Rumor Mill-5052
Published May 24, 2012
The purpose of this section is to answer any questions parents, teachers or community members might have regarding the school district and to set the record straight in regards to any rumors that might be circulating. If you have a question or have heard a rumor that you would like for us to address, simply SEND US your questions and we will respond to them in upcoming issues of IN FOCUS. Below are some of the questions we received since our last issue.
I have heard that land has been bought for another elementary school in the Spring Hill area. Could you tell me where it is and what schools it will likely draw from? When is it scheduled to be built? Also, any truth to the rumors that there will be another middle school built in Spring Hill in the near future?
No land has been purchased at this time for an elementary school in the Spring Hill area. An elementary school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2015. There is no Spring Hill area middle school on the district’s five year plan at this time. The plan is reviewed and updated annually.
What is the status of a new middle school (potentially Oak View Middle) that will feed from Oak View and Winstead closer to those locations? Currently they are zoned for Page Middle which is a 30-40 minute bus ride. I heard now that Berry Farm’s is under development that there might be some synergies with the sewer system between the new development and Oak View Middle?
While an Oak View/Henpeck Lane Middle School is currently listed on the district's Five Year Capital Outlay Plan, the projected completion date is to be determined pending sewer availability.
Can you explain the formula for how TCAP will become 25% of the students' grades? How are the test results converted to the A-F scale?
The formula for including the grade was covered in Issue 14 of IN FOCUS. A link to that article can be found HERE. Spring testing for the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) includes the Achievement, Modified Academic Achievement Standards (MAAS), and End of Course (EOC) tests. The Achievement and MAAS tests (what most people collectively call "the TCAPs" used in grades 3-8) count 15 percent, while the EOCs in high school count 25 percent. Both are required to be calculated as a percentage of the second semester average. TCAPs are used as a separate grade; EOCs are used as the final exam. Middle schools that give final exams vary by site.
As for how the test results are converted to the A-F scale, a “quick score” is provided by the State and is to be used for the 15 percent or 25 percent mentioned above. It is a conversion for the number of items correct on each test to a 0-100 scale needed for grading purposes. The quick scores are not the percent correct but rather a type of “curve” to force certain proficiency levels within grading ranges. Although these ranges vary by subject and grade, here’s a sample:
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Social studies tests use a different set of proficiency levels, so they are converted in a different way.
Although letter grades aren’t used for TCAP testing, one could interpret the quick scores on the same A-F scale used for WCS schools (example, 85 to 92 could be considered B to A-).
A couple of children in our neighborhood have severe allergies and have been told by their doctor that they must carry an Epipen with them at all times. My daughter told me that because these children carry Epipens that they are not allowed to ride the school bus. Is this true? If so, might the district look in to having a special section in the front of the bus for these children so that they can ride despite their allergies? The school cafeteria makes provisions for children with allergies.
Each child with a physical condition that may affect his/her education has a Section 504 plan or an IEP. Each child’s specific needs are addressed in that plan. Transportation needs may also be included in the plan.