School district fails Adequate Yearly Progress standards -- again

Hmmm and yet they needed more tax money to keep teachers employed, yet our students are still coming up short...I'm sure this post will be deleted anyways...

I guess a poor excuse is better than none why they can't meet the standards and it all being due to the size of the district and larger. What are you trying to say just cause others in the STATE don't make the grade and this district being so large you just can't teach. Very poor excuse.

"It doesn't mean we don't try" Hey...I'm going to 'try' to pay my taxes...

So how small or large does the district need to be for you to "hit these goals"?

I suppose the only way to attain these goals is to get more money. I see it coming already

...it's ONLY $10 more per month...

Congratulations Glenns Ferry! You meet standards...

http://apps.sde.idaho.gov/AYP/Home/SelectPublic

Doesn't the State intervene now and take over or fill positions to better enable Mtn. Home to possibly pass the tests the next time.

Why??Where are the teachers that actualy like to teach? Too much paperwork and not enough time for the kids. Too many strict standards and not enough time for spontiaity. Why does my grandaughter dislike school? And to think I voted yes this last time.

Umm...MHresident...we have a charter school. Brand new building with brand new computers and they just hired an engineering teacher. What kind of change are you looking for?

Change in attitude and priorities TMom. A new charter school has been a welcome addition, now what about the high school and Jr. high curriculum & quality of educators.

Censorship at its best. I see MH News removed my post. Apparently it was to straight forward when I spoke of Mr. McMurtrey sending the message to the student's that it's OK to fail in basic education (math, English, etc) as long as the Levy saved our sports & other programs. Suppose you'll delete this one.

Last year kids came from a public school back east. The curriculum there was 6-8 months ahead of the same grade here. Less recess time there. School paid for most school supplies. The school had stricter standards than I have ever seen here, really strict. And take a guess what else - they HAD homework and were required to take it back and turn it in, now that's a novelty huh? Homework was an excellent review and reinforced what was being taught.

Hazel 36. Sorry you voted as you did. I knew we were being duped again. But, it is so hard to get people to really listen and truly understand. All I can say, is do the homework. Look at the past efforts or dupes if you will. I think there was an article last year saying that the school district failed the AYP then. We all know, if things stay stagnant then nothing ever changes. As long as the same people are in charge, well, take it from there.

Mr. McMurtrey, shame on you for using such a lame excuse. They told a blind girl a long time ago that it was virtually impossible to read and talk. They told an amputee that it would be virtually impossible to win a race. Ummmm. Guess they didn't believe it. How about you?

This school district has lied so much to the public they forgot whats a lie and whats the truth so another lie to cover up the last one. I didn't get duped like so many over the levy. Sure there is a shortage of money but this district has never learned how to control spending like the general public has to do. If you all notice the 2 board members that had so much to say before the levy vote have nothing to say now about all the comments flying around. Its time for all new leadership in this school district, all of them have become to stale to even know what is going on. They didn't even know how to handle what turned out to be a tie in the last school board election, sit one person and ignore the votes, then take it to a judge and let that person rule to be a coin toss, then unset a new member and install the other one, just goes to show good management, NOT, This old trash about trying to get up to standards just doesn't cut it anymore and I can't see where the size of the district has anything to do with it. It all boils down to the people running the district and what kids are being taught and it looks like they not be taught what they should be for the grade level they at. Midea made a very good comment where is the home work for these kids, never see many kids taking anything home to work on and then there is so many that don't even go to school. Enough said on my part, this school district needs to wake up and smell the coffee because they have lost it and losing more each year.

Kudos to McKenna by the way. They offer a QUALITY education on a BUDGET. They built a wonderful new facility and have (or soon will) pay off the LOAN they took to build their nice, new facility. How did they do this? They saved and had a plan. They also have a really good Board. Hey---and the kids that attend school there enjoy the time they spend in school (most of them anyway). Hats off to them. The MHSD pays their finance person over $42.00 per hour and look at where they are at.

Mr. McMurtrey, you should be ashamed at your comments. The reason hispanic kids cannot pass tests is because they are allowed to speak Spanish in their ESL classes. Learning the English Language is not a priority. This is why these children have problems with reading and math. And yes, I have been in ESL classrooms in the district---this is what goes on. Why wonder why tests cannot be passed. Wise up folks! Sold a bill of goods by the MHSD yet again. That is what happens when people do not do their homework. Now we can all pay for the next 2 years. Look into the programs that the MHSD said they had cut due to money. Many of those are back on/in as well. This is why "progress" is such a hard sell for those of us who take the time to attend all of these meetings and listen to the bull being spewed. Hate to say I told you so...but I did. At least McKenna folks have their heads on right. There is hope for education in Elmore County afterall.

So a friend of mine called me and asked me to go the MH News website and check out the blogs about MH not making AYP and bringing the Charter School into the whole story. I got home from work that night and sat down at my computer to see what this was all about. I don't live in Idaho, however, the job in the state I live in, is at our State Department of Education. I have sat on boards to help put Charter Schools together, I have been in meetings to help figure out how to get our schools to meet AYP and it's not easy.

I can honestly say it was a good laugh for me that evening. You people who bag on the school district have no idea on what kind of funding a charter school can get versus public education. Also, AYP has many loop holes that our Federal Government, that created this mess, put with it. The same loop holes that most Charter Schools don't have to jump through.

I am not laughing at the employees of the school district, like many districts out there, they can only do so much with the ridiculous guidelines set.

So to all of you people who think they have put the MH school district in their place by your comments, try researching charter school funding, and why charter schools make AYP, and why so many school districts don't.

To the patrons of MH who go back and forth on who to believe, I ask you to not believe what you read, but to do your own research.

To the MH school district parents,teachers, students, and administrators, keep on doing what you are doing to help your students be successful. Hopefully one day we will see the guidelines changed so that they help students versus hinder them.

Have a great school year, I wish you the best of luck.

School administraion should have their salaries "taxed" each year state standards are not met. These taxes could be filtered back into the schools so teacher could have access to basic resources and parents would not be burdened with providing supplies for the school AND their children (i.e., blue and black dry erase markers and band aids). If administration were held accountable and their income jeopardized like that of front-line educators maybe they would put more thought into the budget and decrease and distribute the line item that includes their salaries.

I hear you loud and clear Hmmmmm! I agree Charter schools are an entire different animal and, as I previously mentioned, a welcome addition. I have one problem with your comments however. You said "why charter schools make AYP, and why so many school districts don't". The key words being "so many". This implies some school districts do make the grade, and in fact some public schools do. This also seems to imply that it OK not to make AYP and the status quo is also OK. Well, it's not OK. What you're saying is a copout and it's what McMurtury is doing. This school system, no matter how you slice it, does NOT put the emphasis on academics that it should. The quality of our educators is a serious issue as well. If they would put half the effort into teaching and "educating" as they put into their sports program we may have a chance of making AYP. It's appalling that those in a sport are required to practice every single day and there are so many games. Many games far away which make the kids stay up late and study/do homework (like they get any) on the bus. These folks aren't going off to pro sports, their going off to "life". I just wish the school district would teach them something they can use in life and make them earn it.