By Amber Hayden
GLENWOOD CITY — The Glenwood City High School received a “significantly exceeds expectations” on their 2018-19 state report card, said Nicole Brite.
“This is the first time we have received this in any of the schools,” said Brite. “We were close with the elementary one year, but we just barely missed it.”
The high school’s report card is based on those grades, 9th – 11th, that take the ACT and ACT aspire testing during the school year.
And students are given the opportunity to work with English teacher David Popko before and after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays in areas they feel they need to work on for the exams.
“Popko does not look at the kids different,” said Brite. “He asks them what type of score do you want to get and that is what they work toward.”
The high school was ranked in the top 6.8 percent, and was 38th out of 580 schools.
The report cards are based on six categories, five of which are added together and then the sixth category is subtracted.
The categories are student achievement, school growth, closing gaps, on-track and postsecondary readiness, priority area weights, and student engagement indicators.
The high school, middle school, and elementary have been working on closing the gap for students, primarily focusing on achievement gaps for English/Language Arts and Mathematics.
Student groups that are also taken into consideration in closing the gap are students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged, and English learners.
The elementary received a 66.4 which meets expectations, the middle school received a 76.7 which exceeds expectations, and the district received a 75.2 which exceeds expectations.
Elementary principal Betsy Haltinner stated that the third graders are the first to test on the Wisconsin Forward which gives a significant amount of data.
“We then are looking at who the students are that are in need of help,” said Haltinner. “Then we ask ourselves what are we doing to help them.”
Middle/High school principal Patrick Gretzlock said the way they encouraged students in the middle school was by a internal competition between the eighth grade classes.
“The highest class total earned a trip in the spring,” Gretzlock said. “We had the opportunity to try new things to increase the score.”
Haltinner also stated that several teachers will be attending conferences that will help increase the literacy development and professional development during the remainder of the school year and moving forward.
Gretzlock also made the board of education aware that they are reposting the position for the Marketing teacher and are posting for an opening as the 7th and 8th grade English/Language Arts teacher.
Tara Huebel, who began teaching at the beginning of this year, has stepped down and Amy Dopkins is filling in as a long-term substitute.
“We are hoping to catch the eye for any student who is finishing their programs and graduating,” said Gretzlock. “Jacob Maes said he would stay on as a long-term substitute if he was needed.”
Maes has been the substitute for the Marketing class since the beginning of the year.
During the Board of Education meeting:
• Approved Ella Knops as a student Hilltopper Hangtime worker.
• Accepted the resignation of Carly Kittilson as 7th grade girls’ basketball coach.
• Approved Carly Kittilson as junior varsity girls’ basketball coach.
• Approved the posting for a middle school English/Language Arts instructor.
• Approved Connie Root as a substitute teacher.
• Approved Nancy Wucherpfennig as a substitute teacher.
• Approved Amy Dopkins as a volunteer girls’ basketball coach.
• Approved Jake Score as the 7th grade girls’ basketball coach.
The Glenwood City Board of Education will meet again on January 13 with a 5:30 committee meeting and 6:30 regular board meeting.
