LEWISTON — The School Committee on Monday tabled discussion about joining a regional service center with Auburn, Turner and Poland because a representative from the Maine Department of Education was unable to attend.
Instead, the committee approved the second reading of a policy that restores traditional academic grades of 0-100 for high school students.
The action followed a debate on what traditional numerical grades would mean under proficiency based learning.
The committee recently approved the first reading of the policy to abandon the new 1-4 grading system and return to 0-100 grades.
A grade of 1 means the student doesn’t meet the standards, 2 means they partially meet the standards, 3 means they are proficient in the standards, and 4 means they exceed the standards.
In 2012 state legislators passed a law requiring high school students to show they have mastered eight subject areas in order to earn a proficiency-based diploma: English language arts, math, science and technology, social studies, health education and physical education, visual and performing arts, career and education development, and world languages.
Looking at two standards-based grading in other states, member Monique Roy passed along detailed description of how a grade of 4 could equate to grades of 90 to 100; a 3 could mean grades of 80-89, a 2 could mean grades of 70-79, and 1 could mean grades of 60-69.
Several members liked the detail and favored a second reading of the policy that would include it in Lewiston High School’s academic grades. Other members objected.
Committee member Luke Jensen said whether the grades are 0-100 or 1-4, the middle school and high school scores should be consistent.
Alicia Rea objected to adding that detail to the grading policy, saying the public has not had an opportunity to see the document, and the committee needs to be transparent.
Meanwhile, Webster said teachers need direction to be ready for grading in September.
After back and forth discussion, the committee approved the second reading of the grading policy, which restores grades 0-100 at the high school. Webster was charged with providing more specifics after getting feedback from high school staff.
The committee Monday night also honored three long-term Lewiston Adult Education volunteers who have recently stepped down: Jim Sargent, who has volunteered since 2008; Judy Webber, who has volunteered since 2006, and Marilyn Simonds, who has volunteered since 2000. All three taught basic literacy.
He described Simonds as a “staple in the community who wants to help people.”
Before Judy Webber retired she was a teacher. After retirement she continued to teach as a volunteer, Grant said.
“Jim was a woodworker by trade but found a love of helping people,” especially those who were learning to speak English, Grant said.
Grant said Sargent lives in Auburn, “doesn’t drive, and would walk often to Lewiston to help out. It wouldn’t be uncommon for him to stay there from 8 in the morning until 8 at night.”
School Committee Chairman Francis Gagnon thanked the three volunteers for their years of giving to others. “This community wouldn’t be this community without volunteers of this sort,” Gagnon said.
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