Rasmussen's Comments

Journal story...

Rasmussen wants to see academic progress continue

MIDDLETOWN —
Middletown City Schools District is continuing to improve in the classroom, and Superintendent Greg Rasmussen doesn’t want the trend to end.

“We’re making good progress, but we are far from where we want to be,” Rasmussen said Tuesday afternoon while sitting in his office. “We’ve got to do better.”

Since 2009, the performance index — a rating of all test scores throughout the district, at every grade level — has risen from 81.7 in 2009 to 87.2 this year, Rasmussen said

THAT'S FINE, BUT HOW MANY YEARS HAS IT TAKEN TO GET TO THIS AVERAGE TO BELOW AVERAGE ACHIEVEMENT? 3 YEARS AND AN INCREASE OF 5.5? HOW DID MOST OF THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS GET INTO THE 90'S YEARS AGO?

The number of state indicators the district has met has doubled from five to 10, he said

NOW, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WEAK POINT OF DISCUSSION WHEN THE DISTRICT BRINGS THIS INFO. TO LIGHT.......MORE THAN DOUBLED SOUNDS GREAT BUT WHEN THE BAR IS SET SO LOW, ANY ACHIEVEMENT WILL SEEM MONUMENTAL. THE FACT IS, THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN STUCK BETWEEN 5 AND 10 INDICTORS MET (OUT OF 26 BY THE WAY)FOR MANY YEARS WITH NO UPWARD MOVEMENT ABOVE 10 AT ANY TIME. THIS EVALUATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR HOW MANY DECADES? TIME IS OF CONSIDERATION TOO, RASMUSSEN, WHEN ACHIEVEMENT IS DISCUSSED. YOU FAIL TO MENTION THAT FACT.

Compared to other Butler County schools, Middletown ranked second in the four-year growth, behind only Madison. Middletown went from 80 in 2007-08 to 87.2 last year, an increase of 7.2. Madison rose 10.8 during the same period

THAT'S SHORT TERM GROWTH. HOW ABOUT OVERALL GROWTH OVER THE EVALUATION TIME SPAN? NOT PRETTY IS IT. GOTTA INCLUDE STATEMENTS RELATED TO AND INCLUDING HISTORICAL GROWTH FOR A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

Compared to other “like districts” in the state, Middletown was second to Mansfield, Rasmussen said. Mansfield increased by 9.0 in its performance index

THAT'S FINE FOR "LIKE DISTRICT GROWTH" BUT HOW ABOUT A COMPARISON OF "LIKE DISTRICT GROWTH" TO ALL INCLUSIVE DISTRICTS? HOW DID MIDDLETOWN DO? YOU ARE PICKING AND CHOOSING WHAT WILL PRESENT A MORE FAVORABLE PICTURE AS OPPOSED TO REPORTING THE SLOW PROGRESS SIDE OF THINGS ALSO.

Once the district improves its early childhood education, Rasmussen said, “Watch us go.”

BUT WE'VE HEARD THE TALK OF "WATCH US GO" BEFORE FROM PRIOR SUPERS WHO TOLD US THE CHANGES WILL REALLY IMPROVE THINGS. TO DATE, THEY HAVEN'T AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DAYS OF HARRY EASTRIDGE IN THE 80'S.

C'MON RASMUSSEN....DARE TO BE DIFFERENT. DON'T BE LIKE THE OTHER SUPERS. DARE TO CONFRONT AND REPORT THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE. TAKE CHARGE. MIGHT BE MORE BELIEVABLE AND GAIN MORE RESPECT FOR THE DISTRICT THAT WAY. IN THE MEANTIME, STOP DANCING AROUND THE PROBLEMS, DELAYING THE FIXES AND START MAKING REAL CHANGES THAT PRODUCE REAL RESULTS. ANYONE CAN PUT IN THEIR TIME WITHOUT ATTACKING THE ISSUES. IT'S YOUR JOB AND YOU ARE PAID WELL TO DO IT.