Youngstown superintendent appealing to parents to be proactive

YOUNGSTOWN

The recent state report card on which the Youngstown City Schools received all Ds and Fs paints a bleak picture of the district’s longtime struggles, but it also fails to reveal the entire picture, Superintendent Connie Hathorn contends.

Hathorn noted after Tuesday’s board meeting that during the 2013-14 school year, the district improved in 15 of 24 academic indicators on the Ohio Achievement and Ohio Graduation tests, compared with the year before. Of the 15, seven showed an increase of 10 percent or more.

In addition, reading proficiency improved in six of 10 student subgroups during the same time, he pointed out. Two showed slight decreases and two others were not rated.

Nevertheless, he expressed disappointment with the report card results, saying that other improvements were not made as he had hoped.

As a result, Hathorn said he is trying to concentrate more on making sure students have better literacy skills.

The superintendent also wants to develop ways to encourage a greater number of parents to be more proactive in the schools and in their children’s lives, he continued. Ideas include reading more to their children, having the youngsters watch less TV, getting them to bed earlier and having parents meet with teachers more regularly.

Read the complete story in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.