Superintendent pleased with report results
WAYNESBURG – The Central Greene School District’s top administrator told the school board Tuesday night that he was pleased with how the district fared on a report covering the state’s 501 school districts. According to the report, compiled by Standard and Poor’s, the district had three schools that exceeded the state averages for mean scores and participation rates on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests (PSSA), even though an above-average number of students at Central Greene are economically disadvantaged. The report covered 1997 through 2001 and was based on the PSSA results.
The mean score for the district is 1308, which is comparable to the state average but higher than other districts with demographics similar to Central Greene’s
This is the third year in a row that the district has reported above-average scores on the PSSA.
Superintendent Dr. Jerome Bartley pointed out two factors that he believes contributes to the district’s success.
“A large proportion of our teaching staff has 20 or more years of experience,” Bartley said. “They are very knowledgeable and put forth the extra effort.”
Additionally, he said, “We have a low faculty turnover in the district. We hang on to our good teachers.”
In fact, 54.5 percent of the teaching staff has at least 20 years of experience, compared with the state average of just 41.6 percent, according to the Standard and Poor’s report.
The report notes that among Central Greene’s comparative strengths are scores in the advanced performance level of 21.5 percent, which are moderately higher than the state average of 18.8 percent. Another strength of the district is the advanced placement participation rate of 24.4 percent, compared to just 11.7 percent statewide.
In at least three areas, Central Greene’s figures compare with the state averages but are higher than the peer group’s, including the SAT score of 989, SAT participation rate of 66 percent and the proportion of students planning to attend college, which is 66.9 percent.
Other factors characterizing the district include well above-average transportation costs per student and a well above-average proportion of special education students.
The report points out that Central Greene’s comparatively high tax burden, coupled with its relatively low full-market property value per student, may limit the district’s ability to generate additional revenue from local sources.
In other business, the board approved the addition of U. S. history and psychology from the California University in High School Classes Program to Waynesburg Central High School’s curriculum.
Business Manager Walt Stout said the cost for any student who wants to receive college credit for either course will be $75 per class. The district already has a similar agreement with Waynesburg College for distance learning classes, he said.
The board also approved the Java Curriculum to replace the C++ Computer Class at the high school.
David L. Logan was hired as a long-term substitute at Perry Elementary, and Cindy Brewer was hired as a long-term substitute teacher at Waynesburg Central Elementary.
The board accepted the resignations of several coaches, including John Garber, varsity golf coach; Brad Monas, assistant varsity football coach; Edith Higgins, seventh- and eighth-grade assistant track and field coach; seventh- and eighth-grade girls basketball coach; and Pedro Sanvicente, assistant varsity girls soccer coach.
The board approved an extended medical leave for Deborah McCurdy, elementary teacher at Waynesburg Central Elementary.
The board approved a request from Terry Galloway to exchange his GED diploma for a diploma from Waynesburg Central High School.
Conference requests were approved for Annette Bogo, Glenna McDougal and Debbie Iams to attend the PA Title Assessment Congress, to be held March 9-12 in Pittsburgh. The cost is $763.80 per person, to be funded with Title I money.