By MaryHelen Swanson

The Rush City School District and each school site successfully met their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets for the 2005-06 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

That shows the good work the students and staff are doing, said District superintendent Vern Koepp at last weekís school board meeting.

The district made the AYP in all areas including attendance, which is at 97 percent, and graduation, which is 100 percent, he noted.

The results of the statewide testing, known as the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-II) were made public Nov. 15. These tests are used to determine whether enough students have reached grade level standards to avoid consequences outlined by the federal law known as No Child Left Behind.

These consequences include creating a school improvement plan and designating school funds for supplemental academic services from outside providers.

The federal funds, Koepp noted, are 6-8 percent of a schoolís budget. They would be significant to give up, he added.

Koepp reminded the school board members that not all grades are working above the state average but he noted that the downward progression in math is probably because the test is harder and tougher.

The tests, he said, are not designed in any way to compare grades from year to year.

For instance, last year grade 8 did not do well in math. But there is no test for grade nine for any comparisons of the same students.

At the high school, grade 10 takes only the reading test, and grade 11 only the math.

Koepp noted that the grade 11 math test has new requirements and includes algebra.

There is a lot of stuff on that test students across the state are not prepared for, he said.

Understanding that the high school needs attention in the math area, Koepp said the math department K-12 is working on mapping paths to prepare the students for the math tests.

High school principal Mark Saari noted that in a few years, part of the 11th-grade MCA-II tests will be required for graduation in Rush City.

The bottom line, Koepp said, is that parents, students and teachers should be congratulated, but ... ìweíve got some work to do.î

Koepp is not negative on the state test, the MCA-II is a motivational tool, he said. The concept is not wrong.

But he added that there needs to be a way to measure student progress that is meaningful to the students and their parents.

In other business last week, the school board:

ï Heard the financial audit for 2006 with CPA Aaron Nielsen noting that the districtís financial records are in excellent condition. He said of the reports there was nothing real unusual, but pointed to a few findings, including the need for segregation of duties. He also said the district needs a policy for credit card use.

ï Learned from finance director Lauren Frost that revenue from interest is up as the rate of interest is up considerably from a couple of years ago.

ï Accepted the resignation of bus driver Shelly Forman, hired Kelly Fregien as bus driver, hired Jennifer Hana as ECFE paraprofessional at the Family Center, and Wendy Hartig as junior high gymnastics coach.

ï Purchased a Bluebird bus from North Central for $67,654 to be delivered in December.

ï Accepted lists of seniority.

ï Approved a student teaching agreement with Bemidji State University.

ï Authorized the music department to continue fund-raisers as they attempt to raise money for a new piano, anticipated to cost more than $7,500.