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District shows progress in performance report

Plans and support helped bring about positive results

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Building a tower with straw connectors takes teamwork. Pictured from left are Fisher fourth graders Yi Thai, Eden Rodriguez and Antony Reyes Pintor. Fisher Elementary showed the most progress in the district in terms of performance.

The Marshalltown School District has shown improvement since the last Iowa School Performance Profile reporting system from the Iowa Department of Education.

“We are generally happy with the progress from last year to this year,” said Lisa Stevenson, director of instruction for the district. “There was great growth in most of the schools that need work. We are moving in the right direction and this is only the second year.”

One category the district saw significant gains in was Progress Toward ELP Composite.

Stevenson said the district is receiving a lot of support from the Iowa Area Education Agencies and the Department of Education at each building that was labeled as needing help in the first and the last profile report. She said the accompanying work and learning has had a big impact on the schools.

One school that shone particularly bright was Fisher Elementary, which was a focus after the last profile report. Stevenson said the school managed to jump a couple levels to be labeled as “High performing.”

“We are so pleased with the staff and the students for all of the efforts put forth in the last year. It has paid off in terms of growth in this test,” she said. “Fisher had one of the highest growths in the state.”

School facilities identified as needing attention after last year’s profile all adopted plans to improve performance. Stevenson said each school adopted a different plan.

“Every building had the opportunity to take their own path and those plans were presented to the school board to start implementing,” she said. “Fisher focused on a system to support reading and math. Other schools, such as Rogers, focused on social and emotional growth.”

The social and emotional aspect is an important aspect of education, Stevenson said. If a child does not feel safe at school, then he or she will not be able to learn as well.

“This is not an either or deal,” she said. “It is a focus on the whole child.”

With the plans and support from the state agencies, Stevenson is confident there will be continued improvement in the district.

After last year’s report, she did not receive a lot of negative feedback. Stevenson did say some teachers came to her with concerns. She said building principals were likely the ones who heard the parental concerns.

“To be fair, there is a mindset based on these results or on a once-a-year math and reading test,” Stevenson said. “That is inherently challenging.”

She strongly encourages people to not only pay attention and get involved when state results are released, but to stay involved year-round.

“Talk to your child’s teacher about their performance so the child has the best support at home,” Stevenson said. “Volunteer at the school. There are kids who need help. Volunteer with committees, the PTA, different organizations that support the district as a whole. All of these things work in conjunction and impact school performance ratings.”

Improving the performance of the schools is not a quick fix. Stevenson said it is a long haul.

“To those who are volunteering, we are grateful,” she said. “For those who are wondering what they can do about it, call the school district. We would love to have everyone’s support.”

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