Santa Paula schools big winners with state test score improvement funds

February 09, 2001
Santa Paula News

Santa Paula’s public schools have garnered an infusion of state cash, the result of making the grade and meeting their improvement goals on the Stanford 9 achievement test. The results were based on Academic Performance Index rankings which is based on the Stanford 9 and part of the new Governor’s Performance Award, an incentive for schools to increase test scores.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula’s public schools have garnered an infusion of state cash, the result of making the grade and meeting their improvement goals on the Stanford 9 achievement test. The results were based on Academic Performance Index rankings which is based on the Stanford 9 and part of the new Governor’s Performance Award, an incentive for schools to increase test scores.The award per student is $63, slashed from the $150 originally meant to be parceled out for schools that met or exceeded their goals. So many schools showed improvement that the original amount was cut by almost a third.Santa Paula Union High School will get $82,315 and the Santa Paula Elementary schools a total of $242,133.Isbell Middle School will get $65,789, and just what the unrestricted money is spent on will be up to parents and teachers, said Principal Sheryl Misenhimer.“I’m really big on asking the teachers and getting a democracy vote,” on priorities, she noted. “We’ll find out when the money will arrive, prioritize needs then go to the School Site Council,” for final determination. “Then we'll get as much as we can [of identified needs] until we run out of money.”The cash award is grand, she added, but “I’m just tickled that my students and teachers are so wonderful,” in increasing test scores over and above what was required.
Misenhimer credits targeting educational needs of each student and aggressive tutoring programs for Isbell’s gains in test scores.Thelma Bedell Elementary School will get $29,570; Blanchard Elementary $24,125; Glen City Elementary School, $42,930; McKevett Elementary School, $22,288; Grace Thille Elementary School, $21,149; and Barbara Webster Elementary School, $36,282.Webster Principal David Luna is going to initiate a needs list that will posted in the staff lounge for teacher input, although “We have a lot needs in the area of technology, computers, teachers stations and Language Masters for students learning a second language,” among other needs.“I’m just ecstatic that the governor in his wisdom allotted money for schools meeting the [testing] objective, and that he wants the decision on spending to be as as close as you can get to the classroom and students.”Sixty-eight percent of Ventura County schools made the grade and will be rewarded with funding, compared to the 67 percent statewide. A total of $227 million is being distributed.And there’s more to come: two other pots of state money will be distributed in the spring, primarily to individual teachers and principals, as well as another plan that will give about $500 to each employee - in and out of the classroom - at each eligible school. Teachers, administrators and counselors in the lowest performing schools that show the greatest gains will get between $5,000 to $25,000 each.



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