By Clay Schuldt

Staff Writer

NEW ULM — The District 88 School board received a breakdown on testing data Thursday.

According to recent data, the district’s ACT scores were higher than the national average, but Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) scores remained low.

Learning Services Director Amanda Thorson presented the data to the board. Overall there was a district-wide increase in MCA scores from last year. In reading 51.4% of students were proficient and 54.5% were proficient in math. However, at the high school level, MCA reading scores decreased. High school math scores increased, but staff attributed the increase to relatively low math scores from the year before.

Principal Mark Bergmann said the high school will need to determine if the low MCA scores are an after-effect of COVID. The 10th graders did not have MCA testing in 7th grade because of the pandemic and the 11th grade skipped the math MCA in 8th grade for the same reason. Bergmann said in the next year they will need to determine if COVID or another factor is contributing to the low MCA scores.

Despite low MCA scores, New Ulm High School ranks high for college readiness. In terms of ACT scores, New Ulm District had an average score of 21.3. Thorson said the national average was 20.3. In each ACT category; math, science, English and reading the district exceeded the national average.

Bermann said in addition to high ACT scores, New Ulm graduates were remaining in college showing the school was preparing students for secondary education.

Board member Denny Waloch asked if colleges were still requiring students to take the ACT.

Bergmann said the majority of colleges are recommending the ACT, but are looking at other factors when considering college applications.

Bergmann said when college enrollment is down, ACT test scores are less important. Following the COVID pandemic, there were limited ACT test opportunities and overall enrollment dropped. The ACT requirement became less important for college applications.

Bergmann said it is still unknown if ACT scores will become a requirement again. He said with more students attending Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes instead of four-year colleges, the ACT requirement will not likely be the sole college requirement.

Strategic Action

The school’s strategic action plan will continue to focus on advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the district. Two years ago the board worked with Longview to develop equity, diversity and inclusion policies. Last year, the school began working with the staff on policies. Supt. Jeff Bertrang said next year new state requirements will require the district to incorporate the equity framework.

Middle School Principal Michelle Miller said the school is working on developing standards for what language is appropriate and respectful at the school. Miller said there would also be school lessons on what is appropriate. Bertrang said these programs would not be a “one and done,” but an ongoing development.

On the topic of appropriate language, board member Melissa Sunderman asked if there was accountability for inappropriate behavior. Sunderman was concerned some students caught making inappropriate comments were avoiding punishment claiming ignorance of school policy.

“How do we hold them accountable?” Sunderman asked.

Miller said the most important way to know if students are intentionally using inappropriate language is if the student continues to use the same inappropriate language after being warned.

High School Principal Mark Bergmann said they try to look at patterns for behavior to keep students accountable. Bergmann said if the student says something inappropriate once and never repeats the mistake, there is no pattern of behavior and no intervention is needed. If there is a pattern of bullying, with multiple offenses, the school has the individual student go through a program and pass an assessment to make sure they understand what they did wrong.

Bergmann said if the student passes the assessment and then returns to the pattern of inappropriate behavior, the school has documentation the student was aware of their inappropriate behavior and cannot use ignorance as an excuse.

Board member Christie Dewanz asked if the administrators were receiving support from parents on issues of inappropriate language use.

“We can all have different mannerisms in different environments,” Bergmann said. “If it is happening at home, doesn’t mean they can’t change their behavior at school.”

Legislative Updates

The Minnesota legislature passed numerous bills regarding education. The board received a brief update on some of the new laws. One of the most prominent laws was the free school meal program, which goes into effect July 1.

The cost of school meals will be covered by the state. This entitles every student to receive one breakfast and one lunch each school day. The law is specific, in that it covers one of each meal. If a student wants two breakfasts, they will need to pay for the second breakfast.

There were sweeping changes to the curricuulm, including revisions to required standards and graduation requirements. The legislature recently defined “ethnic studies” and when ethnic studies curriculum materials need to be provided.

The Social Studies standards needed to embed Holocaust and genocide education.

The “Read Act” was passed which changes the way Minnesota schools teach literacy. Schools will need to prepare through the summer in order to implement the Read Act by the start of the next school year.

New course requirements include Financial Literacy and Civics. The Civics requirement can be embedded into another piece of coursework, but it must be offered in 11th or 12th Grade. The Financial Literacy course must be a separate course but can be offered anytime in High School. The Financial Literacy course can be offered through e-learning.

Steve Gag asked if the district already had classes in place to match the requirement.

Bergmann said there are personal finance classes at the school already. He believed they could be brought in line with the state standard.

Supt. Bertrang said the trifecta of Democrats in charge of house, senate and governor’s office does not change next year. The schools could be looking at more policy changes in 2024.

The next regular school board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 22 in the District Boardroom 414 S. Payne Street. The next study session will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 13 in the District Conference room 414 S. Payne Street.