West Las Vegas discusses testing, security issues
The West Las Vegas Board of Education received details of a 90-day improvement plan for Don Cecilio Martinez Elementary, Union Street Elementary and West Las Vegas High School at its regular board meeting Thursday night.
New Mexico schools are issued yearly grades from the state’s Public Education Department using an A through F letter grade system. Last month, the board heard improvement plans from principals of the district’s other schools, but Angelo Archuleta, principal at Don Cecilio, Union and WLV High School, was out of town receiving certification.
The PED gave Don Cecilio an F this year, WLV High School a C and Union Elementary earned an A. Thursday, Archuleta was joined by Assistant Principal Nicaea Chavez as they presented the board with their improvement plan and answered questions from board members.
Board member Christine Ludi told Archuleta and Chavez that while attending a New Mexico School Boards Association event, some in attendance were discussing the PED’s letter grading system.
“They were saying socially that it’s kind of degrading to say that your schools are Fs,” Ludi said. “That it gives the perception that we’re really not doing anything with our students. How do you, as educators, feel the A to F grading system is?”
Archuleta said he had a dual perspective on the matter.
“I kind of share that thought,” he told the board. “Do I think the PARCC exam is inappropriate? No. I actually think used in the right context, it’s a very useful tool, but it’s a single measure. When you give any single measure 50 percent weight, automatically you’ve cut yourself off at the knees.”
While the PED has placed a lot of emphasis on PARCC, or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness College and Careers, it is not the only test used by school districts. Many districts also use the MAP, or Measure of Academic Progress. MAP is a computerized test that adapts to a student’s answers. If a student answers questions correctly, the computer begins to provide tougher questions.
Archuleta told the board he had doubts about MAP’s effectiveness.
“One of the things Ms. Chavez and I have discussed is we don’t know if we want to continue with MAP testing, because MAP really is not aligned to PARCC. They say it’s aligned, but it’s not. We’re trying to review what other options we have,” he said.
While Archuleta agreed that the letter grades could be demeaning, he said bad grades can motivate schools to move forward.
Board member Linda Montoya questioned the high school’s graduation rate, asking Archuleta how many of his kids failed to graduate because they didn’t pass the PARCC exam, and how many failed to graduate because they didn’t have enough credits.
Archuleta didn’t have those figures in front of him, but did offer his opinion, which sparked a slight disagreement between Archuleta and Montoya.
“I think it’s more to do with lack of credit obtainment than PARCC scores,” Archuleta said. “The reason I say that is because we do have systems in place that if they do not pass the PARCC, they have other alternatives.”
Montoya said failing to get credits should be unacceptable.
“If they’re not monitoring that, then it’s not always the kids’ fault,” she said.
“We agree,” Archuleta said. “We take full responsibility for that. Like I tell the kids: The F is more of a reflection of us than them.”
Superintendent Chris Gutierrez pointed out that with New Mexicans set to elect a new governor next month, it’s difficult for school districts to plan for the years ahead.
“With whoever comes into office, and whoever they bring as education secretary, they could throw PARCC out of the window,” Gutierrez said.
Satisfied with Archuleta’s improvement plan, the board moved on to other topics. Board Chairman Marvin Martinez directed the conversation to security in WLV schools, asking Archuleta and Chavez if the district was lacking security.
“More security would be nice,” Chavez told him. “We are stretched pretty thin right now. We have somebody on medical leave, and so we’re down to one security guard in the high school.”
Chavez said she and Archuleta have been exploring ideas to improve student safety, including the possibility of a closed campus during lunchtime.
“We saw two men fighting on Bridge Street,” she said. “It just so happened our kids were out there for lunch. One of the men fighting had a knife. He didn’t pull it out, but when PD got there, the knife did come out. We had kids there. We can’t patrol Bridge Street. We have to patrol our campus.”
Archuleta suggested a merit-based system for allowing students to leave campus for lunch.
“It should be earned,” he said. “It’s a privilege.”
Also at Thursday’s meeting, the board:
- Reviewed Policy No. 163, which addresses how the district helps homeless students, and the board heard an update from Elaine Martinez-Gonzalez about programs that help students in need.
- Discussed and reviewed policy No. 164, which pertains to staff orientation and training.
- Passed six policy items discussed at previous meetings: Policy No. 158 on report cards and progress reports; No. 159, which covers parent conferences; No. 160, retention of students; No. 161, student acceleration; No. 162, graduation requirements; and No. 163, assignment of students to classes and grade levels.
- Held a brief discussion about a statewide, dual credit agreement with Central New Mexico Community College where high school students may earn college credit taking online classes. The board agreed to discuss the matter further at a later date.
- Approved an amended contract with J&J School Bus Maintenance & Parts, LLC to provide bus maintenance.
- Tabled a discussion and vote on audit committee appointments because board members could not reach all members of the committee ahead of the meeting.
- Approved a finance committee report.
- Mentioned Oct. 18 as the date for a special meeting of the Board of Education.
