Huron Valley School Board Discusses District Goals

The Board of Education met Thursday in one of the final meetings before the start of the new school year. The primary focus of the three-hour meeting was to discuss district goals for the 2011-2012 school year. 

Much discussion arose about what standards and measurements the district should value when determining success. Particular concern was raised over the use of certain state standards, such as MEAP scores, which have historically required lower and lower passing-rates to receive results recognized as “Proficient.”

“I’m not always as confident in what the state puts together, compared to what we can do here, locally,” explained Board member Chuck Dittmar. 

A nationally created set of standards was adopted by Michigan in June and according to Deputy Superintendent Nancy Coratti, may implement a national standardized test in the coming years. 

Board President Sean Carlson echoed Dittmar’s concerns and recommended local, district-level assessment of performance to avoid trending backwards based on arbitrary shifts in the definitions of success made at state and national levels. 

A few other items being considered in the upcoming year’s official goals include:

• Anti-bullying legislation for every school
• Increased attention on reading and writing skills development
• Reduction of energy consumption
• Focus on supporting local business
• Accident-reducing safety initiatives
• Enhanced communications using social networks 

Taking into account the comments and concerns voiced during the meeting, the Board will vote on a revised version of the district’s goals at the September 1 meeting.

Items that were voted on and passed tonight included:

• Approval of E 20/20 software licenses needed in order to offer online courses
• Approval of revisions to the 8000 and 9000 series’ of Board Policy, along with an amendment to these revisions permitting all board members to make comments at the beginning of meetings. The original item only allowed for Board Officers to comment early on. Board member Rebecca Walsh was the only dissenting vote to the amendment.
• Approval of the . 

The next Board of Education meeting is at 7 p.m. on Sept. 1 at Milford High School.

Video of this evening's meeting was not taken and therefore will not be available on the Huron Valley Television network.