The Central Bucks Board Note
December 2018..................................Vol. 1, No. 3
Please share any feedback with Angela Linch, communications and public relations administrator, at alinch@cbsd.org or by calling 267-893-2073.
A Celebration of Strings!
School Board Reorganizes
The Board voted to re-elect Mr. Glen Schloeffel as president, and elected Ms. Karen Smith as vice-president. Both will hold the offices for a term of one year.
Administration Presents Student Achievement Report
Dr. Lensi Nikolov; Supervisor of Reading, Federal Programs, and English Language Development; delivered the annual student achievement report to the Board. Central Bucks students continue to perform well above state averages in each grade level tested, and in every test administered during the cycle. The detailed report can be viewed on the district’s website.
PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment)
Students in grades 3-8 are assessed in English Language Arts (ELA) and math, and students in grades 4-8 students are assessed in science. In all, 19,000 PSSA tests were administered to CBSD students in grades 3-8.
In looking at the 2018 results, Dr. Nikolov noted that there was no indication that there were statistically significant changes in student achievement from 2017 results. Pennsylvania reduced the overall length of the ELA and math PSSA tests, resulting in two fewer days of testing for students in 2018; following calls from families, educators, and school boards across the Commonwealth to reduce the emphasis on standardized tests in schools.
2018 Results
The combined results of all grade levels who were assessed in ELA reveal that Central Bucks students outperformed the state average by 24%, and the combined results of all tested grade levels in math had Central Bucks students outperform by the same margin. In science, Central Bucks students' combined results exceeded the state average by 18%.
2017 Testing Data - Points of Pride
Statewide results of the 2016-2017 testing cycle are now available to school districts. This data enables CBSD to compare its results to that of peers across the county and the Commonwealth:
- The number of CBSD students performing at or above proficiency in grades 4-8 on the ELA PSSA was the second highest among all Bucks County school districts, and 22nd among 638 school districts and other educational institutions participating in the test across the Commonwealth.
- On the math PSSA, the number of CBSD students performing at or above proficiency in grades 4-8 was the third highest among all Bucks County school districts, and the district was ranked 31st among 638 school districts and other educational institutions participating in the test across the Commonwealth.
As a reminder, Dr. Nikolov noted that standardized tests are just one way that school districts like Central Bucks measure student achievement. “It’s a mere snapshot in a student’s complete album of performance,” she noted, echoing Assistant Superintendent Dr. Nadine Garvin’s remarks earlier in the board meeting.
Curriculum based assessments like unit tests and quizzes are combined with performance assessments like projects and presentations, and other formative and summative data that teachers collect each day to drive classroom instruction and inform differentiation to ensure that each child makes progress and can demonstrate what they know and are able to do.
Keystone Exams
Secondary school students are also administered end of course algebra, biology, and literature “Keystone” exams. Students take the exam once and only repeat the exam if they do not achieve proficiency. Students’ best scores are banked in 11th grade. The Keystone exams were administered to 3,185 CBSD students in grades 8-11 in 2018.
2018 Results
After reveiw of spring Keystone testing results, CBSD students outperformed peers at the state by 44.4% in algebra, 32% in biology, and 27% in literature.
2017 Testing Data - Points of Pride
In reviewing newly released data, CBSD students continue their strong performance when compared to peers locally and across the Commonwealth:
- Algebra Keystone test scores for CBSD were the highest among all Bucks County school districts, and 4th among 582 school districts and other educational institutions participating in the test across the Commonwealth.
- Biology Keystone test scores for CBSD were the third highest among all Bucks County school districts, and 22nd among 571 school districts and other educational institutions participating in the test across the Commonwealth.
- Literature Keystone test scores for CBSD were the second highest among all Bucks County school districts, and 14th among 563 school districts and other educational institutions participating in the test across the Commonwealth.
After the presentation, Superintendent Dr. John J. Kopicki said, “We would be remiss if we didn’t congratulate our parents for the work that they do with our kids and for having them so ready and prepared before they walk through the door, and for continuing to support us and them as they go through their academics in the Central Bucks School District."
“[I] Congratulate the students obviously for their dedication to learning, and then obviously I’m very proud of our teachers for their work ethic and the work that that they do in our schools day in and day out - it’s represented in these scores,” he added.
Download Dr. Nikolov’s 2018 student achievement report from the Central Bucks School District’s website here.
Life-long Learning in Practice - CBSD Administrators Report on Conference
Five members of the CBSD administrative team recently attended the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Conference on Educational Leadership.
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Dr. Nadine Garvin was joined by Dr. Lensi Nikolov, Supervisor of Reading, Federal Programs, and English Language Development; Titus Elementary School Principal Dr. Steve Cashman, Doyle Elementary School Principal Mrs. Kate Fantaskey, and Mill Creek Elementary School Principal Mr. Shawn Ortman. During their report to the board , Dr. Garvin noted, "Five administrators attended 29 different sessions," providing meaningful professional development that is directly actionable and related to the district's goals and objectives.
With a focus on equity in curriculum and education, the ASCD conference featured sessions centered around school climate and culture, social and emotional learning, student engagement and motivation, and underserved school populations.
Thanking the Board and Superintendent Dr. John J. Kopicki for providing them the opportunity to attend the conference, each member of the team provided a brief overview of a session they attended that was particularly relevant to their work.
