By Sam Elliott
Hamilton Southeastern school district high school students will take exams over the course of three days instead of two if a plan proposed by superintendent Dr. Allen Bourff is approved by the teachers association.
That proposal, the school board’s goals for itself and the district’s upcoming ballot referendum were among the topics discussed at Monday’s school board meeting.
The board also recognized 13 faculty members from across the district that received grant awards from the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation in the spring.
Grant recipients included Angel Myers (Second Steps character education program); Kristin Patrick (Windows and Mirrors diverse book campaign); Jennifer Pope (Why Try special education skills program); Lisa Lederach (Elementary Literacy program); Beth Garrison (Emergency Trauma safety initiative); Kathy Seitz (Fitness Fuels Destination Imagination program); Janet Chandler (Civics Education program); Steve Baney and Kim Beaulieu (Organic Garden project); Heidi Stan (Stability for the Stanimals stability ball seating initiative); Emily Mitchell (E-Commerce Cards skills training program to benefit students with cognitive disabilities); Vince Lidy (Improving Performance athletic tracking and feedback system); and Crissy Pogue (Studio of Opportunity vocational skills curriculum).
In his superintendent’s report, Dr. Allen Bourff explained to the board his plan for exam testing schedules at the district’s high schools to consist of three half-days, with exams given in the second half of the day. Students would have the option of coming to school for the first half of the day to study or to prepare for their tests at home, with Dr. Bourff saying HSE’s designation as a high-performance school allows it to utilize such a schedule and the process helps prepare students for college courses and testing.
Dr. Bourff also updated the board on the district’s “listening tour” of meetings educating the public and getting feedback on its upcoming ballot referendum. Dr. Bourff hopes to add a meeting with local homeowners associations presidents to the schedule he said includes more than 40 gatherings for discussion.
