CALIFORNIA, Mo. -- In recent years, California school administrators and their corresponding buildings have made a concerted effort to collect data.
Beyond collection, programs and attention are becoming tailored to student needs based on the information provided through the data.
Most standardized assessments are comparable to an "autopsy," high school Principal Sean Kirksey explained at last week's school board meeting. Looking at the data would be comparable to a "check-up," he said.
At the high school, benchmarks are set for what level of knowledge students have in certain core subjects. Kirksey said the results help teachers gauge how long to spend on a content area based on how much students know in that subject.
"Lots of places collect information," board member Joe Kirby said. "I'm glad you're actually looking at the data and using it."
At the elementary school, teachers are making use of a data room, where they have quick access to various resources to help identify strengths and weaknesses for individual students and develop strategies to address those.
At the middle school, a new database has encouraged student accountability by tracking the number of assignments not turned in as well as identifying repetitive concerns.
In other business, the board:
Accepted the resignation of Leslie Williams, elementary librarian.
Approved the 2017-18 school calendar, which includes parent-teacher conferences at the middle school and high school levels earlier in the first semester.
Approved ballot language for April 4 to fill three seats. Candidates are incumbents Craig Ash, Philip Burger and Joe Kirby and challenger Michael Irey.
Opted not to increase the tuition rate from $7,000 per year.
Learned the recent cuts to the state budget will withhold about 4 percent of the district's transportation reimbursement. Sanders noted further cuts are likely.
Agreed to send a letter of appreciation to the Versailles school board following its decision to stay in the Tri-County Conference.