For longer than anyone can remember, grade cards have been simple, but didn’t really tell parents much. An “A” in math in one second grade classroom might be a “B” in a classroom across the hallway.
Beginning this fall, USD 308 parents will have concrete information about what is being taught in K-6 classes and how their students fall on a four-level rubric, the district’s Board of Education learned at its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 9, 2013.
For the past several years, district staff has been working on a grade card that would provide parents with more information on how their students were progressing on college and career ready standards. A year ago, the board formally adopted college and career ready standards.
“Teachers have been actively involved in creating the report cards,” said Cindy Cooprider, district director of elementary education, told board members. “The report cards align with research-based practices as well as with the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards.”
Parents will have a chance to talk about the new report cards with teachers during the first set of Parent-Teacher Conferences the week of Sept. 30.
Monday’s meeting also featured a report on summer maintenance projects in the district. While the district facilities were significantly improved by the 2006 bond issue, each summer staff works on minor to major projects to maintain and improve district facilities.
In sheer numbers, the district had 1,323 maintenance requests for the May 1 to Aug. 31 period and staff were able to complete 1,103 requests. Staff continues to work on the remaining requests.