HERNDON — Students in the Line Mountain School District made significant strides in 2009 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment math and reading test results, Superintendent David Campbell said during Tuesday night’s school board meeting.
“Last year’s grades were positive,” Campbell said. “I think we have reason to be even more positive this year.”
Overall, 78.73 percent of students in grades three through eight and 11 achieved PSSA math scores that were rated advanced in proficiency. That represented a 4.5 percent improvement over 2008 scores.
In reading scores, 73.21 percent of students in those same grades rated advanced proficient, down two-tenths of a percent from 2008 test results.
Campbell said there is much work left to do in order to meet performance targets set by the No Child Left Behind Act.
“We’re raising the bar,” he said. “By 2014, our goal is to have 100 percent of our students advanced proficient in reading, math and science.”
Campbell outlined some of the district’s goals over the next few years. They include increasing literacy by focusing on student needs, PSSA achievement anchors and benchmark assessments.
Later in the meeting, the board approved the authorization of two series of school revenue bonds. The first series, in the amount of $6.9 million, is new money and will help pay for the high school and Trevorton school renovation projects. The second series reflects the refunding of old debt in the amount of $2.8 million.
Explaining the details were attorney Paul A. Lundeen, of Rohads and Sinon LLP, of Harrisburg, and Jamie L. Doyle, a senior managing consultant with Public Financial Management Inc., of Harrisburg.
The purchase of a $2,925 ALERTNOW communication system was approved. The system, which will be operational the first day of the new school year, is a parental notification system for emergencies. It also will notify parents of children’s absences.
The district will advertise for a health teacher for grades kindergarten through six.
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Students improve math scores
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