School board reviews student performance at Two Mile Prairie Elementary School
The principal of Two Mile Prairie Elementary School on Thursday laid out how her school is advancing and where more attention is needed.
Among strengths, principal Amanda Ruyle said students made significant gains from fall to winter in a reading assessment, from 30% proficiency to 50% proficiency. In math, the proficiency level improved from 8% in the fall to 20% in the winter.
"I know that this is not where we need to be," Ruyle said.
Students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals also made gains in the reading measure, she said.
The areas of growth were possible by prioritizing interventions the school calls "two mile time," she said. It's four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
"Making this a priority is definitely an action that has led to that strength," Ruyle said.
She also talked about student engagement.
"When I go to classrooms, our students really are engaged," she said.
Meeting the needs of minority students, students on special education plans and those qualifying for free and reduced-price meals is something that needs continued attention, Ruyle said.
"All of our students are expected to make gains and make growth," she said.
One obstacle is student absences, she said. The school has a "Wildly Important Goals" poster, updated each week listing classes with perfect attendance.
Students who are sick aren't expected to be in school, she said.
"If you're feeling well, it's a priority you be at school," Ruyle said.
Ruyle praised school counselor Andi Synon, who she said uses data to create interventions.
"She is so incredible," Ruyle said of Synon. "Students don't need outward behaviors or big behaviors to still need help. We need to make sure their basic needs are met."
She has a weekly newsletter for parents and parents reach out to her "all the time," Ruyle said.
"Two Mile is my passion," Ruyle said. "It is my happy place."
Giving students a voice
Janet Tilley, senior research director for the Missouri School Boards' Association, proposed ways the school board can include student's voices and improve governance.
Student surveys are one tool, she said.
"Surveys are a double-edged sword," Tilley said. "You have to actually do something with the survey results."
Some school districts have student advisory committees, The student advisory committees in Columbia Public Schools meet with the superintendent.
Several school districts have student representatives to their school boards, she said.
Another strategy for giving students a voice in decision-making is asking them to research a topic and propose solutions, she said.
"In North Kansas City, it has become a course at their high school," Tilley said.
Tilley asked the board to "test drive" some of the ideas.
"You would be doing my organization a favor," Tilley said. "You would be doing me a favor."
Tilley offered an edit to the document she provided.
"Dr. Yearwood, we can fix this so it says scholars," Tilley said.
Some school board members expressed enthusiasm about the ideas proposed.
"I don't even have to think about it," said board member Katherine Sasser. "I want to do all these things in here."
"This is something the board can really rally around," said board member Chris Horn.
Board President David Seamon said it probably would be better to pursue the ideas after the April 4 school board election.
Tilley also asked the board to test principles MSBA developed using data to improve board governance. Among them were student learning and achievement, accountability and monitoring progress, board meeting practices and board discussion and decision-making.
The information in the document conforms with the research he has done, said board member Blake Willoughby.
"This can help us get back to a space where we can get back to these things," he said, noting that the pandemic interrupted many efforts.
"I'm also super amped for this," Sasser said.
Board member Suzette Waters said she can be counted in.
"I'm also very interested in doing this," Waters said.
This project also will be undertaken after new school board members are sworn in.
Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckiney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Achievement, student voices, board governance addressed in meeting
