Schools seek to improve on an individual basis

School plans include an academic and nonacademic goal.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- The school district is on a quest for self-improvement, but though the effort is districtwide, the approach is individual for each of the eight buildings.
Since the beginning of the school year, staff members have regularly met to tailor their specific school improvement plans, and each of the eight schools has an improvement committee, said Lisa Marucci, the district's public relations coordinator.
Plans must include one academic and one nonacademic goal. The district intends to document its successes through an increase in achievement scores, Marucci said.
During a presentation to the school board at its Nov. 21 meeting, Ann Marie Hiznay, the district's director of instruction, told the board that administrators and teachers focused on data for academic goals. That data included test scores.
Marucci said Lynn Kirk Elementary aims to improve reading levels for all students. Davis, Lloyd and Woodside elementary schools are aiming for an improvement in math skills.
Watson Elementary, Frank Ohl Middle School and Austintown Middle School have targeted both math and reading.
And Fitch High School wants more learning opportunities for students to raise achievement scores on standardized tests.
Environment
Hiznay told the board that nonacademic goals focused on improving the schools' environments.
Fitch and Lynn Kirk are working for improved communication between home and school. Fitch will use public access Channel 19 to reach parents and the community. Lynn Kirk plans to encourage parents and teachers to work as teams.
The middle schools are working on learning about the six pillars of character: Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and citizenship.
Watson, Davis, Lloyd and Woodside elementary schools want to increase pupils' accountability in regards to learning and behavior, Marrucci said.
Hiznay said that to do so pupils set their own goals, such as in attendance and doing homework, and chart their progress.