School board discussion continues over Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock’s goals, and evaluation tool and timeline for this year.
The proposed list of goals includes two percent improvement on third-graders’ reading scores, as measured by the AIMSWeb online assessment program, 20 percent improvement in reading for Andersonville Elementary third graders, and two percent improvement in fifth grade math scores.
Board Treasurer Joan Patterson called for higher goals for the superintendent.
“I want to allocate resources where they need to be allocated so our district can be the talk of the county,” Patterson said. “I’m not here to say ‘this is good enough.’ I want to see our kids achieve mastery ? we have a lot to do.”
“I’d like to see some statewide test indicator used to see how we’re doing compared to other districts,” said board Secretary Craig Hamilton. “I look at Lake Orion, academically kicking our butt pretty much in every category ? I’d like to see us doing better than them.”
For the superintendent’s next evaluation, board President Steve Hyer recommended a two-part process, with half in the summer and the other at the end of the year.
“Objective data-based” sections of the evaluation, including test scores, surveys, and student attendance, would be in July or August. “Personal qualities? sections, including the superintendent’s relationships with the school board, community, and staff, leadership, and business and finance, would be in December.
Hamilton opposed spliting the evaluation.
“Let’s just do everything in June,” he said.
Patterson said expectations should be higher for the next evaluation.
“My concern is this is a cookie cutter type of thing,” she said.
Hamilton said the board should revise the evaluation categories, which are currently 85-100 percent, “highly effective”; 68-84 percent, “effective”; 50-67 percent, “minimally effective”; and less than 50 percent, ‘ineffective.?
Hamilton asked how 50 percent could be considered even ‘minimally effective.?
“I can’t imagine anywhere 50 percent is considered ‘effective’ ? maybe with a shotgun, with two shells, one is good,” he said.
Speaking during public comment, teacher Kathy Noble said she was appalled at the shotgun reference, and the board should not drag out discussions of topics discussed at the Jan. 29 board meeting.
“You gave up your right when you chose not to attend the last meeting,” Noble said, referring to the absences of Hamilton, Patterson, and board Vice President Susan Boatman at the meeting to re-evaluate the superintendent.
The superintendent’s goals, 2015 evaluation, and contract were originally placed as “action items” on the agenda. Patterson made a motion to make the “discussion items” instead.
“I don’t see an issue with giving board members more chances to discuss it, think it over, then vote on it,” Hamilton said.
The items were discussed previously and a vote was appropriate, Hyer said.
The board voted 6-1 to revise the agenda, with Hyer voting against.
The board next meets on Monday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m.