Spring brings testing, construction to District 94
The first day of spring has passed; spring break is well underway. As spring is a time of renewal, so it is that our students and staff take a bit of time to reboot and refresh prior to the commencement of the last leg of the school year.
A sure sign of spring for schools is testing season. This is the second year the state is providing high schools the SAT rather than the ACT. Not only will juniors take the SAT on Tuesday, April 10, but freshmen will take the PSAT 9 and sophomores the PSAT 10.
The PSAT 9 established a baseline measurement of college and career readiness, providing data that determines what students need to work on the most, assisting with course selection. The PSAT 10 serves as a check-in on student progress. The data enables us to pinpoint areas for development and the selection of appropriate courses.
Previously, the only practice opportunity given to students was a retired ACT exam given to 10th grade sophomores a year before the actual testing time frame and testing content that would not be covered until junior year. With the SAT, a full suite of assessments is available, allowing students in grades nine and 10 to take meaningful exams that are aligned to their current grade level curriculum.
The SAT, PSAT 9 and PSAT 10 are administered at no cost to our students.
Thanks to the support of our community last April, construction planning is well underway for renovation work, including the second-story addition that will be built over the newest portion of our school building (on the west side).
When built in 1999, the one-story structure was designed to support a second story should a future need arise. The future is now. The design is almost complete and will be unveiled at the school board meeting Tuesday, April 17; a public viewing of a video walk-through will be released shortly after.
Work scheduled for this summer includes plumbing and electrical work, mainly on the north side of our school building. Once work begins after school is out in May, access will be restricted to this area of the building. Also slated for this summer is the replacement of the bleachers in both Bishop Gym and the small gym. The current bleachers are more than 50 years old.
Graduation is just around the corner; it will be here before we know it. The arrival of spring allows our students a chance to refresh and reboot prior to putting their best foot forward during the final leg of the school year.
Welcome, spring!
• Doug Domeracki is superintendent of Community High School District 94. During the school year, his column appears monthly in Neighbor.