SOUTHWICK – Curriculum Director Maureen Wilson presented a report to the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District this week showing a drop in recent MCAS math scores.
Superintendent John Barry said the district is holding or improving its scores in ELA across the board.
“But we’re starting to see a little drop off in math,” Barry said.
The drop has occurred primarily in the elementary and middle school grades but the high school scores are fairly strong.
“In grade 10 math, we have 86 percent advanced and proficient, and 92 percent in ELA,” he said.
The high school remains a Level One school, while the middle and elementary schools – including Granville Village School – are Level Two schools, which surprised GVS Principal Linda Christofori.
“Granville was pretty consistent,” she said.
Barry asked each school principal to briefly outline their plans to improve scores.
Christofori said all students would participate in units of study and work with a math coach.
“We’re utilizing the ELA coach with the primary grades,” she said.
Woodland Elementary School Principal Kim Sasso said the school was stepping up its professional development training and was using guided reading groups and MCAS practice, as well as Math Envisions.
Powder Mill Middle School Principal Ron Peloquin said the math score trends are “very concerning” and he studied when and why the scores began to drop off.
“In 2010, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced the common core realignment of curriculum and changed instruction,” said Peloquin.
Since then, scores have declined. Peloquin said in 2013 there was a five-point drop in math and a two-point drop in English, with an additional six-point drop in math and another two- to three-point drop in English last year.
Peloquin said Powder Mill also experienced a 73 percent change in staff over the past few years as teachers retired or relocated. He assured the committee teachers did not leave because they were unhappy at he school.
Committee member Jean McGivney-Burelle asked how Peloquin would combat the decline. He said hiring experienced teachers versus new ones would help, as well as more training for teachers on common core.
“It’s not an overnight change,” he said.
Wilson said the biggest hit in MCAS statewide was in grade seven.
“In talking with other districts, a lot of grade seven took a dip,” she said.
High School Principal Joseph Turmel said he believed former principal Pamela Hunter “would be proud” of the scores.
To help students improve scores, Turmel said after school MCAS prep and tutoring is being offered, along with increased teacher training.
