[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=49128.95

Officials: MCAS Schools Progress Deemed Adequate
Elementary and middle schools achieved requirements of No Child Left Behind act.

Deborah Sederberg
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Overall, Michigan City Area Schools elementary and middle schools made adequate yearly progress for 2007, according to the No Child Left Behind requirements.

Those schools overall achieved AYP in both math and language arts and in attendance as well, according to Jan Radford, director of instruction and curriculum.

But some groups of students did not fare as well.

NCLB divides students into various groups. It is to determine whether students who are black, Hispanic, entitled to free lunch, with limited English ability or in special education are passing ISTEP.

Here, black students, those who get free lunch and special education students are not passing overall. Whites and Hispanics are passing in both English and math in elementary and middle schools.

At the high school level, some whites are not hitting the mark in math and some Hispanics are missing it in English and math.

Within the state, 97 percent of whites are passing English and 99 percent of whites are passing in math.

The scores for students in special education are 60 percent in English and 73 percent in math; for blacks 59 percent in English and 70 percent in math; for Hispanics, 74 percent in English and 88 percent in math.

Niemann and Marsh did not make AYP based on one student demographic, Niemann for blacks in English and Marsh for free lunch in language arts. Knapp missed for special education and overall language arts and Elston Middle School for free lunch and special education in English and math.

Krueger Middle School, Joy Elementary and Michigan City High School missed in four or more demographics.

MCAS board member Jeff Jones responded to the AYP.

"This is a city with problems," he said.

"Some people are not taking care of their children properly. They're not sending them to school, they don't respond to notes from teachers, they don't sign student folders when they are sent home."

He said failing AYP is more than a school district problem. He said it's a city problem. The poverty level across the district is 64 percent.

Both Jones and Radford also noted that one student could account for three failures. That could happen, for example, if a special education student with limited English ability and is entitled to free lunch. The one student then counts as three failures among the demographics.

Superintendent Michael Harding has met with federal legislators, including U.S. Rep Joe Donnelly, D-Granger, and says legislators are "looking at building a better system." NCLB, enacted in 2002 was up for reauthorization in 2007, but Congress decided to postpone it until 2009.

Harding is not alone in criticizing NCLB for failing to provide resources to help struggling - mostly urban - school districts.

Harding said he hopes a new accountability system will take a good look at individual students and their progress.

By 2014, according to NCLB, 100 percent of students from all school corporations are expected to pass standardized tests.



Contact Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@thenewsdispatch.com.

2008-09 School Calendar
The Michigan City Area Schools Board and the Michigan City Education Association announced Wednesday they have reached agreement on a school calendar for the 2008-09 school year. The calendar was established as part of ongoing negotiations between MCAS and the MCEA.

Calendar highlights include the following:

• First day for students is Aug. 21.

• Winter break begins Dec. 22, 2008.

• School resumes Jan. 5, 2009.

• Spring break begins April 6, 2009.

• School resumes April 13, 2009.

• Last day for students is June 1, 2009.

• Make-up-days for unanticipated school closings are June 2 to 5, 2009.

• Graduation is June 7, 2009.

The complete 2008-09 school calendar, which lists all holidays, teacher professional development days and GQE and ISTEP testing dates, will be available for viewing by mid-April on the MCAS Web site at www.mcas.k12.in.us. The calendar will also be distributed to all students and staff in April.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=49128.95

Colors Will Represent Teachers' Feelings

Deborah Sederberg
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - The Michigan City Education Association has issued a statement announcing a protest in response to what they say is a lack of progress on contract negotiations.

As a protest, teachers will wear clothing in colors to express their feelings about issues they say affect not only their working environment but also students.

On Monday, they will wear blue "because we are sad for our children for not getting services they need due to large class sizes and the omission of programs."

On Tuesday they wear red because "we are seeing red because we are working without a contract."

On Wednesday they wear green because "we are envious of (school) districts that treat their teachers fairly and respect them as professionals."

On Thursday they wear orange. In the style of a children's riddle, they ask, "Orange you glad you're with a highly qualified teacher today?"

On Friday, they wear black "because we have not received a raise to reflect a cost-of-living increase."

Teachers say they have been working for 265 days without a contract.

Michigan City Area Schools Superintendent Michael Harding said teachers have not been working without a contract.

"While negotiations continue, the present contract continues until a new agreement is reached," Harding said. "The (school) board's negotiating team is and has been ready to meet as often as possible to discuss a new contract for teachers."

Numerous dates for negotiating sessions have been proposed, however dates are often determined by the availability of the Uniserv director, who serves as chief spokesman for the MCEA in negotiations, said Harding.

"We continue to hope to reach a new contract agreement with the MCEA in the near future," he said.



Contact Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@ thenewsdispatch.com.

[Dave]

Nuts, I can't remember what the term is. What's it called when two parties who have a dispute are basically locked in a room until they hammer out an agreement?

Maybe that's what should be done with the teacher's union and MCAS. And as an added incentive, start filling the room with water. And sharks.

If the first team of negotiators can't work something out, send in a new team. And another. And another.

Though this might be unfair to the teachers' side, from what I've gathered from what I've read. Even things up a bit by chumming the water on the MCAS's side of the room.

[Southsider2k12]

Nuts, I can't remember what the term is. What's it called when two parties who have a dispute are basically locked in a room until they hammer out an agreement?

Maybe that's what should be done with the teacher's union and MCAS. And as an added incentive, start filling the room with water. And sharks.

Do we really need to bring you lawyers into this?

[Dave]

Do we really need to bring you lawyers into this?

Heck, sometimes I think the "powers that be" here in MC are engaged in some kind of full employment program for attorneys.

quick reply there, I was editing while you got that in!

[Southsider2k12]

Heck, sometimes I think the "powers that be" here in MC are engaged in some kind of full employment program for attorneys.

quick reply there, I was editing while you got that in!

Its pretty bad when the law firm you use quits because you end up in court too much for them...

[Dave]

Its pretty bad when the law firm you use quits because you end up in court too much for them...

Hey, it could have been that the firm decided there was more money to be made by working for the other side!