“We didn’t do very well (due to chronic absenteeism at the high school level).” – Superintendent Jacqueline Hoynes
Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to reflect Newbury Schools received high marks at the secondary level in seventh-grade language and math, secondary biology and English, U.S. Government and American History.
Newbury Schools fared about as well in the 2017-18 school year as it did the previous year, with an overall grade of “C,” according to the district report card issued by the Ohio Department of Education.
Newbury Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Hoynes gave the school report card results Oct. 8 at the Newbury Schools Board of Education meeting.
Each year, the state board of education issues grades for a list of topics that include graduation rates, school attendance, achievement, K-3 literacy and preparation for success. The evaluation is intended to serve as a guideline for districts to make improvements, and for the public to be informed about how well their district compares to similar schools around the state, according to the ODE website.
“It’s only part of the puzzle,” Hoynes told board members.
The district received an “A” in Gap Closing, which measures progress by the most vulnerable students in English language arts, math, graduation and English language proficiency. Last year, the district received an “F.”
Newbury also received an “A” in improving at-risk, K-3 students in reading, a category that had rated a “D” last year.
However, the district received lower marks in Graduation Rate, from a “B” to a “C,” and went from a “D” to an “F” in the Preparation for Success category. The overall Achievement category was downgraded to a “D” from a “C” the previous year.
“We didn’t do very well,” Hoynes said, adding the district has a problem with chronic absenteeism at the high school level, with a rate of more than 10 percent.
The district received high marks at the secondary level in seventh-grade language and math, secondary biology and English, U.S. Government and American History, the superintendent reported. Although overall, student achievement was rated a “D.”
Hoynes said the district is taking steps to remedy the problem areas, such as a new math program and campus visualization software, which she said will serve as tools for staff to improve overall teaching strategies. At the secondary level, all students will take the ACT test this year, which she said she hopes will improve the “F” rating in the Prepared for Success category.
Hoynes said she is generally pleased with the district’s strengths, particularly in the area of literacy at the K-3 grade level, and progress among students with special needs and gifted students.
Hoynes said a major problem is the chronic absenteeism among about 13 percent of secondary students.
“The early warning signals for problems include behavior, attendance and grades,’ Hoynes said. “We need to start looking at that earlier and we need to look at more alternates to college.”
She said currently, 11 seniors, or 26 percent of the class, are in danger of not graduating.
“We can work with each kid individually, but we’ve first got to get them to school,” Hoynes said.
Resident Bobbie Prinkey asked whether the school uses a truant officer to make sure students go to school.
“Yes, we work with truant officers and the (Geauga County Sheriff’s Office),” Hoynes said.
Resident Fran Dittrich said she was very concerned at the high percentage and asked what will happen to those students if the district is unsuccessful in preparing them to meet graduation standards.
“They will probably drop out,” Hoynes said. “We need to develop a new plan to work with students at the end of ninth grade, when we can see the early warning signs, but it has to be a co-operative effort with the families to get the kids to school.”