- Dr. Garvin outlined a session on student assessment and "Measuring what Matters." "In other words, making sure we are measuring what matters, not just what is easy to test and grade," Dr. Garvin explained. In order to ensure true transfer of knowledge, attention must also be given to gathering evidence of authentic student work through performance tasks and projects.
- Principal Fantaskey focused on a session that provided insight into leading with the whole child in mind and building culturally responsive schools. When the five tenets of the "whole child" are practiced, students enter schools where they are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. "If we are leading with the whole child piece in mind, we as school leaders can better create more culturally responsive schools, where kids can feel a sense of belonging, where they feel valued and respected, where they believe that they can be successful, that they are part of something great, where biases and stereotypes are deflated," Fantaskey said.
- Dr. Nikolov's comments described a session entitled, "Curriculum that Matters," meaning - developing, writing, and implementing curriculum that is valued by all stakeholders in the community, including families, and school staff. Curriculum features five pillars - including the academics - buts also ways of thinking, social and emotional learning, civic discourse and engagement, and equity. "When we think about our social and emotional learning outcomes, we want to think about what that looks like in every grade, in every subject, in every class," Dr. Nikolov said. She talked about the challenge of ensuring evidence of high quality curriculum across all grades and all subject areas; with diverse evidence of learning outcomes - not just achievement tests, but quality learning activities, project based learning, and more.
- Principal Cashman presented on a conference focused on the meaningful, integration and differences between performance tasks and project-based learning in the classroom. Teachers who engage students in authentic performance tasks and projects provide students with the opportunity to individualize their learning. "One of the things that is often overlooked is that it [project-based learning] provides a platform for students to realize strengths they may not realize they had before," Cashman said.
- Principal Ortman presented information on one of the sessions he attended entitled, "Developing 21st Century Skills through Globally Relevant Unit Design." He introduced the board to the internationally recognized, "17 Goals for a Better World by 2030," as adopted by the United Nations. He explained that many school districts have started to consider these goals when developing curriculum and assessment. "The goals lend themselves to shifting from learning content to using content to solve problems, and building capacity in students to eventually achieve those world goals," he said.
In closing, Principal Fantaskey referenced President John F. Kennedy's words, "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." She thanked the Board for their support of attendance at workshops such as this one. "To be the best and most effective educators, we ourselves need to be continuous learners" she added.
2019-2020 School Year Budget Process Gets Underway
The presentation included a review of the 2017-2018 school year's finances, insight into the current state, local, and federal economic conditions that impact the budgeting process, as well as the first look at the 2019-2020 budget.
Matyas reminded the Board and public gathered that the district has funded education with a 0% tax increase in five of the last six years, "And our overall goal is not to raise taxes this year," he noted. For 2019-2020, the Act 1 base index [the limit to which taxes can be increased under Pennsylvania law without a voter referendum] is 2.3% plus estimated exceptions of .75%, which combine for a maximum allowable increase of 3.05%, or an increase of 3.75 mills. The Board and administration have worked together to keep taxes flat, mindful of the fact that, "Most of our money comes from within Central Bucks' borders - real estate and earned income related, with just a minimal amount of money from state and federal resources," Matyas said.
In looking back over the 2017-2018 school year, CBSD Director of Finance Brian Loftus reviewed the year end financials. With tight budgeting, revenues that fell slightly below expectations were offset by operational expenses that fell below budget and a number of other accounting modifications, combining for a year end .6% below budget positive variance.
As the current 2018-19 budget of $337,140,650 progresses, Mr. Matyas explained that projected revenues are lining up with budgeted amounts. Real estate and earned income tax growth is closely tied to the local economy, but with positive trends in the local economy, wages, and interest – the outlook is good.
In an early look, 2019-2020 expenditures are projected at $343,938,397, offset by revenues projected at $340,839,973 with a resulting shortfall of $3.1 million. This is the very beginning of the district's budgeting process, which will continue for many months before a final 2019-2020 budget is adopted in summer of 2019. The proposed preliminary expenditure budget is available for public inspection in advance of board action on January 22. The proposed final budget is scheduled to be acted on by the board in April, followed by a public inspection period and final adoption on June 11. The public is invited to follow the preparation of the 2019-2020 budget by attending meetings of the finance committee and board, in addition to visiting the district's website at www.cbsd.org/budget.
Board of School Directors in its entirety.
Central Bucks School District
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month except for February, July, August, October, November and December. In February, the board will meet on the first and fourth Tuesdays. In July and August, the board meets on the fourth Tuesday only. In October, the board will meet on the third and fifth Tuesdays. In November, the board meets on the second Tuesday only. In December, the board meets on the first Tuesday only. Meetings are held at the Central Bucks Educational Services Center at 16 Welden Drive in Doylestown. All meetings start at 7:30 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend. Members of the public who wish to address the board prior to action items may sign up at the lectern before 7:30 p.m. Comments are limited to three minutes or less, depending on the number of speakers.
Correspondence for the Board of School Directors should be sent to Stephanie Radcliffe, Secretary to the Board, at sradcliffe@cbsd.org.
Email: alinch@cbsd.org
Website: www.cbsd.org
Location: 20 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-5800
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Twitter: @cbsdinfo