Board adopts standards-based grading

PORTALES - Parents of first- and second-grade students at James Elementary will see a considerable change in their child's report cards next school year.

That's because the Portales Municipal Schools Board of Education on Monday adopted standards-based grading.

In a presentation to the board, Principal Deanne McKinney explained that standards-based grading breaks down individual subjects into several different skills rather than a simple letter grade.

Students are assessed based on whether they are exceeding, meeting or below expectations in these skills.

"My thought on this is in first or second grade, the grades just don't mean a lot; they really don't," Superintendent Johnnie Cain said. "I know they do for parents, but for what we need I don't think they really tell us a true picture. Something like this does ... We want people to be able to see this is why your kid may be failing this year or this is where they need to improve so they can be better next year."

Board Vice President Alan Garrett agreed, but said some parents may not understand the new grading system.

"What you're proposing is definitely more informative but you will have a certain number of parents who are still going to say, 'That's all fine and well but what's the grade?' They think it has meaning and it doesn't," he said.

McKinney said the system would allow the school to maintain traditional letter grades and simply supplement them with the standards-based grading if the board wished.

She said communication with parents about the change at the beginning of the school year will be key.

"When they realize this is just an additional tool that they can use, I think it will be positive," McKinney said.

Also during Monday's meeting (all votes 5-0):

• The board approved a resolution calling for a public school building tax act question to be placed on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election.

Cain said the mill levy would not increase taxes for residents and the district would pay less in fees and interest with this method of funding than with the technology bonds it will replace.

Cain said if the mill levy receives voter approval, the district would begin receiving funds in December. He said that although the funding would have less restrictions than the technology bonds, it would likely still be put toward the district's technology licensing costs.

• The board approved the district's annual application for elementary fine arts funding. Assistant Superintendent Henry Montano said the district receives approximately $360,000 annually, which goes toward salaries for music teachers and art educational assistants, professional development and after-school programs.

• The board approved a notice to the Roosevelt County clerk of the school board positions to be filled during the Nov. 5 election.

The seats currently filled by Inez Rodriguez, Randy Rankin and Rod Savage will be up for election.