Lake Holcombe School Board; Report card scores on the climb

Dale Mahalko, technology coordinator at Lake Holcombe School, demonstrates how closed captions work (or don’t) when recording meetings. The matter was up for discussion at a board meeting Nov. 16, to continue or discontinue the recordings. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Last year, state report card scores were not where they should be for Lake Holcombe, so intensive work began by the teachers and administration to improve the results. At the Nov. 16 board meeting, this year’s results showed marked progress.

“But, by no means, are they the entire picture of every student or a school district,” said district administrator Kurt Lindau.

The scores from the elementary were up from 52.8 to 53.1, while the high school rose from 46.9 to 60.4. Overall, the district score went from 46.9 to 56.3. Although the scores aren’t as high as they should be, Lindau is encouraged by the improvements made.

“Schools across the state and nation, continue to work hard to address learning gaps that have surfaced the last couple of years,” he said. “We’re all still working hard to work on that.”

Since COVID-19 first closed schools in 2020, Lake Holcombe has recorded their board meetings, so people could still have knowledge of what was happening, but remotely.

“This was pretty popular during COVID… since then, most school districts have eliminated the live-stream or recording of meetings,” said Lindau.

If the recordings are to continue, they must have closed captioning, in order to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). But, that takes a lot of extra work for technology coordinator Dale Mahalko.

If the video was live-streamed, the closed captions are automatically generated (livestreaming often didn’t “connect,” so that was discontinued), but since the meetings are recorded, Mahalko has to go back and turn on the closed captions, which is not ideal.

“Sometimes, people speak really quietly and it just doesn’t pick them up,” said Mahalko.

Board treasurer Anneleise Willmarth said the meeting minutes are on the school website, while vice president Matt Flater says he’d prefer to just stream the annual meeting. It was agreed to discontinue recordings, except for the annual meeting.

“Personally, I’d like to keep doing it, but I have a lot of projects in the fire,” said Mahalko.

Members also approved the hire of JD Kirkman, assistant girls basketball coach; and Ashley Carothers, assistant volunteer archery coach; as well as the resignation of Nicole Jones, assistant girls basketball coach.

They also accepted $65.05, from Eastbay Lodge, to the music department, and $65.05, to the football program; and $40, from Prevea, to the athletic department for sports physicals.

The 2023-24 calendar was also approved, after teachers agreed on an option that fit their schedule the best.

When updating the board on what’s happened at the school, Lindau says the Veterans Day program was very successful, as was the Lakeland Conference Honors Band and Choir Concert they hosted. There were around 140 kids present for the concert, practicing during the school day in the music rooms and gym.

“We really didn’t even know they were here,” said Lindau.