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Communication Archive » November 2016

November 2016

Friends and Key Communicators:
 
It’s hard to believe that we just wrapped up the first quarter of the school year! Great things are happening in our schools. At the beginning of the school year, staff dealt with lead testing in our schools, and the implementation of new modulars at Desert View, Sunset and the High School to keep up with student growth. A few weeks ago the district received the report card results from the Oregon Department of Education and I recently shared results from the second community attitude survey with the board at the October work session. In the next month the board will decide whether or not it will consider placing a bond question before the voters in May of 2017.
 
These messages are intended to keep key stakeholders informed about the happenings in Hermiston School District and to provide an opportunity to give the district timely feedback about its initiatives. If you have suggestions for other topics you believe should be addressed in a future Key Communicators message, please let us know!
 
With regards,

Dr. Fred Maiocco
Superintendent of Schools

Lead Testing Results for the Hermiston Schools – Hermiston School District tested 853 sites and identified 19 locations with elevated lead levels across its schools. None of the locations were a primary drinking source. Elevated levels of lead were found in hand washing stations, bathrooms, and other secondary sources at Hermiston High School, Highland Hills elementary school, and in kitchens at Armand Larive and Sandstone middle schools.

In April 2016, state officials and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) made the recommendation that all public schools and day care centers test their water for lead this summer, using accredited drinking water testing labs to process water samples for lead.

The Hermiston School District was aggressive in identifying testing sites and identified two types of sites: primary drinking locations and secondary locations. Primary locations included drinking fountains and normal places students and staff would use for drinking. The secondary locations included exterior hose bibs, bathroom, kitchen and science sinks. Both primary and secondary locations were tested to include all potential sites following the recommended EPA testing process. We also requested information from the City of Hermiston in accordance with EPA requirements.

The results received thus far show that primary drinking sites did not exceed lead levels. All elevated sites were secondary sites. All the elevated sites were shut off at the valve, were tagged as “do not use,” all surface equipment was replaced, and all sites were retested. All sites have passed the lead tests or have been terminated.

Report Card Results –

This is the second year in which Hermiston schools participated in the new Smarter Balanced assessment. In summary, 2016 results show that nearly 55% of students met the proficiency standard for their grade level in English Language Arts, and almost 42% met in Mathematics.

At the elementary level for grades 3-5, 52.3% of Hermiston School District students met the proficiency standard in English Language Arts (a 5.7% increase from the previous year), while 46.5% were proficient on the Mathematics assessment, (an increase of 4.5% from the previous year). Fifth grade students showing proficiency on the Science assessment increased by 6.1% over the previous year, for a proficiency rate of 61%.

At the middle school level for grades 6-8, 54.7% met the proficiency standard in English Language Arts, which is a slight increase over the previous year; however, 41.5% of HSD middle school students met the proficiency standard in Mathematics, which is a 4.3% increase. Eighth grade students showing proficiency on the Science assessment rated at 78.9%t, while the state average was 63%.

At the high school level (grade 11), 63.1% of HSD students met the proficiency standard in English Language Arts. This is a substantial improvement of 21.2% over the previous year. In Mathematics, 17% of our students scored proficient on the state assessment, a decrease of 3.3% from the previous year. Eleventh grade students showing proficiency on the Science assessment was 88%, while the state average was 63%.

Hermiston School District has a focused strategic plan promoting high levels of collaboration and increased academic rigor, as it serves students based on their strengths and needs. This strategic focus aligns finances and personnel resources to improve curriculum materials, enhance technology and refine instructional practices. The plan also has a component identifying “high levels of family and community partnerships” in order to bring families and educators together to collaboratively work in supporting student achievement.

Second Community Attitude Survey –

According to an executive summary, 46% of voters (down 1% from 47% in May) were favorable to the $104 million question. That level of support grew to 61% favorable when voters learned that the proposed bond would protect the community’s investment in its schools; included substantial safety and security upgrades, reduced operating costs, and with continued growth new residents and businesses would assist in paying for the bond measure if it passed.

The survey also confirmed the most urgent priorities for the district: replacement of Rocky Heights Elementary School, expansion of Hermiston High School, replacement of Highland Hills Elementary School, and building a new elementary school on district owned property off of Theater Lane.

In a statement, Dr. Fred Maiocco said, “The second survey results indicate that our community recognizes the need to address overcrowding, student safety, and stewardship of our facilities. I anticipate the Hermiston School board will take up this matter in the coming months as it considers placing a bond question before voters in May of 2017.”

Community members interested in learning more about the proposed bond program are invited to attend a community meeting on November 28, at 5 p.m. at Hermiston High School.

Former HHS Graduate Part of Oregon Community Foundation Grantmakers –

Last week I was privileged to serve on a panel for the Oregon Community Foundation as it introduced prospective grant makers to our region. I learned that Victor Vasquez, one of the grant makers, is an HHS graduate who has accomplished much in his life. Victor worked his way up from humble roots as a migrant worker, graduated HHS and later Harvard. He was previously employed as part of the Clinton and Obama administrations. Click here to learn more about Victor Vasquez.

Inclement Weather –

The Hermiston School District has several resources to communicate school closures, delays and other emergency related information:

  • The school closures and delays will be announced on the district’s home page prior to 6 a.m. via a banner message, and information will be posted on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. In the absence of any message, school will run on time, without delay.
  • SchoolMessenger (an automated phone calling system) will begin calling out at 5:30 a.m., in order to reach all students and staff in a timely manner. To make sure that you will be able to receive notifications, please contact your student’s school if there has been a recent change in your phone number.
  • You can retrieve school closure, delay, emergency information by dialing the district’s automated voice system at 541-667-6000. Press “1” to listen to the English menu, select “1” again to go directly to the school closure, delay and emergency information. To hear the information in Spanish, press “2” and then “1” to listen to the information.
  • Crisis Manager is another system that the district will use to get information out. The Crisis Manager is a free application available for Android and iPhones The application on your personal device is voluntary. Click here to learn how you can download the application on your phone. Once you have downloaded the application, go to your cell phone settings, select the Crisis Manager app to make sure that notifications for the application are enabled.
  • Our local radio stations, KOHU 1360 AM and KQFM 93.7 FM will also help disseminate inclement weather information.
  • Information will be sent to local TV stations and newspapers.

Winter Concert Schedules –

The holiday season is upon us, and preparations have begun for the winter concerts. Below you will find the dates for the winter concerts. Check your school’s concert schedule as some elementary schools break up the concert in different time slots to accommodate the families that attend the concerts.

  • Desert View- Tuesday, December 13, at 6 p.m., at Armand Larive Middle School
  • Highland Hills- Thursday, December 8, at 6 p.m., Sunset Elementary
  • Rocky Heights- Tuesday, December 6, at 6 p.m., at Armand Larive Middle School
  • Sunset- Tuesday, December 6, at 6 p.m., at Sunset Elementary
  • West Park- Thursday, December 8, at 6 p.m., at West Park Elementary
  • Armand Larive- Thursday, December 15, at 7 p.m., at Armand Larive
  • Sandstone- Thursday, December 15, at 7 p.m., at the High School Auditorium
  • Hermiston High School- Monday, December 19 & Tuesday, December 20, Band and Choir Concert, at 7 p.m., in the High School’s Main Gymnasium