Gilman students achieve end of year progress
“Our staff is working hard to get our students to the above average percentile within the state,” superintendent Walter Leipart assured the Gilman School Board at Monday night’s school board meeting.
The Gilman School District uses a software called Fastbridge as a way to track their students’ progress in grades K-3 in subjects of math and reading. The school district uses instructional coaching and one on one tutoring to improve these skills if needed.
“The baseline starting point for a student’s progress is by analyzing the data from the previous year, with the exception of the kindergarten class,” Leipart said.
The kindergarten class achieved a 33 point growth over the course of the year. Leipart said “When looking at the kindergarten class it looks like they underperformed when it comes to the Fastbridge system, but the reason for that is that Fastbridge sets a very low standard for a baseline then very aggressive performance measures by the end of kindergarten when you look at year after year progress, it starts to pick up.”
First grade reading had an average of a 33 point growth over the school year. Seven of eleven students met the 55th percentile and eight students met the end of the year growth objectives.
First grade math had an average of 22 point growth over the school year, with all 11 students meeting the end of year growth objective.
Second grade reading had an average of a 22 point growth over the school year, with 4 of 16 students exceed the 50th percentile. Ten of 16 students met the end of the year growth objective.
Second grade math achieved an average 3.5 point growth over the school year, with 15 of 16 students meeting the 50th percentile. Fifteen out of 16 students met the end of year growth objective.
Third grade reading had an average of a 14 point growth over the course of the school year, with 8 of 16 meeting the 50th percentile. Fourteen of 16 students met the end of year growth objectives.
Third grade math reached an average 3.5 point growth over the course of the school year. Eight of 17 students met the 50th percentile while 15 of 17 students met the end of the year growth objective.
“Quarantines of these classes over the course of the year may have affected their growth throughout the year,” board member Cheryl Ustianowski said.
In other business:
• Meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year for reduced breakfast, will be no increase in prices, however reduced lunch prices will be a 40 cent increase.
• Cardinal Stritch University is working with 7 teachers in the Gilman school district who are participating in a reading specialist program.
• Taylor County is working with Ntera Telecommunications to secure new fiber connections to the building. Gilman is under contract with AT& T through June 30, 2023. In the meantime, WANRack through the Taylor County Middle Mile Network and Ntera Telecommunications is not charging to install fiber optic to the building. Two data connections will be available to maximize fiber internet.
• To help with teacher recruitment, Gilman Schools are looking at utilizing CESA 7’s workforce plus program, which brings on individuals to fill positions especially partial positions. Current active teachers or retired teachers are eligible to fill these positions.
• A program called Securely Aware will be used as a way to screen and access student wellness to pinpoint people who are searching for inappropriate content [suicidal or harmful material] online. Ustianowski wondered if that would be an invasion of the student’s privacy. Leipart said “No because it is a school device and the content that they are researching is not open to the public.”
• Over $64,000 in scholarships were awarded to graduates during Senior Awards Night on May 18.
• Gracie Tallier and Bailey Angell represented Gilman in State Track and Field this season.
• Athletic Ticket Sales are as follows: $3/game, $5/ annual pass (passes are also eligible for away games). $1 for away students. Free entry to Gilman students. Wrestling and spring sports are excluded from ticket sales. Regional events are excluded.
• The budget impact for Athletic Director and Dean is $1,880 and Co-curricular/Extra duty compensation is $3,400.
• The following position compensation rates will be increased: FFA from $700 to $1,500; Student Council advisor from $350 to $450;VICA (Vocational Industrial Club of America) from $250 to $450; Subsitute Coordinator from $1,200 to $1,500; Yearbook advisor from $115 to $200.
• The second phase of the floor replacement will use the band room as a test area for polished concrete. Leipart said “Once they strip the floor and if the concrete is in good condition, we could use that room as a test area for polished concrete. It is virtually zero maintenance. What we would pay in labor and materials for floor replacement, we will gain that money in two years with the polished concrete option.”
