What You Missed at the School Committee Meeting

The Committee Takes the Test: The School Committee, and principals of the K-8 schools, were given sample questions to tackle as part of Superintendent Charles Gobron's MCAS presentation. Using a question given to third graders as well as eight graders, most were surprised at the level of difficulty. Gobron, who consistently drives the point home that MCAS was originally intended as an assessment — not a contest or a measure of success or failure — detailed the results, and more importantly, how those results are used to improve instruction. 

In eighth grade english language arts, 98 percent of students scored proficient or advanced, compared to a statewide figure of 79 percent. In science and technology, 75 percent of eighth graders in Northborough scored proficient or higher, with a statewide average of 39 percent.

"It’s important for us to realize," said Gobron, "that we do not have the results for Algonquin. They are not considered part of Northborough’s data, That can, many times, carry a district as being in need of improvement or not. Our high school scores are absolutely fantastic."

In mathematics, "we still need some work," said Gobron. In each case grades three through eight, scores are above the state average, but lower than ELA and science and technology.

"What we want to do to improve these scores," said Gobron, "is in working with teachers. A score means nothing by itself. It's what do we do with the info. Teams of teachers are using data to improve instructional strategies. We want to keep working on these important thinking skills, in looking at more than one way to solve a problem."

In K-5 level, Northborough schools now ensure 60 minutes of math instruction every day. 

For the complete MCAS scores for Northborough, visit here.

Financial Planning Committee Member Still Needed: Superintendent Gobron announced the push is on, again, to fill the position on the Financial Planning Committee. There have been no applicants so far. Anyone interested should contact Gobron at cgobron@nsboro.k12.ma.us.

Cheers to the Parade: Led by Gobron, the school department marched in the annual Applefest parade in September. Gobron commented on the overwhelming response. "It was great that all the schools were so represented at Applefest," he said. "It was wonderful, and one of the things that was so wonderful about being superintendent was the reaction we got as we marched and people were just great.

Class Size Means Everything: While Northborough is careful about keeping class sizes under 20 students per class, Gobron commented he is concerned about the fourth and fifth grade classes growing too large. Committee member Susan Sartori expressed more concern about kindergarten, saying, "I'm still bothered by the kindergarten. Those are pretty large classes for kids just learning a routine. I wish we had them smaller." A side note about enrollment: The new Avalon Apartments located on Shops Way have added 57 students to K-8, and 12 to Algonquin Regional High School. 

Melican Middle School Heating Up Soon: Contactors are working on installing the new boilers at the Melican school, thanks to the Green Repair Grant the district received earlier this year. Gobron said there has been little disruption and the boilers should be up and running by mid-October, just in time for when the heating system is usually turned on.