More math intervention during the day is one of the improvement plans for Pleasantdale Elementary School.
Principal Matt Vandercar said school officials have tried providing extra help for students in both before- and after-school sessions, but neither have worked to the extent officials had hoped.
“We feel we can do a better job serving kids who individually need extra help,” Vandercar said. “It has been a struggle the last five years to reach some kids with math interventions.”
He said the before- and after-school efforts, tried anywhere from two to four days per week, helped many students but did not get all the pupils they were looking to help, for a variety of reasons. The principal noted that it is often difficult to connect with students early in the morning or after a full school day and that students sometimes can’t attend sessions after school due to extracurricular activities.
Vandercar said that efforts are being coordinated to get students needing extra help in math those sessions during the school day, but not taking them out of core curriculum subjects like language arts or their regular math instruction.
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Another plan for improvement at the elementary school is more publicizing of its preschool program.
“We think it is a hidden gem,” Vandercar said. “We have a sound plan to address the needs of 3- and 4-year-olds.”
Even though the program is succeeding, staff members feel more can be done to improve students’ experiences, he said. To that end, staff members are examining what other districts do with their preschool programs and will have recommendations in January on steps to take to revamp the District 107 preschool program.
Vandercar said school officials also want to create a climate were staff members are provided with opportunities for advancement.
Both Vandercar and Pleasantdale Middle School Principal John Glimco presented their improvement plans for the school year at the Oct. 21 school board meeting.
Glimco said an improvement step for the middle school is for students to meet or exceed projections on the STAR exam, an assessment tool given three times during the academic year.
He said school officials also want to build a better support system for students with behavior issues.
Another improvement plan for the school, Glimco said, is a better way of identifying students for gifted and advanced academic programs.
“These (improvement plans) will be going on the website,” board member Kristin Violante said. “Parents can see that we are concerned about, and that resources are spent on, kids who are struggling, but also on the kids who are excelling.”
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.