VVSD Board to Vote on Computerized Assessments

Two Valley View administrators will seek board of education approval for a new student assessment they say will help teachers to gauge student achievement and make more informed decisions about instruction and intervention.

Assistant superintendents for education Rachel Kinder (grades 6-12) and Venus Smith (grades K-5) will present information on the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) adaptive diagnostic assessments, a computerized test that asks questions at varying levels of difficulty based on student responses.

According to the proposal, it would cost the district $155,412 to purchase licenses for MAP testing for grades K-8, plus one on-site administrative workshop for staff. A second option would give the district two on-site administrative workshops plus licensing for $159,112.

Students who take the assessment, given over the course of three weeks, receive a score from 140 to 250 that indicates the appropriate instructional level for that particular pupil. The MAP assessment is used by 1,123 school districts in 42 states, including Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C, Channahon School District 17 and Oswego Community Unit School District 308.

Roof replacements

Assistant Supt. for Administrative Services Gary Grizaffi is slated to present bids to replace the roofs at R.C. Hill Elementary and Romeoville High School, recommending the district go with the lowest bid of $189,520 from Coleman Roofing.

The district received six bids for the project, ranging from $294,000 to Coleman’s low bid. The cost is slightly more than the $188,000 budgeted in fiscal year 2012’s building and operations fund.

If the projects get board approval, the roofs are scheduled to replaced this summer.

All-day kindergarten

A Valley View committee is scheduled to present more information on a proposal to bring all-day kindergarten to the district.

In May the district asked parents and community members to on the proposed program. Residents had until June 6 to respond.

According to the survey, all-day kindergarten would cost parents $150 per month, although district officials said the proposed fee was not set in stone.

The board of education is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, at the Emmie D. Dunn Administration Center, 755 Dalhart.