Board also approves 2023-24 calendar and hears student test data
The Greene County Schools is following dozens of Iowa schools in having an opioid antagonist – Nazalone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan – in all three school buildings.
The school board at its Feb. 15 meeting approved the first reading of a new board policy outlining who will be able to administer the drug and what reporting must be done. The policy will allow the district to purchase Narcan through the state Department of Health and Human Services at a reduced cost.
Per the policy, a school nurse or authorized and trained personnel may administer the Narcan if that person “reasonably and in good faith” believes the student or individual is having an opioid overdose. The district will then immediately call 9-1-1, and the staff who administered Narcan will stay with the individual until emergency medical services arrive. The district must report to the Iowa Department of Education each time Narcan is administered.
The board also held a public hearing on the 2023-24 school calendar. There were no comments and the calendar was approved as presented last month. The calendar is very similar to the 2022-23 calendar except that students will be dismissed two hours early on Mondays to provide staff professional development time. Click here to see the calendar.
Superintendent Brett Abbotts and school administrators reported the results of the January MAP (Measures of Annual Progress) testing done in grades K-11. The data shared showed the percentage of students proficient at grade level in math and reading now, with September percentages for comparison; the percentage of students who met their “growth targets”; and the percentage of those who showed any growth.
District-wide, 51 percent of students are proficient in math and 58 percent are proficient in reading.
Fifty percent or more of students in grades K, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 10 met their growth target in math. District-wide, 46.9 percent met their growth target. Across the district 73.5 percent of students showed some growth.
In reading, 50 percent or more of students in grades 1, 4, 6, 9 and 10 met their growth target. District-wide, 48.9 percent met their growth target and 66.7 per cent showed some growth.
Abbotts introduced MAP testing at the start of the school year. He reminded the board that this is the first time the district has had mid-year testing, and that “there’s a lot to be learned.”
Middle school principal Shawn Zanders said the information provided by the testing is more detailed than what comes from the ISASP, (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, a test taken by students in grades 3-11 in public and state-accredited non-public schools). Teaches use the MAP information to hone in on what skills students need to work on.
He also pointed out that among the “lowest performing students” in middle school, 46 percent of them met their growth target.
High school principal Brian Phillips said it’s hard to show growth among the students who are already proficient. He also mentioned that some high school students have the skill needed to show proficiency but not the will to do so. His staff is discussing ways to encourage students to give their best effort to the tests.
The Greene County Education Association presented its initial offer for the 2023-24 negotiated agreement. The teachers’ union proposed that the base salary increase from $33,350 to $34,900. All teacher salaries are calculated from the base salary. Total cost to the district, including an increase in insurance cost, would increase $495,314, or 5.94 percent.
The board approved a student book club at the high school. A group has formed informally. They’ve discussed books they’ve read individually. They hope to at some time purchase books so everyone in the club would read the same book for discussion. Being a school sanctioned club would allow the group to do fundraising.
The board accepted a bid from Brockway Roofing for work at the middle school this summer. Total contract price is $470,220.
The board also approved a bid from Countywide Electric of $17,605.97 for lighting in the kitchen and cafeteria at the middle school.
