Aug 15, 2006 By Jenny Susa 3 min read

BROWNSVILLE – The Brownsville Area School Board heard some encouraging news about disadvantaged students’ test scores Monday from Point Click Learn, the district’s largest software provider. Ron Spiker, a representative of the company, showed the board that after using the Academy of Reading and Academy of Math programs, a number of students in all of the district’s schools who needed help in the subjects showed improved test scores.

Spiker’s presentation showed that in each grade, a percentage of students who had scored below basic in math or reading skills moved to a basic or proficient level after using the programs.

“You may not see a very large shift, but keep in mind these programs are designed for delayed or disabled students,” said Spiker. “We did reach our goal of improving reading and math skills and your students’ PSSA scores are up.”

Spiker said that in the future, the company will work with the district to help them make better use of their resources, raise the bar for learning and increase teacher accountability.

In other matters, the board discussed items to be on the agenda for Thursday’s regular meeting.

Director Andy Dorsey pointed out that the board will need to set a fee for public use of the district’s gym and walking track. All board members agreed that senior citizens should continue to be admitted free of charge, and the board will most likely vote for paying participants to be charged $25 per semester for using the facility. Time restrictions will apply, since the district’s students sometimes have scheduled practices and activities in the gym.

The board will also vote on buying a new maintenance truck, adding names to the substitute list, hiring two elementary teachers, one middle school special education teacher, and one music instructor. They will also accept resignations, including three from teachers who were newly hired this year and decided to turn down the positions they were offered.

Superintendent Larry Golembiewski said that the board must also appoint a tax study commission by Sept. 14. The commission will work to create a recommendation for reconstructing the tax income for the district in a way that benefits the elderly and those on a fixed income. Golembiewski said the board will be able to approve or reject the commission’s plan, but if the reject it, they will need to put options on the ballot next year that will allow taxpayers to make a decision about the district’s tax plan.