NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical School students did well overall in the new MCAS tests but is still struggling to overcome the higher goals that come with its proficiency.

 

 

The accountability standards for the so-called MCAS 2.0, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, have changed to remove the levels that had categorized schools. Instead, the Department of Education rates schools based on meeting expectation and whether "intervention" is needed to improve student scores. 

 

The sophomore scores saw a dip but the principal said that class was already known to have some educational challenges for a number of reasons. However, scores were still above the state average. 

 

The problem is the school has been high achieving for some time so evaluations based on advancing students to proficiency is more difficult because of the high number of proficient student. 

 

"Two years ago had zero students failing [English language arts] and this year had .8 ... when you have the 100 percent pass the ELA test and then have one person not, but in the eyes of the state that's a decrease in performance so you get whacked for that," he said.

 

So now, the state is also looking at a point system comparing the school against past performance on a range of factors and other schools on average.

 

"It's a big convoluted formula on how you're performing," Kratz said. Factors such as high school graduation rates absenteeism, advanced coursework, and other areas including test proficiency, are weighted to create an accountability average. "They say this is your attendance rate for the last five years, this is your new target. They're coming up with individual targets for each school ... meet them you'll pick up points." 

 

The School Committee also heard presentations from the students in SkillsUSA and Business Professionals of America. 

 

The school's SkillUSA chapter, as presented by chapter officers Kaylee Baumgartner, Madison Harrington, Bree Gazaille and Johnny Daub, had a banner year last year, winning 15 gold medals, 23 silver medals and 13 bronze medals at the district competition. Students picked up seven gold, nine silver and a bronze at state competition and nine students attended the national competition in Louisville, Ky., bringing home two bronze medals.

 

The chapter has also been involved with community service by raising funds and participating in the annual Buddy Walk of the Berkshires the last two years, making holiday cards and working on the giving tree for Louison House family shelter, packaging meals for Meals on Wheels and volunteering to serve hot cocoa for PopCares at the nonprofit's Christmas tree sales. 

 

The chapter also hosted a pancake breakfast for PopCares and several members became junior board members. The students are planning more activities including designing a PopCares T-shirt and hosting a fundraiser at Mingo's. They're also planning a fundraiser similar to the flamingo flocking by creating a sign with the school's mascot, a hornet, and the phrase "You've been stung" for people can buy and surprise friends with.

 

PopCares, which raises funds for local residents dealing with cancer, honored the students at the organization's annual Chicken Dinner and Auction on Saturday night. 

 

The students said they are also getting prepared for the rounds of competition that will begin next year, first at McCann and then in Marlborough.

 

Their theme for this year is "career ready" and they will be attending a team building exercise at the annual fall state leadership conference in Marlborough next month and hope to bring back what they've learned to the whole school community.

 

The local BPA has also been busy, said presenters Harrington, Baumgartner, Elissa Fink and Abigail Wojcik. The chapter is about a dozen years old and has attended nationals every year. It has brought home 74 top 10 awards, 16 of which were top three awards. Last year, the chapter brought home 23 awards from the state conference including first-place finishes in human resource management, administrative support, integrated office and advanced spreadsheet.

 

The chapter also competed at the national conference in Dallas, taking first in advanced spreadsheets and placing in the top 10 in administrative support teams. This year, they will be attending regional and state conferences and expect to compete in the nationals in Anaheim, Fla., in May.

 

We're very proud of them," said Superintendent James Brosnan. "We're on a national level compete and be successful. I think it's a terrific testament to you and your advisers."

 

He said the programs were deeply rooting the students in success and community service.

 

"We're extremely proud of those kids they," said Chairman Gary Rivers. "I'm really quite impressed at what they do."

 

The School Committee also took a tour of the newly renovated nurse's office that offers more privacy and confidentiality for students and of the CAD lab, where they heard from instructor Joshua Meczywor.