Prediction Time!!

The ITBS scores were due back months ago and they are still not in.

Or are they?

Our prediction is that the scores ARE back and have gone down and that Dr. Fredisdorf is most likely scrambling to find someone to blame an explanation for this.

Let's see, what will it be this time?

Oh yes! It's the "poor" kids who have bad home lives. Remember when we hear that one a few years back at a board meeting?

Or, it could be the special ed kids that get blamed again. Last year they were accused of conspiring to get all the same answers wrong on purpose and that's why the scores went down?

Or better yet, all the new kids that have moved into the district. Gosh we have had sooo many kids transition into our district this year! They are ALWAYS to blame for the scores going down!

So many excuses to chose from..which one will it be this time?

One thing is for certain - instruction will be put on the back burner so the teachers can focus on test prep for the spring re-take of the ITBS test. Dr. Fredisdorf made it pretty clear at the November board meeting that tenure for teachers will no longer be based on seniority, but on student achievement/performance.

If our already overburdened teachers work really hard and force kids to take tutorials based on Dr. John Wick's PIG reports (or whatever they are called now) maybe the scores will improve by the second ITBS go-around come May.

In addition to spending tens of thousands of dollars on various testing materials, our district spends $20,000 a year on Dr. Wick's analysis and improvement plans. He has spent the last 40 years writing and developing many of the test questions on the very tests our kids take.

It makes you wonder if someone, somewhere along the way, is getting a little kick back for the amount of money being spent on all this nonsense.

It's something to think about...