Scarice: Weston CMT and CAPT Scores Show Solid Achievements

Weston's students achieved statistically significant successes on the state's and exams, Assistant Superintendent Thomas Scarice reported to the school board Monday night.

On the CAPT, Weston was the only district in the state to have 80 percent of its students score at or above goal in all four of the exam's concentration areas, Scarice said.

"It's a testament to the strength of the core curriculum," he said, noting that 67 percent of Weston's test population scored at or above goal in all four areas. Eighty five percent of students scored at or above goal in three out of four concentration areas.

Weston's students also scored well on the CMT. Although grades three and four were slightly below the 80 percent benchmark, the population's scores improved significantly from the previous year.

Scarice believes the students achieved a "very healthy achievement level."

According to Scarice, several students in the third and fourth grades missed reaching goal by only one point.  In addition, more students achieved at the "advanced" level in math.

Scarice was careful to note that parents and others should avoid reading too much into the exam results.

"The results are one data point among many," he said, observing that the district feels that state tests "are not an appropriate measure" of whether or not a student needs intervention.

Nevertheless, Scarice said that the exams' results corroborated intervention and other special services that the district had already been providing to students who required it.

observed that the CMT and CAPT exams, once "robust and comprehensive," are now approaching retirement.

Other news

The district is moving toward an online testing process that will not only adapt to student responses but will also dramatically decrease the amount of time the district needs to spend administering the exams.

The board also voted unanimously to approve the district's final financial report, which was reported by Joanne Keating.

"Overall, the district had a very good financial year," Keating told the board.

The district benefited from unexpected additional federal grants funding as well as savings on the energy, repairs and maintenance and postage and printing budget lines.

With the saved funds, Weston was able to replace a damaged chiller at the Weston Intermediate School, purchase two "type two" vehicles and a new plow; the district was also able to return funds to the town.

Palmer had additional good financial news to share; the U.S. Department of Agriculture informed the district that Hurlbutt Elementary earned a $500 "bronze" health award because of the school's nutrition and exercise efforts.

The board recognized two Weston High School students who were recently named National Merit Scholar semi-finalists, as well as three staff members who managed the schools' Hurricane Irene cleanup. 

Fourteen new staff members were also officially welcomed by the board. 

Finally, the board bade goodbye to longtime member Les Wolf. Wolf, a member of the board of education since 1999 and is a past chairman, has been actively involved in Weston community affairs for decades.

"It's a huge accomplishment," said current board chair Phil Schaefer. "We should all be very grateful."