02-20-2007Warsaw School board members heard Monday night what Lincoln School is doing to assist students to learn topics such as math and reading more effectively.
Lincoln Elementary Principal Cathy Snyder gave a presentation on a topic called grouping during the meeting.
Snyder said Lincoln Elementary staff work with students in groups to address individual students in subjects such as reading and math.
Students receive support by classroom staff, peer tutoring, instructional assistants, volunteers and special trained support staff members.
“Grouping brings children with similar needs together for small group instruction,” Snyder said.
She said with the increased importance of ISTEP testing, grouping helps students prepare for the test.
“Students are more so now than in the past required to demonstrate what they have learned and grouping allows teachers to work with students and address the areas they need help with,” Snyder said.
Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth commended the school on its use of grouping.
“Grouping has contributed to an increase in test scores and has brought great things from students at Lincoln Elementary,” Haworth said.
Haworth gave an enrollment report for Warsaw Community Schools during the meeting.
Haworth said there were 7,063 students enrolled as of Feb. 13, an increase of 287 students from February 2006.
The board also approved a contract with Embarq for a three-year agreement for a video-on-demand program called Classroom Content Click developed by New Dimension Media.
The agreement will put the product in 11 Warsaw schools at no charge, a value of more than $92,000 for the life of the agreement, Haworth said.
The program features video, audio, animation and text resources that allow instructors in the classroom to provide high-quality media support to existing grade-appropriate curriculum.
“This is exciting technology that will provide multiple formats for school information and allow video to stream over the Internet for school announcements for everyone to see,” Haworth said.
The three-year agreement will put the product with opportunities for traditional signage placement such as gymnasiums, football field and Web sites of schools involved with Embarq.
Haworth also said during the meeting the board will review and vote on a 2007-2008 school calendar at its next meeting that will look to include additional snow days.
Board member Ron Yeiter also gave an update on the Silver Lake Elementary building.
During the Oct. 17 board meeting the board approved Kathy Lokotar and other interested Silver Lake community members an opportunity to seek alternative use options for the vacant Silver Lake Elementary School. The deadline for the conditions of the motion was Jan. 16.
During the Jan. 16 meeting the board approved a proposal to allow a committee of Silver Lake community members to continue investigation into the alternative uses and disposition of the Silver Lake building.
Yeiter said the Board of School Trustees has indicated they are not willing to sacrifice the Silver Lake building if there is another alternative for use and service to the Silver Lake community.
The board approved a six -month timeline during Monday’s meeting for the board to decide on a proposal for disposition of the building.
The board also:
• Approved a request by the Warsaw Community High School varsity cheerleading squad to travel to attend a cheerleading competition March 16-18 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• Approved a one-time request for cancellation of finals for WCHS students due to materials not able to be taught due to lost school days from snow days.
• Approved 12 personnel recommendations for 2007-2008.
Haworth said a special meeting will be held March 12 to select WCS building options and architects.