The Register-Mail (Galesburg, IL)
July 14, 2011
Headline: Williamsfield short of AYP in reading

By Erin McCarthy

WILLIAMSFIELD - As schools throughout the country struggle to meet heightened standards for Adequate Yearly Progress, a facet of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, District 210 is no different.

Superintendent Mary Bush reported to the school board Monday evening that while reading scores improved at the elementary school this year, they still fell short of this year's AYP benchmark of 85 percent meeting or exceeding standards.

"We actually increased the number of students who met or exceeded standards from last year to this year," said Bush on Wednesday. "So we did make growth, just not quite enough for the bar."

Williamsfield Elementary made AYP last year by having at least 77.5 percent, Bush said

"We have a pretty solid reading program here," said Bush. "What we're doing is effective; we're just not keeping up with the bar. I can't be disappointed, though, because we're increasing the percentage."

The school did meet AYP for math standards.

Bush said due to the small size of the school, "sometimes, just one student can do it for us."

"Not to give excuses, but we have super small numbers, so it doesn't take much to make a swing," she said. "That's just the way things are."

The middle school made AYP in both reading and math this year.

Also Monday, the District 210 School Board approved raising school lunch prices from $1.50 to $1.60 for kindergarten through fourth grade, and from $1.75 to $1.85 for fifth through 12th grade.

As a reminder, Bush said a workday for the school's greenhouse project will be at 8 a.m. July 23. FFA members and alumni and the community are invited. Lunch will be provided.

The next District 210 School Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in the unit office.