NILES School improves weak test scores

Lincoln Elementary removed from state's school improvement list.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Pupils and staff increased standardized testing scores enough at Lincoln Elementary to have the school removed from the state's school improvement list.
School officials received the most recent test scores last week, said Superintendent Patrick N. Guliano, and the data showed the school had improved enough to be taken off the list.
Renee Ruman, lead principal with the district, filed an appeal with the Ohio Department of Education for a new classification, and the appeal was officially granted Monday.
Lincoln has been on the state's school improvement list for the past two years, and was the only district school with that designation.
"The only way we were going to resolve this was to get the test scores up," Guliano said. "That meant we had to get the teachers, the kids and the parents all on the same page."
Each year, ODE officials examine proficiency test scores across the state to determine an average and set specific goals for each school building. If those goals are not met for two consecutive years, then the building will fall on the improvement list, Ruman said.
In past years, a district or a single building could be placed on the list if they failed to meet the goals two out of three years.
Tutoring sessions
To increase testing scores at Lincoln, several tutoring sessions were held before and after class using state funding, she said.
She noted pupils were dedicated to the tutoring sessions, with many continuing to attend long after the proficiency tests were complete.
She added teachers from Lincoln also were dedicated, often spending several hours at workshops learning new teaching techniques.
Guliano said he was proud of the pupils and their parents who had faith in the school. State law allows parents whose children are in a building with the school improvement designation to be moved to another building.
"We had very, very few requests" to move, Guliano said. "That told us they had faith in the staff, a certain amount of trust and a passion for Lincoln school."
slshaulis@vindy.com