New instructional equity measures prompt New Haven School discussion
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Board member David Norman listens during Tuesday’s working session of the Nelson County board of education.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, 11:55 p.m. — A discussion about a new federal requirement to measure the equitable distribution of effective classroom teachers prompted the Nelson County board of education to turn their discussion to its collective concern over low test scores at the New Haven School.
The test scores at New Haven School “have been pretty flat,” Chairman Damon Jackey told the board. “I’m going to be very blunt about it, it has concerned me for quite some time.”
He acknowledged the district doesn’t have direct control of how its schools spend money on specific programs or direct control of who they hire, he said. Those facts place limits on what the board can do to make changes.
“At some point we have to ask the question, ‘What can we do as a board to have an impact on every one of our schools so they’re all distinguished schools?’ ”
Jackey said that the board needs to determine if the New Haven School’s kindergarten-through-8th-grade structure is beneficial to its students.
“It is a K-8 school that has a small student population,” he said. “Are we really doing what’s best for those students by continuing to have a K-8 school?”
K-8 schools historically were more common when transportation was more of a problem. K-8 schools continue to be more common in rural parts of the state.
School board Chairman Damon Jackey makes a point during a discussion about the New Haven School at Tuesday’s board of education work session.
“Have we been doing those kids a disservice by doing a model of a school building that’s a 50-year-old model?” he asked. “We have to make every decision based on what’s best for the students.”
Jackey said he wasn’t being critical of the staff or students at the school, but said he questioned if there were things the board needs to do differently to better meet the needs of New Haven students.
With the district now beginning work on its district improvement and individual school improvement plans, perhaps now is the time to start discussions about giving students in all district schools the same educational opportunity.
Board member Diane Breeding said the discussions must include an examination of the New Haven School’s leadership and culture.
“If you don’t have that fixed in place the way it needs to be, (the school) structure isn’t going to matter,” she said.
Board member Larry Pate said he observed the difference in the cultures between the Boston and New Haven schools.
“As a board, we need the input from staff and leadership in the district and in the building on what’s best for their students,” Jackey told the board. “We have just one chance with these kids, we don’t get to hit the rewind button, take a mulligan or a do-over.”
The board members took no action, though all agreed the board should continue discussions of the actions it can take to improve learning opportunities at the New Haven School.
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