School board hears update on TMS MAP results

The Hot Springs County High School Board of Trustees received their annual audit report at their Feb. 20 meeting, courtesy of Michel, Wright and Associates.

Michael Wright informed the board there were no problems with compliance with the exception of some minor issues. Compliance audits focus on federal grants.

Wright indicated the district needs to work on keeping track of documentation. If there is no documentation on where grant funds were spent, the grantor assumes the money has not been used.

The problem revolved around an amount just over $75, which Wright said is really a minor issue.

The financial side of the audit went well, too, with Wright finding everything in compliance.

As always, as it is in many other entities in town, internal control issues arose, specifically, not enough segregation of duties. This occurs because there are not enough employees to completely separate all of the duties properly.

Caitlyn Deromedi presented an update on the middle school MAP results along with some data from the high school.

The middle school had some winter goals they were attempting to reach, and hard work paid off for the students.

In reading, 64 percent of the fifth graders are at or above the winter target, 69 percent of sixth graders are at or above, 76 percent of seventh graders and 76 percent of eighth graders were also at or above the winter target.

The numbers for math look great, too, with 57 percent of fifth graders at or above the winter target, 62 percent of sixth graders, 78 percent of seventh graders and 68 percent of eighth graders.

Science scores took a big leap with 71 percent of fifth graders at or above the winter target, 95 percent of sixth graders, 76 percent of seventh graders and 81 percent of eighth graders are all at or above the winter target.

The middle school is shooting for 100 percent growth across all grades from fall to spring in reading, math and science, and the numbers indicate that goal may be reached.

The fifth graders grew 64 percent from fall to winter in reading and 77 percent grew in math. It should be noted that 52 percent grew by four or more points in reading and 45 percent grew six or more points in math.

There is good growth among sixth graders as well, with 68 percent growing in reading from fall to winter, 53 percent of which grew by three or more points. In math, there was 89 percent growth with 77 percent growing four or more points, and in science, 88 percent showed growth with 70 percent jumping three or more points.

The seventh graders had a 67 percent growth rate in reading from fall to winter with 45 percent of students growing by three or more points. In math, there was a 78 percent rise in growth with 70 percent scoring four or more points higher. Science had good numbers, too, with 76 percent showing growth with 45 percent growing by two or more points.

In the eighth grade, there was a 78 percent growth in reading, all of which had growth of two or more points. Math scores show 69 percent growth with 59 percent of students growing three or more points. Science in right on track, too, with 65 percent growth, 61 percent of which were two or more point jumps.

One of the things the middle school is keeping track of is where students may possibly score on the ACT test in high school. The goal is to have 40 percent ready to score in the high achievement range of 22+.

While they are measuring all the classes, the eighth graders are looking really good as they get ready to head to high school.

In reading, 43 percent of eighth graders are on track, 43 percent on track in math and 51 percent on track for high achievement in science.

Deromedi also presented updated numbers from the high school in regards to absences and warning lists for the second semester.

Compiling data through Feb. 9, there were just 24 students, or 12 percent, who are carrying 14 or more absences in the high school. Comparing the same data from 2017, 23 percent of students had 14 or more absences.

Just one student at the high school has more than 30 absences compared to 11 students at this same juncture last year.

Of course, it goes to figure that lower absences will also mean fewer failed courses and the data coincides with that theory.

In week five of the second semester, through Feb. 14, the warning list shows just 11 percent of students with D/F grades compared to 44 percent of students last year.

Interventions are a big part of the picture, catching students and getting them back on track before things get out of control.