana said, the “improvement rate is still at a negative number.”

High School Principal Lee Dabagia outlined a plan to improve, which was met with positive and negative responses from the audience.

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“We do not plan on being on this list (probationary status) again next year,” Botana said.

Dabagia said one way to improve the score is to decrease the number of students per class. The process already has begun in algebra classes, he said, with anywhere from 22 to 27 students scheduled in classes this year.

For English classes, Dabagia said expanding the Read 180 program is a must.

“Some kids are picking up a year to a year and a half of reading level each semester,” he said.

The plan also creates an “Alpha links program” in which juniors and seniors mentor freshmen struggling in the subject.

“The more comfortable and happy kids are, the more likely they will succeed,” Dabagia said.

The majority of the public viewing the presentation was MCAS teachers, with about 10 parents attending. Following Dabagia’s plan, discussions ensued in groups, with many comments commending him for the “enthusiasm and passion in moving together,” but also concern that “more parent involvement is needed.”

Another similar meeting, discussing the probationary status of Niemann Elementary School, is at 5 p.m. Thursday in the school’s library media center.

[Jesse B]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/1...d8212668795.txt

A big part of the problem is 30 people show up to hear about the issues with the public schools and hundreds show up to see the generic Harlem Globetrotters perform?????

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/1...08259839340.txt

Plans to improve Niemann Elementary’s status revealed

By Amanda Jacobson
Staff Writer
Published: Friday, October 7, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Niemann Elementary School administration, teachers and parents discussed the school’s “probationary” status Thursday night during the second mandatory public hearing on Michigan City Area Schools’ two “probationary” schools.

Niemann Principal Marsha Tappan outlined various categories in which the school can improve upon its English, language arts and math scores on future ISTEP+ assessments.

This is the first time Niemann has received an F or “probationary” status in three years. For the past two years of Public Law 221 monitoring – 2008 and 2010 – Niemann was listed at a “Watch” status, the equivalent of a D under the P.L. 221 ranking system.

Among the school’s language arts action plans, which take effect from 2011 to 2014, are the Read 180 program, RazKids and reading centers during different 90-minute periods of a student’s school day.

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RazKids is designed to track students’ progress and promote comprehension through the use of paper books, audiobooks and Web-based reading assessments.

Tappan said Read 180 has proven successful for Niemann students, with 53 percent of students reading on grade level after participating in the program.

To improve upon the subcategories of African-American student math, Free and Reduced Lunch math and overall math scores that cost the school its Adequate Yearly Progress status, many options were presented.

Rocket Math, where second- through fifth-grade students accomplish as many math problems as possible in a one-minute period, has helped Niemann students set goals and have fun with math in the classroom.

Another possible math program is the Everyday Math system, where parents will become involved in math lessons with their kids at home and students learn mathematical vocabulary words to aid them later in life.

Tappan said the school has seen some gains in ISTEP+ performance levels, but she hopes a more involved community and the commitment of parents will further advance the positive change in students’ scores.

“We never give up on any of our kids,” Tappan said. “We go the long route; we do whatever is needed. And that is Niemann.”