C-T: Students take charge with grant proposals

From the Chronicle-Tribune

Grant County elementary and middle school students were able to take charge and try to make a difference to the community or their schools.

On Monday, one student from every elementary and middle school in the county was able to apply for a grant at the Community Foundation of Grant County’s bi-annual “Youth Grant Program,” which provided $5,750 for distribution.

The program allows students to write and request a grant for a maximum of $350 and deliver a presentation about how the money would be used. After all the presentations, the students voted as a governing body and placed ballots of how much each proposal should receive. 

C-T: Measuring kindergarten readiness

On the heels of research into the changing nature of kindergarten and its increasingly academic focus in recent years, the Chronicle-Tribune explores local school districts' practices and views on kindergarten readiness.

“Kindergarten has changed a lot over the last few decades,” Brenda McVicker, Marion Community Schools director of elementary education, told the C-T. “It’s very difficult today, it’s much more rigorous. A lot of your kindergarten teachers will tell you it’s the new first grade.”

MCS to lengthen school day to make up canceled week

Due to the high number of school cancellations caused by this winter’s extraordinary weather, Marion Community Schools will be lengthening its school day for about two months, to regain lost instructional time in a way that is most effective for continued student success.

This plan is in line with alternative make-up solutions offered recently by the state Department of Education, and it would address the seven days MCS has canceled so far this winter for which waivers were not granted. That means at this time, the make-up days built in at the end of the school year would all still be available, should more cancellations be needed. More importantly, it means that teachers and students would regain instructional time now, when it is needed most, prior to high-stakes testing such as ISTEP+ and IREAD.

“We have explored multiple solutions with a broad base of stakeholders, and we believe this is the best solution to meet the challenges of this extraordinary winter that has caused our children to miss a significant amount of valuable instructional time,” Superintendent Brad Lindsay said. “We will be able to custom fit this extra time at each building and within each department, so that we can maximize this additional learning time and make better possible for our students students prior to essential high-stakes assessments including ISTEP+ and IREAD.”

In general, the plan would add an hour to the school day — moving the start time earlier in the morning, and moving the end time later in the afternoon — starting Monday, Feb. 24, and ending Friday, April 18. In addition, Marion High School will have have no shortened days when this alternate schedule is in place. The MHS schedule would be the same Monday through Friday. (Please see the links at the bottom of this post for specific start and end times at each building during this time.)

This alternate schedule will not be extended past April 18. If further cancellations are needed, the make-up days at the end of the school year will be used. (And if delays are needed during this alternate schedule period, they will be delays starting from the alternate, earlier time.)

We know this change will greatly affect scheduling for our students and their families, along with our staff members. 

In the days leading up to the schedule change, building administrators and district department heads will be working with their staffs to determine the best way to use this additional learning time each day.

We will work to ensure extra-curricular activities have the least disruption possible. And we will work with families to try to make the transition to this modified schedule as smooth as possible.

“There are challenges with any solution when you’re talking about such a high number of cancellations,” Lindsay said. “We believe this gives us our best chance to help all of our students succeed.”

For specific start and end times at each building, click on the links below.

• Allen Elementary School
• Frances Slocum Elementary School
• Kendall Elementary School
• Riverview Elementary School
• Justice Intermediate School
• McCulloch Junior High School
• Marion High School