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West Seneca student assessments are considerably higher this year
Students in the West Seneca School District scored considerably higher on New York State assessment tests for last year, an increase school officials attribute to curricular alignment, continuous use of assessment data and targeted staff development.
At Monday's board of education meeting, Brandon Wiley, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and Daryl Janus, the chief information officer and director of Instructional Technology, reported student achievement data from the 2006-07 academic year, as well as brief information on tests recorded this year.
Janus stated that there are 18 state measures recorded each year in the elementary and middle schools, including the following courses last year in West Seneca schools: English Language Arts, 3-8; mathematics, 3- 8; science, grades 4 and 8; Speech- Language Pathology (SLP) in French; SLP in Spanish; and grade eight social studies. Of the 18 featured courses at the elementary and middle schools, 16 had students with higher passing rates, with five double-digit increases among stu dents.
Janus added that the district's goal was to increase the percentage of students scoring at a proficiency (65 or higher score) rate. In West Seneca East and West high schools, he said, seven of 11 courses featured five double-digit hikes in student scores. Math A, Earth Science, Living Environment, Global History, U.S. History, Comprehensive French and Comprehensive Spanish courses had students achieve mastery status (obtaining grades of 85 to 100) on Regents exams.
Also, mastery and proficiency rates, compared to mean scores of Erie 1 BOCES area students, drastically increased in 2006-07. Social studies 8 (18-percent mastery increase), as well as math 8 (23-percent proficiency increase to 83-percent aptitude) were prime examples listed by Janus and Wiley. He added that an assessment test this year among fifth graders in social studies revealed that 94 percent of such students are proficient.
"According to New York State standards, by 2013, 100 percent of students across New York State districts must be proficient in courses," Wiley stated. "If every student is not proficient, the district will be deemed by the state as a district in need of improvement. We're looking to get our students on par."
The administrators credited three major reasons for the increased student scores, the first being curricular alignment. In this area, Wiley said, mapping out a grade-by-grade breakdown of strengths and weaknesses is key, as well as eliminating repetitive material taught to stu- dents.
Second, continual use of assessment data allows instructors to take information from test results and use it to build on commonly missed answers.
Lastly, targeting staff development includes daily collaboration among district teachers to discuss lesson plans. Also, Wiley stated that several staff members offered after-school sessions to give extra academic assistance to students.
In other action Monday, District Director of Community Education Terry Brancato recognized 19 district students who in the last year have completed the Alternative High School Equivalency Preparation Program. The program is equivalent to General Educational Development programs, and both Brancato and Superintendent of Schools Jean Kovach congratulated the students for working hard to graduate.
Also, Lowell Lane resident Phil Fanone, making what he said is his last public comment at district meetings, criticized Trustee James Asztalos for allegedly accusing Fanone recently of being "put up" by someone to speak out against Trustee Nancy Lesakowski, who on Monday attended just her 10th of 33 meetings since July 2006. Lesakowski worked in Washington, D.C. with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.
Fanone had been outspoken in previous meetings about Lesakowski's absence, maintaining his belief that she should resign from her nearly expired term.
"It's strictly been my call to inquire (about Lesakowski's absence at meetings)," Fanone explained. "I'm mad about being called a patsy or a stool pigeon. It's hurtful. My concern was that (Lesakowski) wasn't here and doesn't know what's been going on."
Fanone admitted that his estimation on district costs of sending informational packets to Lesakowski in Washington was inaccurate. He added that Kovach informed him that the district pays $5 to send each informational packet by regular mail, not FedEx, as Fanone had originally stated.
In other public comment, Robin Lane resident Susan May expressed her displeasure that the district still has not yet altered the direction of bus travel in her neighborhood. May- who has asked the board during several previous meetings to include her residence as one of the student pick-up spots- stated that her street is the same size as Partridge Lane, a nearby road in which buses pick up students.
"You go to Partridge and not to Robin," said May. "I'm willing to do anything to change the route."
May had stated that several neighborhood children, including her granddaughter, were nearly struck by buses in early January. The Robin resident also stated that she will run for a school board trustee position.
In other action, Asztalos announced that the performing arts association at West Seneca East High School would present "Guys and Dolls" on March 7-8 for its annual winter musical.
The next board of education meeting will take place February 25 at 7 p.m. at West Seneca West Elementary School.
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