By Avice Meehan

The Board of Education received a mid-year snapshot of student performance and growth from Botelle Principal Lauren Valentino at its Feb. 24 meeting as part of a packed agenda that also included reports on completion of elevator repairs and praise for the “Blizzard of Fun” program during Weekend in Norfolk. Staff and volunteers who planned the activity may not have counted on two full snow days, but that’s another story.

Valentino reported that mid-year results were mixed. She said teachers saw lower achievement and growth scores in in math than they expected, noting “this was not the trajectory we were looking for.” Botelle’s small enrollment also played a role, with Valentino observing that two students were a single point away from meeting their grade-level benchmark. Reading was a different story with students demonstrating clear gains from the beginning to the middle of the school year. Valentino attributed the growth, in part, to greater familiarity with the relatively new curriculum developed by the American Reading Co.

Botelle uses two different assessment tools for each discipline, coupled with an analysis of specific factors relating to grade level (for example, have third graders completed the unit on fractions), the nature of the assessment (is it timed) and individual students (do they have a disability or other identified need). In keeping with Botelle’s goals for the year, Valentino said teachers have developed individual learning goals and instructional plans for each student that are adjusted as learning progresses. Those goals are also shared with students to give them a clear understanding of what they are working toward.

“Each child will know their power goal,” said Valentino, explaining that the staff is working through a “systematic cycle of targeted instruction.” In response to a question from board member Jeremy Withnell, she said this practice was being introduced for teaching math.

During his report, Superintendent Kevin Case reported that Botelle’s elevator came back into service earlier in the month. The

$58,000 repair cost was funded using $45,000 from the school’s nonlapsing account and $13,000 from the current operating budget. He said a portion of the cost could be recouped through a $32,000 state grant through the District Repair and Improvement Program (DRIP). He will participate in a conference call on March 4 to learn more about how the grant funds can be used.

The start of a community-wide conversation about Botelle’s mission and vision has been postponed until April 1, with follow-on meetings planned for April 22 and May 20. Case said the facilitator had to take an unexpected medical leave. Volunteers are still being sought for the committee and interested persons should speak with Case or Board Chair John DeShazo. During his report, DeShazo said he has received positive comments about Botelle’s communication efforts, including the weekly video. He said the Board of Finance also appreciates Case’s regular attendance at meetings and the updates he provides.