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By Bob Weaver
 The Calhoun County Board of
Education heard some gloomy news at their meeting last night.
After delivering news about exceptional improvement with SAT-9 testing at
Arnoldsburg Elementary School, County Curriculum Director Greg Cartwright said "I
don't have wonderful news about the high school."
Calhoun High grades nine through eleven failed to meet the 50th percentile, failing
the recent SAT-9 testing.
SAT-9 scores in some high school grades have been declining in the past few
years.
Principal Mike Offutt told The Hur Herald last week he considers the results to be a
serious problem. He said "We're pulling all the stops to correct the problems."
Cartwright told board members the school will not be put on probation this year
because the SAT-9 test has been dropped.
The new WestTest, developed for West Virginia at considerable cost, will be given to
10th grade students starting next year. The WestTest is based on "content
standards," what has actually been taught in the school system.
The school just had a practice run on the WestTest.
Cartwright indicated the WestTest is a serious testing instrument which will require
some written responses, ask test takers to explain some of their answers, do some
"drawing" and demonstrate their work. The SAT-9 was "fill in the block"
multiple-choice, and was not necessarily based on what was being taught, he
said.
Cartwright, when asked about the SAT-9 problems at the high school, said "The
attitude of the students (over the test) has been lackadaisical, in fact the whole
school has been lackadaisical." He said he was not a proponent of a single testing
measure, "but that seems where we are going."
Many of the changes are under the Bush administrations "Leave No Child Behind"
program, which hold school systems to a new set of standards.
If schools fail to meet the standards, students can transfer to other more successful
schools, which could pose a problem in rural West Virginia. Teachers and
administrators will eventually be held accountable.
The WestTest will also be given to students in grades three through eight, but then
there is a "one time shot" in high school to prove skill and knowledge, and that will
be in Grade 10.
School board members engaged in a lively exchange of questions and answers with
Cartwright.
Board President Rick Fitzwater, while concerned about the scores, said "I can see
some positive things happening," with the WestTest.
Cartwright said he and several staff members have already been to training to look
at subject areas. "Hopefully, by next year, we will be teaching and testing on the
same playing field," he said.
Principal Offutt said "Every teacher and administrator will be involved in doing what
it takes," to improve.
Arnoldsburg Elementary was put on probation last year because of SAT-9 scores. "It
is rewarding to see such great improvements," said Cartwright. The school had a
74.43% score on the test this year. Pleasant Hill had an overall 65.52% score.
Calhoun Middle had an overall 55.38% score, although grade eight fell slightly below
the 50 percentile.
The overall SAT-9 scores for Calhoun High School that have caused alarm:
Grade 9 - 48.96%
Grade 10 - 33.33%
Grade 11 - 44.23%
A breakdown of scores in subject areas will follow in The Herald.
The board processed three expulsions during a long executive session. One student
was expelled for a calendar year, one for the "fullest extent allowed," and a third
expulsion called for the student to be referred to the Alternative Learning Center, to
be medically monitored and attend counseling.
A large number of postings for jobs with numerous people employed followed. The
list will follow on The Herald.
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