4/9/2010

Patrick Dubbs
Superintendent

Superintendent’s Message
April 9, 2010

Each school year we receive a state grade card designation that is primarily based upon test scores.  We have received the top state rating for six (6) consecutive years.  As I write this message our students and teachers are working hard to maintain our current state ranking of “Excellent with Distinction.”

Recently I searched the internet and ran across independent websites that provide data and rankings for public schools in the state of Ohio.  The websites I reviewed also give Wayne Local Schools high marks.  They generally base their rankings on a formula using the most recently reported test scores.  One site School Digger.com gives Wayne Local a five (5) star rating.  School Digger acknowledges that using test scores “is not the ultimate way to rank schools and that there are certainly many, many more criteria-objective and subjective – that add to or subtract from the overall quality of a school.”  They do believe that listing schools by test scores is a useful tool to be used in conjunction with all other criteria available.

What other criteria should we use to measure our school district’s success?

Prior to Spring Break, Wayne Local posted an anonymous online survey on our district website.  Our intent is to be better informed beyond just our test scores.

We had 98 total survey responses.  Many of our respondents have children in more than one of our buildings.  57% of the respondents have a child in Waynesville Elementary; 37% of the respondents have a child in Waynesville Middle School; and 55% of the respondents have a child in Waynesville High School.  The culminating question of our survey asked for an overall letter grade rating of Wayne Local Schools.  63% of the respondents gave Wayne Local an “A” rating; 31% of the respondents gave Wayne Local a rating of “B”.  An “A” or “B” rating by 94% is a strong indication that we are making Wayne Local a school district you want your child to attend.  3% of the respondents gave a “C” rating and 3% gave the district a “D” or an “F”.

Over the next weeks I will share specific results and ask for additional feedback.  We are very interested in how we should communicate with our parents and stakeholders; at this time there seems to be no single preferred mode of communication.  31% of our respondents say that the district website is their first source of information; 29% indicated our weekly electronic newsletter – Good News Friday; and 24% receive their information directly from their child(ren).

We also asked survey-takers to tell us if there are adequate means for them to be involved in their child’s school experience.  An over whelming 89% either “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that they are provided opportunities to be involved in their child’s school.

I would like to hear more regarding communication and involvement.  Please send me an email or call me regarding modes of communication and/or creating involvement opportunities.  I am available at pdubbs@wayne-local.com or 897-6971.  I thank you in advance for your continued involvement and support of our school district.

Pat Dubbs
Superintendent of Schools