by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls School Board released its State of the Schools report at its August 11 meeting, and the tone was quite different from that of some of these presentations in the past. Schools Superintendent Ken Facin said, “We have some concerns.”
[private]The Regents passing rate, which was at or above 90% for four years from 2010 to 2014, has slipped to 83%. The Regents mastery rate, which was 40% in 2010-11 and 39% in 2012-13, has slipped to 32%. The District’s ranking by the Albany Business Review, which was #21 last year, is #32 this year.
Facin was clear that the District’s goals remain high and he expects to achieve them. The Board reaffirmed Board goals for the upcoming school year despite falling short of its goals this year: 90% passing and 40% achieving mastery on regents exams, a 90% graduation rate, 90% Regents Diplomas and 50% earning advanced regents diplomas, and a 3.0 or higher class average in advanced placement courses. The Board also added a new goal – to have all varsity teams qualify as scholar-athlete teams. Facin said again that his goal is to reach the top ten in the Albany Business Review rankings (although he also said he plans to meet with them this fall to discuss their methodology, about which he has some questions).
Board President Greg Laurin said, “We have to identify what we are not doing well, so we can address it.”
One thing that has been hampering assessments is the state of the 3-8 ELA and Math tests. These tests have been changed drastically several times in the past few years and as a result administrators, teachers, and parents are losing confidence in them. A movement to opt out has reduced the percentage of students taking them, which has further reduced their diagnostic value. Facin said there have been lawsuits about the 3-8 testing platform, which is widely believed to be in need of reform.
There were quite a few references to deficiencies in parental support over the course of the evening. One gets the impression that there are more students in the District recently who have difficult situations at home. Greg Laurin said with characteristic tact and diplomacy, “We have amazing families and great parents – and we also have families at the other end of the spectrum.”
Tax Levy The tax levy was set at this meeting. It is $9,470,390. But the exact rates per thousand in each Town could not be set at this meeting because the State had not yet finalized the equalization rate for Petersburgh. Business Manager Pam Hatfield said, “I feel really good about the way the year closed out.” At this meeting the Board put $240,000 from its Fund Balance into an existing Debt Service Fund so as to prepare for a planned Capital Project. Facin said he wants to appoint an architect at the August 25 meeting to guide the District in development of a Capital Project to present to the voters this year.
New Positions The Board approved creating three new positions at this meeting – a teacher of reading, a teacher aide, and a typist to work on a 10 month basis. [/private]