Washington students to be busy with tests the last month of school.
TESTING AND CURRICULUM
Testing will be the main focus of Washington Community Schools for the next four weeks. That was the word to the Washington School Board from Assistant Superintendent Kevin Frank at a regular board meeting last night. He says students in grades 3 through 8, along with the 10th graders, will be taking the ISTEP exam for the next three weeks, then they will have a 4th week of taking a pilot test for the State Department of Education. Frank noted that this year’s testing is even more cumbersome than in the past.
The Board also heard a report on a new cross curriculum teaching program at WHS. The program would include the core courses and focus on sophomores who have been identified at being at risk for not graduating. Lori Hancock, Valarie Clarke, Jamie Strange, and Melissa Stieneker will be the faculty members working with the students.
HANDBOOK AND PERSONNEL CHANGES
A major change to the Washington Community School Student Handbook was approved at last night’s Washington School Board meeting.
Junior High and High School Students will now only be allowed nine absences each semester before risking the loss of credit. WHS Asst. Principal Troy Zollars said that both excused and unexcused absences would count toward the overall total.
In personnel matters at the meeting, the Board approved the retirement of veteran elementary teacher Francine Brashear and granted a leave of absence to Cheryl Price. Resignations from Assistant High School Girls Soccer Coaches were received from Shannon Strange and Kristin McGuire. The Board voted to hire Cody Chapman as a Social Studies teacher for 2016-2017. Chapman was also named head WHS Girls Soccer Coach. The Board also voted to hire Kelly Hamm as a custodian at the high school.
In other personnel matters, the Board approved creating a Dean of Students position at Lena Dunn, The. Board also held a brief public hearing on the superintendent’s contract as advertised. There were no question or comments from the public
