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LISBON -- The Crestview elementary building improvement team talked to the board of education last week about some of the challenges they are facing and meeting.
While results are not where they want them in the ever-changing target of testing through the state of Ohio, several teachers talked about programs, technology practice and improvements which they believe are helping to close the gaps.
The importance of getting students to pass the third grade guarantee test was emphasized, with members of the team talking and Superintendent Matthew Manley noting failing to pass the test means the school district cannot allow the student to move onto the fourth grade. When testing was done at the beginning of the year, 89 students between grades K-third showed they were in the danger of not being on track to pass it.
There are reading intervention programs in place, including an after-school learning program aimed at helping narrow the gap for theses students.
Many parents have been invited to come to a program through Title I to look at ways they can also help their students at home. While some concerns were voiced by board member Missy Wellman about whether the meeting singles out the parents of students having some problems, board member Dave McGoogan said he believes anything that can be done to get parents involved will help the student succeed.
"I was one of those kids in the third grade," Manley said. "I was blessed to have two parents who wouldn't let me quit."
Two of the elementary math teachers also talked about some of the challenges and good things in the new math programs, which the district started to use this school year -- go math and number corner. The teachers seemed enthused about both programs and the different components in them.
While board president Dr. Edward Miller questioned the use of workbooks, it was noted not all the students at Crestview have access to the internet at home. In fact one teacher said he checked with his students and less than 70 percent have access to a computer at home. Teachers and the board discussed the importance of striking a balance between technology and other ways of learning.
Another common theme which ran through the different parts of the presentation was space. Everyone seemed to indicate classroom space is tight and even the space in the modular classrooms is tight.
However, Principal Marian Dangerfield noted the people who provide the speech and occupational therapy services now have a lot more space as compared to the closet they previously used.
"They are doing phenomenal things with the kids," Dangerfield said.
There is now room for sensory equipment, sensory breaks on the floors of the hallways and other chances for students to improve their abilities to self-regulate.
The idea of expansion came up several times and Manley said there are three possible plans for the project, but a decision cannot be made until all the funding is in place. Manley said he was talking to the architect that day and offered he would talk to the high school students who student liaison Daniel Moore said have been questioning him and giving him suggestions.
Manley said the financial aspect is part of what is taking the time and the whole process has been a lesson in patience.
"If we were doing it ourselves we would have it already drawn up and started," Manley said.
In other matters:
-- The New Waterford Lions were honored with the Rebel Pride Award for all the programs they host at Crestview. The Lions provide vision screenings for elementary school students, volunteer with the HOST reading program and provide a $50 gift card to Save-A-Lot each month, which the district can donate to a family undergoing a hardship to help get them through. One of the two Lions in attendance said he once gave an eye exam to a student who was having trouble seeing. When asked if the student had glasses the reply came "Yes, but my sister is using them today." The Lions are having an open house at 7 p.m. Thursday in the New Waterford community building for those interested in seeing what the organization is doing.
-- April 11 will be the date to register students for the preschool at Crestview.
-- The board approved the State Teachers Retirement System disability leave of absence for Scott Workman, intervention teacher, effective July 1, 2017. In May 2017, the board had approved a settlement agreement with Workman regarding his employment with the district.
-- The next meeting of the board will be held at the special time of 5 p.m., Feb. 14 in the middle school cafeteria and will include the middle school building improvement plan presentation. However, regular board meetings are being scheduled at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month this year unless a special time is called.
-- An executive session was held at the end of the meeting to prepare for negotiations with the Crestview Education Association. The board also voted to amend its 2015-2018 agreement to include win-win negotiations.
djohnson@mojonews.com