Always room for improvement in Dist. 220

Despite the fact that both Barrington Area Unit District 220 middle schools met state standards this year, officials do not plan to rest on their laurels.

On Tuesday, the middle schools presented plans to the school board on how improvement can be made in the coming year.

Overall, more than 90 percent of the middle school's sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders met or exceeded the state standards.

"We are very pleased with our scores," said Art Fessler, principal at Barrington Middle School Prairie Campus. "But, we know we can always grow and improve."

With that in mind, Fessler, as well as Barrington Middle School Station Campus Principal Craig Winkelman, said they are implementing several new strategies designed to increase student performance.

In reading, Fessler said the schools will be using several different tests throughout the year, not just the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, to gauge where students stand.

"We want to use a multitude of assessments," Fessler said.

By using the different tests, like the Measures of Academic Progress exams, Winkelman said teachers will be provided with more accurate information on their students.

"We are using it so we have current data," Winkelman said.

Fessler said teachers in all subject areas will be incorporating some reading strategies into their classes.

"We are trying to get more reading instruction across all content areas," Fessler said.

Officials said all math and science teachers will be encouraged to use the same terminology, so students can learn a common vocabulary.

Special courses may also be added.

"We want to create a special advisory course to provide extra help (to the students)," Fessler said.

School board member Tim Hull said he was happy to see the improvements are designed to increase student achievement and not just raise test scores.

"This isn't just about trying to get scores (up)," Hull said. "You are going far beyond that. I think that will really pay off."

Earlier this year, Barrington High School, the only school in the district not to meet state standards, presented its school improvement plan to the board.

As a way to try and bring up student achievement, the school has developed a freshman reading program, added a full-time specialist and brought in a retired reading teacher to serve as a consultant. The high school also developed a special math academy for struggling students.