NEWS

PRINCIPAL RESIGNS

By: Barbara Hansen June 19, 2009

In a surprise move, Partnership School principal Jerry Black resigned, effective the end of this school year.

Black holds two administrative positions within the Orting School District, serving as Partnership School principal and Orting Middle School vice principal. Black’s letter gave little explanation for his unexpected resignation, except to say he wanted to devote more energy to his duties helping Pat Kelly, principal at Orting Middle School.

The Orting Partnership School is scheduled for an independent review next year, a kind of performance audit originally scheduled for this year but delayed so it could occur under new Superintendent Michele Curry's term.

Orting Middle School is under fire from concerned parents of special education students, who have spoken out at the last two school board meetings.

“My son was just hijacked of his 6th grade education,” said Will Cotton at the June 18 board meeting.

Cotton cited poor teachers, an outdated curriculum and an administration at the middle school that allow an educational black hole for middle school SPED students.

Chair of Orting School Board Kacie Nesby said the board is hearing the concerns of SPED parents. The district has hired Jon Bell, former high school vice principal, to assume the beleaguered Special Education Assistant Superintendent position. Along with Bell’s new role, Nesby emphasized that new superintendent Michelle Curry specializes in SPED.

“It’s nice that you are hearing me,” Cotton said. “What I would really like from you is some improvement for my son.”

MAP – Measures of Academic Progress –scores reported at the end of the 2008-2009 school year show a trend of Orting Public School pupils entering Primary School below grade-level norms in reading, growing enormously during the Intermediate school years, and closing in on appropriate grade-level expectations by high school.

Second grade reading scores falling below the norm is a problem seen at the Primary School consistently for 3-4 years, said departing Superintendent Jeff Davis. And while the MAP scores show unprecedented growth across the board in math, writing, and reading this year at Ptarmigan Ridge, 6th grade scores still lag slightly behind the norm.

MAP scores compare the rate of growth in students by grade level as well as whether they are meeting grade-level expectations. The test is administered via a computer program that adapts to the individual test taker, selecting questions appropriate for the student’s abilities. Because it aligns with a curriculum continuum that points to areas teachers should concentrate on or change in their teaching, the performance measure is highly lauded by Orting assessment specialist Liz Stagner.

Improved technology across the district may be Jeff Davis’ most important legacy he leaves the Orting School District. MAP is only one technology-based improvement made during Davis’ tenure as Orting’s Superintendent. During his term, grades have been posted on-line for students and their parents to check, and a report system for teachers grade books has been installed that allows for up to the minute reports. Along with an up-to-date district Web site, teachers have been provided Web page tools for posting assignments. Planned for next year is a system for parents to check curriculum and have more information to help their kids with homework. Along with improved facilities and larger computer labs, technology has been built into the curriculum, such as a now-mandatory keyboarding class in 5th grade.

Grade level MAP scores compared to the norm for Spring 2009

Grade 2 reading: 184.7 (189.6)
Grade 2 math: 190.0 (190.8)
Grade 3 math: 205.3 (202.4)
Grade 3 reading: 200.0 (199)
Grade 4 math: 212.6 (211.4)
Grade 4 reading: 204.9 (205.8)
Grade 5 math: 222.0 (219)
Grade 5 reading: 213.3 (211.1)
Grade 6 math: 223.1 (223.8)
Grade 6 reading: 213 (214)
Grade 7 math: 230.1 (228.3)
Grade 7 reading: 220.5 (217.9)
Grade 8 math: 238.1 (232.7)
Grade 8 reading: 224.8 (221.2)
Grade nine math: 238.9 (234)
Grade nine reading: 227.6 (222.6)