School board OKs paper testing for third-graders

by Sheldon Ocker

Jan. 21 board of education meeting

For the fourth consecutive year, the Revere Board of Education approved the use of paper for third-grade state testing in English and math. Ohio requires every other grade level to take its tests online.

Because of its preference for online testing, the state mandates that school boards pass a resolution asking to use paper before that option is granted. Revere did so.

Assistant Superintendent Micki Krantz (Superintendent Dan White was absent) explained why the district goes through the process.

“We feel it eliminates a potential technology barrier for the students,” she said. “This first test is in the fall of their third-grade year. They’re essentially just leaving second grade and they’re having their first testing experience.”

After third-grade testing, Revere uses a graduated process to ensure fourth-graders become accustomed to online testing.

“We do review this choice annually,” Krantz said. “We don’t automatically put it on the board’s agenda.”

Is the district convinced that paper makes a positive difference in the results?

“Our kids score well, period,” Krantz said. “And it’s hard to isolate that [paper testing] as a variable. We do feel it has helped our students, and the past several years have been strong. While it’s hard to isolate that variable, we’ve done really well when comparing other districts in the area.”

Krantz stressed, however, that performance scores on standardized tests are mostly a function of being well prepared by teachers and parents.

Not all Revere third-graders take state tests on paper. At least a few use laptop computers. Krantz said that alternate assessment tests for “students with the highest learning needs” are administered online when judged to be preferable for a particular student.

Scholar administrator

Krantz was awarded a Buckeye Association School Administrators annual Global Leadership Development Program Scholarship through an extensive interview process, including questions such as what a recipient would expect from the experience and what a recipient would bring back to their district.

Winners of the scholarship will travel to Sweden, Finland and Estonia next summer to visit cultural sites and explore the renowned Finnish educational system. Revere will pay none of the trip costs.

Ballot believer

Revere High student Sophie Gerhing was recognized for a project she has been working on more than a year for a Girl Scout award.

The essence of the project is Gerhing’s conviction that more high school students should take voting rights seriously and exercise the right to vote when they are 18. She has an online presence on the Revere website outlining the voting process for her fellow students.

She also had sought advice from State Rep. Bill Roemer on introducing a bill in the legislature giving 16-year-olds the right to vote. Gerhing also works at the county board of elections and tries to recruit other students to do so.

Donations

Treasurer Rick Berdine asked the board to accept two donations: $2,500 from an anonymous donor for Revere baseball, with the money earmarked for the varsity spring trip; and $2,166 from the Revere Players Booster Club for microphone equipment for the auditorium.

“With this one [donation], we have replaced or expanded the auditorium microphones so that we should not have a spring musical performer on stage who is not adequately miked,” Berdine said. The board approved the Richfield Elementary roof replacement (kindergarten wing), taking the lowest bid of $665,000 plus $3,500 to replace drains from Industrial First. Berdine also received bids of $846,900 plus $6,000 for drains from Buildings Technicians and $741,500 plus $900 for drains from Warren Roofing.