By Jeff Vorva
The three principals in Beecher School District 200U shared test scores from the previous school year and while there was a downturn in some areas, Mike Meyer, the high school principal, was the most disappointed.
He gave a series of stats and graphs and summarized it with somewhat mixed feelings.
“This is who we are, for better or for worse,” he said at the Oct. 9 board meeting. “No one is extremely happy about where we are. But this is where we are.”
Various tests, including the SAT, were given to gauge math, science and English skills and overall, the scores from the class of 2024 were lower than 2023.
“This isn’t a terrible group by any stretch of the imagination,” Meyer said of the 2024 class. “It has quite a few kids at the top who were pretty good and get after it. We just have a few more at the bottom that are looking into other (areas) whether it’s trades or something like that.”
Meyer was happy with one trend. He said scores in the spring were better than they were in the previous fall.
“We aren’t where we need to be but as a principal and as teachers, this is what we want to do – our growth is what we’re looking for. We get you where we get you and our goal as a high school is to get you improved.
“We improved in the spring and we’re trending in the right direction.”
Meyer said that his year’s junior class will not be taking the SAT, rather it will switch to the ACT although those students who want to take the SAT will have an opportunity.
He also said that he would like to compare the scores with other area schools, but that information will not be released for another few weeks.
Audit looking good
The board approved the 2024 fiscal year audit, which was conducted by Gassensmith and Michalesko Ltd. of Joliet.
“The district is in good overall standing, ending the fiscal year with (more than $12 million) in fund balances,” Superintendent Jack Gaham read from the report. “During the audit, we found that the district’s financial records to be in excellent working order.”
“It’s all good news from the auditor,” Gaham said after reading the report. “They have submitted it to the state.”
Coming and going
The board approved the hiring of Mirna Mueller as the high school freshman class sponsor and Jack Hayhurst as a volunteer junior high boys basketball coach.
It acknowledged the resignation of Donna Seibring as full-time bus monitor.