No Child Left Behind testing is in progress

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:42 PM CDT

Students throughout the Watertown Unified School District are beginning to take the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam, according to Dr. Dave Vitale, district director of curriculum and instruction.

Vitale updated the board of education during its regular meeting Tuesday night on the state standardized tests given to students in grades three through eight and grade 10. A total of 1,800 tests are distributed throughout the district.

“We are optimistic our students will do well but there will be some challenges as No Child Left Behind standards ramp up,” Vitale said. “Don't be surprised if certain student groups such as special education students don't hit certain standards.”

Vitale said Watertown students must test at 58 percent efficient or advanced in math and 74 percent efficient or advanced in reading.

“It's hard to explain the impact these tests have on us on a day-to-day basis,” Superintendent Dr. Doug Keiser said. “If you look at our revenue sources you'll notice the federal government is at only 4.5 percent. Although the federal government has a small financial stake they play a big role in testing.”

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District policies that have been reviewed and have had minor changes were approved at the regular meeting. Those policies include those on blood-borne pathogens exposure control plan, communicable diseases, at-risk programming and entrance age.

A resolution on the teaching and learning initiatives and planning and management goals were approved. Teaching and learning initiatives include improving mathematics education, expanding teaching and learning opportunities. Planning and management goals include expanding educational opportunities, facilities expansion, and improvement and long-range financial planning.

A number of personnel issues, including resignations and appointments and field trip requests, were all approved at the regular meeting.

- Resignations include Todd Bowditch, part-time high school custodian; Robert Mudler, high school freshman boys basketball coach; and Susan Zielke, high school food service.

- Appointments include Brian Staus, limited term high school social studies teacher; Jack Jolliff, high school food service; and Melissa Mattke, high school special education paraprofessional.

- A field trip request for the DECA Club to attend a DECA Leadership Lab in Wisconsin Dells Nov. 12-13.

- Field trip request for 15 eighth-graders to travel to Washington, D.C., from March 9-14, 2008.

- Field trip request for 25 to 30 eighth-graders to travel to Tampa Bay, Fla., for a science related trip from April 10-14, 2008.

- Field trip request for art history students to travel to New York, N.Y., from Feb. 22-25, 2008.