Oskaloosa School Board 8 November 2011

Oskaloosa Community School Administration

by R.D. Keep

A pair of presentations by Oskaloosa elementary teachers highlighted the November Oskaloosa School Board meeting. The Professional Learning Community and the District Leadership Team made those presentations before the board.

The Leadership Team spoke of their work regarding learning interventions for the students. The three-tier system provides a universal intervention, which includes learning initiatives for all students. The second tier is supplemental interventions and the top tier is intensive interventions. The students who need additional help receive that with the supplemental interventions. A few students may need extreme interventions to assist in their learning processes. Teachers Angie Grubb and Amy Blythe provided the information to the board.

Elementary second grade teachers appeared en masse to provide information on the reading goals for this school year. There is a goal of 100 percent of the students to advance at least three levels by the end of the school year. It was noted by several of the teachers that several students have attained that goal and are continuing to improve.

The teachers are reading a book by author Debbie Miller titled “Reading with Meaning.” The book is providing the teachers with guidance meshed with experience to find new ways to assist students with reading. Another goal is to assist students to enjoy reading.

High school activities director Kevin Pedersen appeared before the board to request the beginning of a boys and girls bowling program. Four of seven conference schools already host teams. Oskaloosa will be the fifth. The teams will compete in Class 1A. The season runs from November to February.

Pedersen said there was a coach in waiting and could begin as soon as contractual agreements are made. The coach would be paid $2,700. The board unanimously passed the proposal and gave Pedersen to authority to move forward.

Dr. Mary Cooksley discussed the spring 2011 district survey. The survey was conducted during parent-teacher conferences in March and April. There were some disparities noted between the perceptions of the students and teachers and staff. Cooksley also stated she was disappointed in the number of parents who responded to the survey. Just over six percent of the parents answered the survey. She indicated that she felt there was a need to somehow increase parent participation.

Two areas of concern that is currently being addressed include Pride in School and Do you feel welcome at school. “We want people to feel pride in their school,” said Cooksley. “We also want to make them feel welcome.”

In other business:
Superintendant Russ Reiter reported that there is an opportunity to work with teachers in Rwanda through a program with William Penn. He stated that English is the official language of the country and teachers could use assistance in strategies to teach the language more effectively. This may include exchange trips for faculty and students.

Possible work session to consider district goals was suggested for the first week of December. This work session could also include a closed session to consider litigation issues resulting from the construction project from two years ago.

Approved an Allowable Growth for Special Education application.

Next meeting for the board will be Tuesday December 13 at 7:30 p.m.