Board of Education

The Board of Education welcomed new teachers and employees of the school district at a reception before the August 11 regular meeting.

Board Member Updates
Linda Dothard and Earl Strupp attended the Longfellow Liberal Arts ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening event. The commended the planning committee and many contractors for their great work. Board member Jim Veasey also attended the Longfellow grand opening and also volunteered his grilling expertise at the Rally at the Rock on Monday, August 10. The annual event at the high school features food and games and also allows students to sign up for clubs and extracurricular activities. The Booster Club provides all of the food.

Superintendent Updates
After getting the first week of school under the district’s belt, enrollment is up overall compared to the previous year’s data at that same time. The growth is seen in the elementary area, while the high school is down slightly. There has been a large influx of ELL students and the Pupil Personnel Services area is addressing and meeting the needs of the students.

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) has moved into their space at the Rock Island Center for Math & Science Audubon campus. This office will serve as a satellite location for the western Illinois area. The services they will provide in the math and science area will be available to all schools in District 41 and the western Illinois region.

The River Cities Reader featured an article on the Longfellow Liberal Arts school with interviews from both Augustana and Longfellow faculty >>

Upcoming event: the Eugene Field Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening, Thursday, August 20, 4:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.

Freshman Academy Update
Kirsten Allen, RIHS Freshman Academy Coordinator and Dean, presented 2008-09 second semester data. At the end of the year, the Freshman Academy met their goal of advancing 85% of students to 10th grade with 6+credits. (Sidebar: Students need 24 credits to graduate from RIHS). The attendance rate also improved 2.2%, however missed the goal of 95% and came in at the end of the year 93.14%. The area that missed the mark the most was in discipline referrals, showing an increase of 18%, however most referrals were attendance related due to stricter  policies implemented at the high school last fall. New areas to focus on at the Freshman Academy this 2009-10 year include student study skills, organization and coordinating a student voice group. According to Ms. Allen, “The teachers are noticing a very positive energy this year and feel that 2009-10 is off to a great start.”

Report on AYP and NCLB Choice
Assistant Superintendent Bill Osbourne reviewed Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) criteria used to determine if a school is on target to meet the NCLB meets/exceeds goal. For the 2008-09 year, 70% is the new goal schools must meet/exceed.  Although final 2008-09 AYP numbers are not available, the district can still get a glimpse of performance through initial data. Overall, test scores continue to improve in the school district, however some schools aren’t improving at the 7.5% annual NCLB required level.

Schools that made AYP for the 2008-2009 year: Denkmann, Eugene Field, Horace Mann, Longfellow, Thomas Jefferson and Washington Jr. High. Schools that did not make AYP: Audubon, Earl Hanson, Frances Willard, Intermediate & Primary Academy, Ridgewood and Rock Island High School.

At the start of the 2009-10 school year, the district had to offer public school choice to students at three schools which did not make AYP for two years in a row: Earl Hanson,  Primary & Intermediate Academy. Schools that students could choose to attend: Denkmann, Eugene Field and Longfellow Liberal Arts. Several families responded to the option, and currently 66 students are (or will be) placed at the other choice schools.