Gower School Board Aims To Measure Immeasurables Next Year

How Gower School District 62 will maintain student achievement while shifting its focus to skills that can not be measured by standardized tests was the subject of much discussion between district board members and administrators Tuesday evening.

The debate arose while the board discussed a preliminary draft of Board Goals for the 2011-12 school year. The goals are expected to be finalized in October after teachers give input.

Originally drafted by district administrators, the goals rely heavily on new state standards incorporating the ideals of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

While those ideals include critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and integrating technology into curriculum; those skills also do not have universal grading standards.

"We have always made decisions and other things based on the data," Board Vice President Jennifer Planson said. "If we don't have data, how can we be effective in our decisions?"

Dr. Young Ra-Hurka, a physician who sits on the board, agreed.

"When I work with a patient, I give them numbers," she said. "We're going from something very, very laser-point sharp to something very broad, but I also don't want to lose sight of what the old board worked so hard to get us too."

The old board strived to make measurable student achievement as high as possible via the Illinois Standards Achievements Test (ISAT) and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, especially among benchmark districts.

Superintendent Steve Griesbach said the district would still value high achievement, just with a "value-added piece."

"Our students are not going to be competing against the kids in Darien and Downers Grove, they're going to be competing against the kids in Finland," he said. "Let's give a little more thought on higher-order thinking."

Common core standards are not unique to Illinois. Assistant Superintendent Joan DuChane said 15 other states have partnered with 21st Century Skills, and Gower's math curriculum is already realigned to the state's common core standards. Two years ago, Gower introduced Geography in 8th grade to stress the 21st Century theme of "global awareness."

DuChane also said this focus could potentially harm Gower's standardized test performance in the near-term.

"Everything is so in flux right now," she said. "I am concerned as our curriculum is realigned to common core and the (ISAT) is not, we might see a negative impact on ISAT for a year or two before we get to a new test."

Planson expressed concerns as well.

"We are being measured, ultimately, by our scores so I just want to make sure we don't lose sight of that," she said.

However, board member Richard Grunsten said that there are "many things that are not measurable that lead to measure."

"It's about having initiative, and the other thing is how you encourage kids to keep their curiosity, which tends to go away when they spend a long time in school," he said. "The reality is that if you have motivated students, they're going to do well on the ISAT."

District administrators will present revised board goals to the board again in August, before sending the goals to teachers and staff for review.

Until then, members such as Ra-Hurka wish to see a written sentence plainly stating the district will strive to maintain its student achievement at a minimum, and possibly set an ambitious goal to raise its performance.

"My definition of 'goal' is not something you know you can achieve," she said. "It's the constant improvement, working toward the goal; I think those steps are more important than getting there."

Regardless of what direction Glower 62 takes this year, Grunsten said he was just glad the board took the bulk of its Tuesday meeting discussing how to best use time in the classroom.

"It makes my heart sing that we’re talking about education instead of doorknobs, roofs and busses," he said.