Kristen Foster said she views the state’s annual report card of Brookfield schools as a treasure hunt, not a witch hunt.
While many people focus on what didn’t score so well, she tries to find the positive in the data, said the school district’s director of teaching, learning and accountability. Even though the district’s overall score fell to 3 stars of 5 from last year’s 3½ stars, the data showed more students were proficient in some tested areas than the year before, she said. Elementary Principal Stacey Filicky said changes in the approach to teaching reading are starting to show in improved test scores.
Foster also noted that 3 stars means the district met state standards.
“Do we want to be higher than three? Obviously,” she told the school board Sept. 17.
The building principals outlined their plans to tackle the deficiencies, in specific content areas – math is a big focus – discipline and the culture of the school. In the elementary, teachers are getting more training in teaching math, the math coach is helping some teachers teach specific lessons and less experienced teachers are getting the chance to sit in on the classes of more experienced teachers, Filicky said.
The middle school principals have changed how students enter the building in the morning and how they get to and from the lunchroom, as well as limited the number of legitimate reasons a student can leave a classroom during the day so the building is calmer and students are spending more time in the classroom.
“With any of this stuff, there isn’t a magic bullet, so to speak,” said Supt. Tony Gibson. “There’s all these little things you have to account for.”
Foster noted each student has a different need, and the district has to try to reach each student. Gibson said that requires building a rapport with students.
“You have to make them believe that they can achieve,” he said. “I think we struggle with that.”
Board member Melissa Sydlowski, who teaches at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, said the report card “doesn’t tell the whole story.”
“Kids have to come to school ready to learn,” she said. “There is a huge amount out of our teachers’ control. We have great teachers in this district and I’m confident our teachers are doing everything that they can to show the state exactly what we’re doing. But, when kids have to come to school for a free breakfast, then that’s gonna affect how they do on a test.”
High School Principal Megan Marino said the high school’s teachers are “really good at what they do.”
“Our word for the year is refinement,” she said. “This year we need to refine our practices.”
Brookfield High School scored 3½ stars overall with 2 stars in achievement, 3 stars in progress and 4 stars each in gap closing and graduation rate.
The middle school rated 3 stars with 2 stars each in achievement and gap closing and 3 stars in progress.
The elementary school earned 2½ stars with 3 stars in achievement, 1 star in progress and 2 stars each in early literacy and gap closing.
Foster said the district will be rated on a new component next year – college, career and military readiness. The state has tracked data in this area for some time and Brookfield currently scores 83.5 out of 100 points, making it 35th in the state out of 607 districts, she said. Points are earned by students who earn honors diplomas and industry recognized credentials, take college classes, enlist in the military, serve apprenticeships and other factors.
“That will definitely help our report card score next year,” Foster said. “It just shows that we are moving in the right direction, that all kids are getting what they need to move forward in careers.”
Report card data can be viewed at reportcard.education.ohio.gov
