Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Sirois and Assistant Principal Peter Crisafulli presented on the 2021 MCAS testing results during the Marion School Committee’s December 1 meeting.
ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson acknowledged the challenges that accompanied MCAS testing during the pandemic-affected learning models.
“The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) correctly predicted that there would be statewide dips in scores compared to previous data sets. Here in the tri-town, we saw some instances of this dip, but overall we are extremely proud of the efforts that our school community made last year,” said Nelson, reading from a prepared statement. “The majority of our scores were consistent or above state averages. Our faculty, our families and most of all, our students should be commended on their efforts.
“We will use this set of data in conjunction with all available data points to inform instructional approaches and interventions for our students moving forward. Most importantly, we will continue to focus on the whole child, fostering a strong sense of belonging, social-emotional wellness and offer a strong, grade-appropriate instruction and learning opportunities for all students.”
In summarizing information on Sippican School’s MCAS results from 2018 to 2021, Sirois laid out the scoring chart: 530-560 exceeds expectations, 500-529 meets expectations, 470-499 partially meets expectations and 440-469 not meeting expectations.
Sirois called the MCAS “a snapshot in time” and noted that because there was no MCAS testing for 2019-20, third and fourth graders were taking the test for the first time. As a result, the Student Growth Percentile measuring multi-year growth now begins in Grade 5 because of the lack of sufficient MCAS data during the pandemic.
Assistant Principal Peter Crisafulli pointed out that while Marion’s average grades in English language and Arts slightly declined during the pandemic, the town ranked favorably against the state average in exceeding, meeting and not meeting expectations and the same as the state average in partially meeting expectations.
In Math, Sippican performed similarly, grading more students higher than the state average in exceeding or meeting expectations and even with state average in partially or not meeting expectations. Where Sippican made a disappointing report was in third-grade math. Only 25 percent of the students exceeded (4 percent) or met (21 percent) expectations.
“This is not the data we hoped to see, but statewide math scores were lower than hoped for,” said Sirois, who noted that Grade 3 staffing at Sippican was altered in 2020-21 due to the pandemic. “Specifically, we had many remote students, and when we came back many students had to switch teachers. We’re also looking at our math resources as well as our interventions to ensure that we’re meeting the need of all of our students wherever they are, prepandemic, now and postpandemic.”
Third graders at Sippican fared much better in English Language and Arts. Grade 4 students were much stronger in math with 48 percent exceeding or meeting expectations. For Grade 5, the ELA MCAS results were not as favorable as they were for Grades 3 and 4, as 41 percent of fifth graders only partially met expectations. Sirois noted that many of those grades were close to “the meeting line” and said she is confident that the “partially meets expectations” group will show growth in Grade 6.
The fact Sippican’s students showed less growth in ELA than the state average is mitigated by higher grades coming into the 2020-21 year, according to Sirois.
In Math, 48 percent of Grade 5 Sippican students met or exceeded expectations. In Science and Technology/Engineering, 57 percent of Sippican’s Grade 5 students exceeded or met expectations.
Grade 6 students fared better with 62 percent exceeding or meeting expectations in ELA, well above the state average, and 53 percent of math students likewise achieving.
In her Chairperson’s Report, April Rios opened by thanking the Sippican students, teachers and families for their support during MCAS testing. “We really have to look at this and go back to the 2019 (comparison,)” she said. “I know that MCAS is never an easy thing to begin with, so with everything that was on everybody’s plates, I was very proud of, overall, the numbers. I know they’re not possibly where we want them to be, but I know that we’ll get them back to where they were and where we want them.”
In his Central Office Administrator’s report, Nelson addressed the Covid-19 situation at Sippican. There have been 32 Covid-19 cases to date at Sippican, including five in isolation as of the December 1 committee meeting. Nelson said that testing remains instrumental in maintain in-person learning.
The state’s masking update continues, but Nelson anticipates an update in January as the timeline for the mandate nears its scheduled expiration. With vaccinations now available for ages five and up, the ORR District is gathering information to fully understand where individual schools are at where it concerns caring for the students.
In her report to the committee, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Jannell Pearson-Campbell said that a professional development day was held on November 12, when teachers heard from Lesley University and held a responsive classroom for social-emotional learning. Sippican and other ORR District-school representatives will visit Lesley on January 18 as part of a two-year process aimed at professional development in areas involving literacy and dyslexia. A parents online-education opportunity was also scheduled for December 13.
Director of Student Services Craig Davidson said that the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would be visiting to finalize ORR’s audit. Davidson said the focus of the visit would be on civil rights and education, and he called the overall process a “two-and-a-half-year journey.” DESE’s audit works on a three-year cycle. A report is expected in the upcoming months.
Davidson said ORR is also partnering with DESE on preschool and kindergarten learning experiences, building off equitable support for children with disabilities program and focusing on antiracist practices.
The next Early Childhood Council meeting is scheduled for January 19, and any tri-town resident can attend the ORR preschool screening being held on January 26 at Center School in Mattapoisett.
Committee Vice Chairperson Nichole Daniel said that Sippican has moved into Phase 3 (progress monitoring) of the Acceleration Road Map. Daniel also reported on a Grade 6 study of the history of the Crayola Crayons Company.
In his report, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber told the committee that Sippican Elementary School’s budget has $642,000 of unencumbered and unobligated funds, and 85.77 percent of those funds are related to student-related operating costs.
The committee voted to accept a donation of a book for the school library offered by ORR School Committee Chairperson (and Marion resident) Heather Burke. The book “Monty and Rose, Nest at Montrose” was written by Tamima Itani about piping plovers.
Rios opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims in the Oakland County Michigan High School shooting. At the conclusion of the public session, the committee entered executive session to discuss collective bargaining and only returned to adjourn.
The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12 and the Joint School Committee is scheduled to meet on January 20. Both meetings start at 6:30 pm.
Marion School Committee
By Mick Colageo