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Federally-mandated tests label Fairview ‘failing’
By Samantha Blanton
School Board members Monday (July 24) discussed the Adequate Yearly Progress results that have identified Fairview Elementary as a “failing school.”
All of Jackson County’s other six schools passed the requirements. Scotts Creek, Cullowhee Valley, Blue Ridge, Smokey Mountain and School of Alternatives passed their goals in reading. Elementary math scores have not yet been released. Smoky Mountain High passed in reading and secondary math.
Fairview’s failing score was triggered by one target area on the projected goals.
“All of the schools met expected growth,” Superindendent Sue Nations, former Fairview principal said. “But that is according to the state-mandated goals and guidelines.”
AYP is part of the No Child Left Behind project of the federal government, and in order to have passing results, schools must meet identified target goals.
“You have to pass 100 percent (under NCLB),” Nations said. “It’s all or nothing. It’s like a teacher giving a test and saying you have to make a 100 or fail. We wouldn’t stand for that for a minute,” Nations said.
“I believe Fairview is a positive and nurturing environment for students,” Nations said. “When state results come out (the school) will probably pass ABC state guidelines.”
Two board members echoed Nations’ defense of her former school.
“In the past Fairview has been a school of distinction; it is still a great school,” said board member Thurza McNair, a former Fairview teacher and administrator.
“I know how Fairview operates, and it works well,” said board Chairman Ken Henke, a former Fairview assistant principal.
AYP measures yearly progress in each grade level in reading and math. Schools have to test 95 percent of students in each subgroup, and all students tested must meet 100 percent of the goals.
Subgroups include: school as a whole; white students; black students; Hispanic students; Native American students; Asian students; multiracial students; economically disadvantaged students; limited English proficient students; and students with disabilities.
If one group, in one subject does not meet goals, the entire school does not make AYP for the year, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
The target group at Fairview that failed was students with disabilities.
“I thought that’s why we identified students with disabilities – because we knew they were struggling and we needed to help them more,” Nations said.
Nations reported the school’s special education students passed a second attempt, but that AYP only measures the first test.
Consequences for a failing school mean that parents of students attending that school have the option of transferring their children to non-failing school. In addition, the school system must provide students with bus transportation to the school of their choice. Funding for this transportation comes out of the Title I budget for the entire county.
Nations also said that the Title I budget has been cut every year, despite the fact that additional requirements have been added.
“What this now means for Fairview students is that they have a choice to attend Scotts Creek or Cullowhee Valley,” Nations said. “On the first day of school we will send a letter home saying just that.”
Parents may not request until school starts and they receive official notification, Nations said. Once the letters go out, parents have a week to decide whether to send their children to another school.
School board officers
Ken Henke and Ali Laird-Large were re-elected as chairman and vice chairman of the board. Both have filled the positions in the past term.
Field trips
School officials approved a field trip for SMHS to go to a drum corps performance in Atlanta on July 29.
Personnel
Board members approved the following personnel action:
– Resignations from Dale Davis, Dorothy Davis, Valerie Nelson and Gerald Parker from SMHS.
– Employment of Megan Brown, P.E. teacher, Adam Holt, seventh-grade math teacher, CVS; Peggy Carver, Child Nutrition assistant, Scotts Creek; Jason Roberts, social studies teacher, SMHS.
– Non-staff coaches – Amanda Crompton, assistant cheerleading coach, Stephanie Spivey, cheerleading coach, Fairview.
– Phil Woody, soccer coach, Samantha Blanton, volleyball coach, Tammy Lowe, assistant volleyball coach, Scotts Creek; Kenneth Walker, volleyball coach, SMHS.
– Transfers, Melanie Jacobs from SMES to Scotts Creek; and Julie Phillips, from SMHS to School of Alternatives.
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