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Student-led parent-teacher conferences to begin
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
Many teachers in Willcox School District will have student-led parent-teacher conferences beginning March 18-19.
"The more a student can articulate his or her own progress, the more the student will take ownership of his or her own academic progress," said district Superintendent Dr. Richard Rundhaug at the regular school board meeting last Tuesday.
"We are one of the more structured school districts doing this, and to my knowledge, we are the only ones doing this K-12," he added.
A teacher from each grade level at Willcox Elementary School, and a representative from both the middle and high schools, explained how students will participate in their own parent-teacher conference.
In general, students will analyze their own progress, articulate strengths and weaknesses and set goals for the next nine weeks.
Valerie Simon, WES principal, told the school board, "It will be a positive thing. In a few weeks, we will have some results for you. It may not be smooth right away, but by middle school, it will be old hat for them."
Vicki Long, a middle school ESL teacher, spoke for the middle school where a few teachers held student-led conferences earlier this school year after sending letters home with their students. The students have been looking at their data (Galileo and AIMS testing and other grades) for two years, so they were able to analyze their progress.
"We're in contact with many more parents through email, and we had record numbers come to the conferences," she said.
High school math chair Lee Miller said she had her students write letters to their parents about their academic progress. "In the first letters they wrote, they mostly blamed others, but in the second nine weeks, they were more honest and they finally realized why they have the grades they have. They track their grades weekly on a graph, so they could see why."
High school algebra and geometry teacher, Shirley Ortega, said her students do weekly charting of their grades, and as they take assessments, they put a date on their charts whey they master a course objective.
"I didn't do a lot of student-led conferences yet, but I hope to do more this time. At ages 15, 16 and 17, they need to take ownership of their academic progress," Ortega said.
Special education teacher Carol Crockett has also started student-led IEPs (Individual Education Programs) for students with disabilities.
Board President David Collins said he was glad to hear the number of parents participating in the parent-teacher conferences increased with the student-led conferences because it increases communication between parents, students and teachers.
Board member Jan Kortsen added, "If my child were leading the conference, I'd be there."
In other news, the district's student enrollment remains steady at 1,291, about 80 students more than last year, which will increase state revenue the district receives per pupil next year, Rundhaug said. This increase would likely allow the district to continue to offer all-day kindergarten, even if the state doesn't fund it, he said.
The board unanimously approved the issuance of a design bid, build construction for a classroom addition to the Agriculture Building. The 50 feet by 130 feet classroom addition would likely be funded by $100,000 from the Joint Technology Education District (JTED) and a $50,000 grant from USDA, Rundhaug said.
Business Manager Jim Foley reported on a state Auditor General's report on school district spending.
Arizona laws state that public schools should spend 62 cents in the classroom for every dollar spent by the district.
"Five years ago, Willcox School District spent 62.1 percent in the classroom and in 2008, we were at 55.8 percent. Our average this year (FY2009) is 56.9 percent, so we are coming back up," Foley said.
During the last five years, the amount spent on administration, student support and instruction support "increased significantly," the report stated.
Foley said, "We do want to increase classroom spending. In 2008, we had fixed costs and lower enrollment. With the growth this year, we should see that number up."
He noted the amount spent on food services was particularly high ($4.15 compared to $3.07 for similar school districts and $2.53 for a state average), and that will be looked into. He said the fixed cost per meal with Sodexho is $2.48.
Administrative costs were $885 for the Willcox district per pupil, while peer groups spent an average of $1,148 per pupil. The state's average was $729 per pupil. The number of students per administrator in Willcox School district is 59; 51 for peer schools; and 66 for the state average.
Willcox's transportation costs ($1.94 per mile) were lower than both the state average ($3.36) and its peer group districts ($2.53).
Willcox also spent less on plant operations ($4.55 per square-foot) than the state average ($6.40) and its peer group districts ($5.49).
Also in the report:
Willcox, Peer, State
Attendance rates:
95%, 93%, 95%
Graduate rates:
87%, 70%, 75%
Student-teacher ratio:
13.8-1, 14.9-1, 17.1-1
Average teacher salary:
$37,875, $41,086, $45,209
Aver. years experience:
11.4, 11.1, 8.3
% teachers in 1st 3 years:
25%, 20%, 16%
In Willcox School District, all three schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress toward federal goals.
