By Tom Gilchrist
For The Advertiser
MAYVILLE — Using data from a January report by Michigan’s Bridge Magazine, Mayville Community Schools district resident Robert DeCoe takes exception to a Board of Education member’s claim that Mayville has seen a “wonderful turnaround” in academic achievement.
“The facts don’t bear it out,” DeCoe told the board at its Feb. 11 meeting, citing the Bridge Magazine report examining which Michigan public school districts and public charter schools are exceeding expectations.
Of 540 public school districts and public charter schools in the database ranking schools for “raising student achievement above expected scores for the student body’s income level,” Mayville ranked 442nd. Among Mayville’s nearby districts, Kingston ranked 85th, with Vassar ranking 184th, Marlette 239th, Millington 349th, Caro 403rd and LakeVille 458th.
DeCoe also cited an October 2013 report by Bridge Magazine on truancy rates, which found Mayville has a 16 percent truancy rate, higher than nearby districts.
“You have to have the kids in school to teach them,” DeCoe said. “You can’t expect them to learn if they’re not there.”
In the Jan. 29 edition of The Advertiser, Mayville board Vice-President Dr. Richard Horsch said retiring Superintendent Rhonda Blackburn has led a “wonderful turnaround” in academic achievement by students.
At the Feb. 11 board meeting, Horsch noted the Mayville district’s ranking using the Michigan Department of Education’s Accountability Scorecards for 2012-2013.
Among nine Tuscola County districts, Reese received 75 percent of possible points, with Mayville in a four-way tie for second — with Cass City, Kingston and Unionville-Sebewaing Area — at 74.1 percent.
“The Michigan Department of Education is the most reliable source out there,” Horsch said. “That is what we use. They say that we are one of the top-ranked schools in the county — we’re tied (for second) at the top. That’s the most comprehensive survey ever conducted of student achievement. We say we’ve got a ways to go yet.”
The state has designated Mayville High School as a “High-Progress Reward School,” meaning Mayville High ranks “in the top five percent of schools making the greatest academic progress over the previous four years,” according to the state. Of the 4,247 public schools in Michigan, only 347 are deemed “Reward Schools” based on high performance, high progress or for outperforming their expected ranking or outperforming other similarly-situated schools.
In a letter to the Mayville district from State Superintendent Mike Flanagan, he stated Department of Education officials “hold a sincere desire that you will share your knowledge and experience with other schools across the state that are facing similar challenges.”
State officials, Horsch said, “asked … ‘Will you be a mentor for other struggling schools?’ and I think that speaks for itself.”
Looking at the state’s School Accountability Scorecards for 2012-2013, Horsch said the Mayville district received “the highest score possible at every level except one — and that is the achievement of students in the bottom third of the class — and that is true for (Mayville) high school, that is true for grade school and that is true for junior high.”
Horsch stressed that “isn’t acceptable for the Mayville School District.”
Following the Feb. 11 board meeting, teacher Mark Hanson said Mayville has “a principal in place that is directing our curriculum, we know where we’re heading with it, and we have a school leadership team set up.” Hanson added that “This is going to take a little time, but I can assure you — once we’re done with the process — that we’re going to see the achievement of this district move forward.”