After a bevy of unplanned days off, the Platte County Board of Education agreed to a change in this year’s school calendar.
Friday, April 19 was going to be a day off for students but will now be in session.
That is the first of seven make up dates needed to help cover the nine weather days that forced the closure of schools.
The others are May 23-31. As of now, the eighth day is forgiven and the board can waive the ninth day.
If there are more weather issues there is some wiggle room. The 10th day can be forgiven but an 11th would have students in session on June 3.
Administration is hoping to avoid school extending to June, which could cause issues with summer school.
The dates for summer school have been tentatively set for June 3-29.
Summer school enrollment for incoming freshmen to next year seniors will be available next month.
Students currently in kindergarten through seventh grade have until April 12 to register via the parent portal on the school website.
Incoming kindergartners can enroll in summer school when completing regular registration.
Locations based on attendance areas for K-5 will be at Pathfinder and Compass (Siegrist/Compass attendance area); 6-8 will be at Barry and Paxton Center; 9-12 will be at Paxton and pre-k will be at Great Beginnings.
Academic Services
During the board meeting a report was given on the academic service date, measures, knowledge and analysis.
There were some good and bad that were mentioned in the slideshow.
In the good category, the district continues to perform above the state average in state-wide assessments — Missouri Assessment Program and End-of-Course Exam. The district also performed above state and global average on advanced placement exams in 2017-18.
Also, the district scored 100 percent in four of the five Missouri School Improvement Program. The categories with 100 percent were college and career readiness, attendance and graduation rate. The one that missed a perfect score was academic achievement, a 96.8 percent.
That placed Platte County sixth in the Kansas City metro area. Only Blue Springs and Grain Valley had 100 percents. Smithville (99.6), Lee’s Summit (99.3) and Kearney (99.1) scored higher than Platte County’s 98.9 percent.
In the areas that are room for improvement, such as a decrease in student performance in both math and English/Language Arts from third to eighth grade. Attendance percentage at the high school was listed as a ‘concern.’
Another area pointed out was having adequate support for classroom teachers to address special education students’ needs.
Platte County has scored at or above the state average for composite ACT results from 2014 through 2018.
In the AP exams and scores from 2013 to 2018, the district had its highest mark in teams of exams scoring ‘3’ or higher -- considered college/university credit. The percentage was 65.5, breaking the previous five-year high of 64.8 percent in 2016. Platte County score last year was above the state average of 62.1 percent.
The district stated it kept 94.4 percent of certified staff and 82.2 percent of classified staff over the past three years. Of the certified staff, 136 are between zero and five years with the district. The second-highest number is 74 between 11 to 15 years teaching. There are 42 with 16-20 years of service; 23 have between 21-25 years and five are at 26 years or more teaching. The average experience in the district it 13.2 years, above the state average of 12.4.
Platte County is also the state average in terms of average salary $53,866 ($49,300 is state average) and teachers with a master’s degree with 74.9 percent, well above the state average of 58.4 percent.
Other news
The district will offer driver’s education this year in summer school.
The course will be open to the the 48 eligible freshmen to juniors. Students must be 15 by May 31 and must possess a valid permit prior to June 3.
Enrollment information will be mailed on March 28 and the sign up link starts at 8 a.m. on March 29.
A Platte County R-3 stakeholder feedback night is slated from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10 at Platte County Middle School. The school will provide updates on the comprehensive strategic improvement plan, which sets and identifies goals for the district. Opportunities for comments on each building in the district will be available.