The report may be found at www.azauditor.gov, under reports & publications - school districts, and under W.
"The more a student can articulate his or her own progress, the more the student will take ownership of his or her own academic progress," said district Superintendent Dr. Richard Rundhaug at the regular school board meeting last Tuesday.
"We are one of the more structured school districts doing this, and to my knowledge, we are the only ones doing this K-12," he added.
A teacher from each grade level at Willcox Elementary School, and a representative from both the middle and high schools, explained how students will participate in their own parent-teacher conference.
In general, students will analyze their own progress, articulate strengths and weaknesses and set goals for the next nine weeks.
Valerie Simon, WES principal, told the school board, "It will be a positive thing. In a few weeks, we will have some results for you. It may not be smooth right away, but by middle school, it will be old hat for them."
Vicki Long, a middle school ESL teacher, spoke for the middle school where a few teachers held student-led conferences earlier this school year after sending letters home with their students. The students have been looking at their data (Galileo and AIMS testing and other grades) for two years, so they were able to analyze their progress.
"We're in contact with many more parents through email, and we had record numbers come to the conferences," she said.
High school math chair Lee Miller said she had her students write letters to their parents about their academic progress. "In the first letters they wrote, they mostly blamed others, but in the second nine weeks, they were more honest and they finally realized why they have the grades they have. They track their grades weekly on a graph, so they could see why."
High school algebra and geometry teacher, Shirley Ortega, said her students do weekly charting of their grades, and as they take assessments, they put a date on their charts whey they master a course objective.
"I didn't do a lot of student-led conferences yet, but I hope to do more this time. At ages 15, 16 and 17, they need to take ownership of their academic progress," Ortega said.
Special education teacher Carol Crockett has also started student-led IEPs (Individual Education Programs) for students with disabilities.
Board President David Collins said he was glad to hear the number of parents participating in the parent-teacher conferences increased with the student-led conferences because it increases communication between parents, students and teachers.
Board member Jan Kortsen added, "If my child were leading the conference, I'd be there."
In other news, the district's student enrollment remains steady at 1,291, about 80 students more than last year, which will increase state revenue the district receives per pupil next year, Rundhaug said. This increase would likely allow the district to continue to offer all-day kindergarten, even if the state doesn't fund it, he said.
The board unanimously approved the issuance of a design bid, build construction for a classroom addition to the Agriculture Building. The 50 feet by 130 feet classroom addition would likely be funded by $100,000 from the Joint Technology Education District (JTED) and a $50,000 grant from USDA, Rundhaug said.
Business Manager Jim Foley reported on a state Auditor General's report on school district spending.
Arizona laws state that public schools should spend 62 cents in the classroom for every dollar spent by the district.
"Five years ago, Willcox School District spent 62.1 percent in the classroom and in 2008, we were at 55.8 percent. Our average this year (FY2009) is 56.9 percent, so we are coming back up," Foley said.
During the last five years, the amount spent on administration, student support and instruction support "increased significantly," the report stated.
Foley said, "We do want to increase classroom spending. In 2008, we had fixed costs and lower enrollment. With the growth this year, we should see that number up."
He noted the amount spent on food services was particularly high ($4.15 compared to $3.07 for similar school districts and $2.53 for a state average), and that will be looked into. He said the fixed cost per meal with Sodexho is $2.48.
Administrative costs were $885 for the Willcox district per pupil, while peer groups spent an average of $1,148 per pupil. The state's average was $729 per pupil. The number of students per administrator in Willcox School district is 59; 51 for peer schools; and 66 for the state average.
Willcox's transportation costs ($1.94 per mile) were lower than both the state average ($3.36) and its peer group districts ($2.53).
Willcox also spent less on plant operations ($4.55 per square-foot) than the state average ($6.40) and its peer group districts ($5.49).
Also in the report:
Willcox, Peer, State
Attendance rates:
95%, 93%, 95%
Graduate rates:
87%, 70%, 75%
Student-teacher ratio:
13.8-1, 14.9-1, 17.1-1
Average teacher salary:
$37,875, $41,086, $45,209
Aver. years experience:
11.4, 11.1, 8.3
% teachers in 1st 3 years:
25%, 20%, 16%
In Willcox School District, all three schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress toward federal goals.
The report may be found at www.azauditor.gov, under reports & publications - school districts, and under W.
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