GRANTS, N.M. – It was stated at the School Board Meeting on October 4 that the EWS (Early Warning Systems) work collaboratively with Ms. Shutiva, the Title Six Assistant, on attendance by calling parents and asking where their students are. EWS uses individual student data to generate indicators of on-track status for graduation. This includes attendance. They are currently trying to think of ways to get kids to school with attendance currently being 'rocky' for a majority of the students.
Ms. Barela and Ms. Henderson introduced their program using folders to address social emotional issues in the classroom. Instructional Coach and Testing Coordinator Amy Cameron went before the board and shared beginning of the year sixth grade IMSSA data. Her presentation covered using beginning of the year baseline data to guide instruction. She covered their use of red, yellow, and green color codes to show where a student is in their test scores. Blue bands are also used to signify when a student is one point away from moving to the next color. Ms. Bodley and Ms. Ratliff talked about their work and strategies involving teaching their students and the anti-bullying fun walk that took place. At the end they introduced two students who had written anti-bullying essays and allowed the kids to read them to the School Board.
All of the Mesa View staff and students were applauded for their efforts. Superintendent Max Perez closed out their presentation by complimenting them. He also praised staff’s folders idea calling it 'authentic and creative'. He also mentioned that the IMSSA data shows that many standards aren't being taught. He stated, 'One more point on IMSSA data, I think it's important to note that in that assessment they are missing all of the standards. So, in that assessment you still, in essence, have not taught two thirds, or a lot of the standards have not even been taught yet, so I think that that's something that you can keep in your back pocket in your planning and moving forward.' He also said as they teach the standards it should take them to the next level at their next assessment. Jones also inquired about the school's progress, wondering about plans for the next year's students. He said, “It seems like everything we do is at a glacial pace, as a school district, I'm not talking about at your school… I guess my question is, what if we don't have the growth we are after? I do want to set a standard, you make a comment, ‘We have high expectations.’ Well, what if we don't reach those expectations, and those sixth graders are gone now and we're on another set of sixth graders?' Cameron responded to his inquiry assuring him that even if the kids in the red don't leave that color by the end of the year, they will still have made progress with higher scores. Jones then voiced his concerns for the students after COVID, saying, 'We're going on sixth graders now where we did nothing for them; COVID, and the New Mexico Public Education Department doesn't have a plan to help them.' He then asked if the school could use its end of the year data to set the standard for the next year's students and raise it every year. Cameron then informed him that the process already occurs naturally through their instructional plan. She finished off by going over the standards at Mesa View and assured them once again that they are sure the scores will continue to go up.
The question of low attendance and late to school kids again became a brief topic of discussion for Mesa View. A majority of the students are missing several days of school and ending up on tier lists in the PED's new system.
The second presentation was a brief talk on public comments regarding complaints against the superintendent. They talked and made some minor adjustments to how people will submit their complaints in writing.
Action Items
The Board fully approved the consideration to transfer of Washington Avenue, a piece by the soccer fields and the ROTC building, back to the school districts. No action was taken on the consideration of approval to adopt proposed policy on 'Complaints (paragraph C) against the superintendent.'
The Board fully approved the consideration of approval to upgrade the exterior lighting system at Grants High School. In order to save money and power in the long run, Grants High School's exterior lighting will be upgraded to LEDs.