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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-05-19, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2005. North Huron opts out of Auburn Hall agreement By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor North Huron council opted not to enter into an agreement with other municipalities for Auburn Community Hall at the meeting Monday night. Major changes planned to boost OSSLT results By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Major changes will be made in 2005-06 to try boosting province­ wide success rates in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), -a standardized Grade 10 assessment that’s required for high school graduation. Since its introduction in 2002, the OSSLT has been held over two days in October, with the most recent edition being administered last fall to the current group of Grade 10s. There will be no 2005 edition, however, as the test will now be administered in March, thereby allowing for more extensive preparation throughout the Grade 10 study year. In addition, it will now be a single-day assessment, with the next one occurring on March 29, 2006. Last year, the Education ministry reacted to poor OSSLT success rates by creating the Ontario Secondary In the agreement, it was deemed that North Huorn would cover 25 per cent of capital and operating expenses. However, council had earlier expressed concern with this as they felt it was too high when one considered the number of North Huron taxpayers within the village. School Literacy Course, aimed at assisting students who have difficulty performing under high-pressure test environments. Individual reports for each participating student were also introduced for this year, with the goal of enabling teachers to target the preparation tactics for those who must rewrite the test. “We really got very little back before, in terms of what could be done to help each student,” explained Avon Maitland District School Board assessment coordinator Wally Wc aster, during a regular board meeting Tuesday, May 10. Recently-released results from the October, 2004 tests show improved results from the previous year. Among academic-level Grade 10s. 94 per cent succeeded on the 2004 OSSLT, compared to 90 per cent in 2003. And among applied-level students, last fall’s success rate was 62 per cent, compared to 49 per cent in 2003. On Monday, clerk-administrator John Stewart said that upon further investigation it was noted that the number of East Wawanosh households within Auburn worked out to 11 per cent. “The amount we have in the budget at this point from using that 11 per cent.” Results — both old and new — from the Avon Maitland and Huron- Perth Catholic District School Boards, however, show success rates in this district have remained consistently ahead of the provincial trend. In 2003, for example. 95 per cent of Avon Maitland’s Academic-level Grade 10s passed the test. And at the May 10 meeting. Webster informed trustees the most recent test — including a 98 per cent success rate for academic-level and a 78 per cent success rate for applied-level students — was no different. “We’re very pleased with the results,” he said, before explaining highlights from the October, 2004 assessment. At the Catholic board, meanwhile, education superintendent Martha Dutrizac issued a news release stating “we are encouraged that the students of our secondary Retirement Sale Our entire inventory must go! Stewart recommended that rather than enter into an agreement, council make an annual donation based on the 11 per cent, to the Hall. “This is similar to what Central Huron does for the Blyth arena. There would be no agreement, but we are funding a portion of the schools performed above the provincial average.” Overall among students taking the OSSLT for the first time, there was an 89 per cent success rate in the Avon Maitland board and an 88 per cent success rate in Huron-Perth Catholic. Among those trying it for the second or third time. 78 per cent of Avon Maitland participants were successful, compared to 82 per cent in the Catholic board and 62 per cent province-wide. On a school-by-school basis, the top success rates'in Huron and Perth were 96 per cent at Stratford Central, 95 per cent at St. Marys DCVI, 91 per cent at Stratford St. Michael and 90 per cent at South Huron District High School in Exeter. Those closest to the provincial average of 82 per cent — although still above it — were Mitchell District High School at 83 per cent, costs. Stewart added, “I feel it is unrealistic to pay the 25 per cent when so few of the households are within our township.” Council passed a motion in favour of Stewart’s recommendation of 11 per cent funding to the Auburn Hall. and 84 per cent at Goderich District Collegiate Institute and Clinton’s St. Anne’s Catholic and Central Huron secondary schools. Other success rates were 88 per cent at Listowel District and Stratford Northwestern secondary schools, and 87 per cent at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham. Explaining the more detailed results, Webster asked Avon Maitland trustees to take specific note of a gender comparison. He said success rates among Avon Maitland males increased by 14 per cent from October, 2003, almost erasing a significant gap from their female counterparts and pulling them well ahead of males across the province. “This, I think, speaks to some of the interventions we’ve been putting in place in our schools, around gender disparity,” the assessment co­ ordinator said. Pouring it on Darrell Woods was at the grill on pancake duty for the Legion Auxiliary’s Campvention 2006 breakfast at Blyth Memorial Hall this past weekend. (Vicky Bremner photo) For detailed information about the new or visit www.ontariobt © Ontario Paid for by the Government of Ontario