|
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to
the Chassell Township Schools’ events
and annual report calendar. The calendar
includes dates for sports competitions,
school events, Board of Education
meetings and the grading periods. Also
included is our annual report. Annual
reports are intended to be widely
distributed in the community and making
it part of our calendar helps to
accomplish that goal.
CHASSELL
TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS GENERAL SCHOOL
INFORMATION
The Chassell
Township School District is a
Kindergarten through twelfth grade
public school. In 2006-2007 we educated
279 students. We have 20 teachers and
an almost equal number of support staff.
We have a dedicated and caring staff who
supply the students with respect, fair
and firm discipline and individual
attention.
Chassell
Township Schools are central to life in
this community and exemplify the
importance of schools to their
communities. The Chassell school system
is built on a strong family atmosphere
and continual interactions between
community groups such as the VFW and the
school. This year we will be in the
planning phase of a Service Learning
grant project which will directly
involve our students with the community.
The District
has a wide-ranging program involving
various student groups, band, recreation
and sports. The high school (7 - 12)
band has consistently received number
one ratings in the district and state
band festivals. The district curriculum
is augmented by the distance learning
room that brings in classes such as
Spanish and psychology and sends Finnish
classes to area schools. We also offer
on-line classes through Michigan Tech,
Gogebic, and the Michigan Virtual High
School.
Our school
facility includes three computer labs
for the use of our students. The
building is cabled for building-wide
networking and has direct Internet
access and e-mail service via the
area-wide fiber backbone. We have two
carts of laptops that are used by the
elementary to teach keyboarding. All
classrooms are fitted with projectors
that hook up to the teachers’ laptops
for power point and other presentations.
Wireless network connectivity exists
throughout the facility.
Our school
also has an active foundation that
provides funding to support the academic
programs of the school. Last year the
foundation funded half of the cost of a
complete upgrade to our big Mac lab.
This year the foundation will help with
the cost of replacing and upgrading all
of our teachers’ laptops.
CHASSELL
TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
41585 U.S. Highway 41 - P.O. Box 140
Chassell, Michigan 49916-0140
www.chassellschools.org
"Learning
For Life"
BOARD OF
EDUCATION
Doug Hamar,
President
Jim Tervo, Vice President
Betty Kalliainen, Secretary
Glenna Sprague, Treasurer
Chris Sayen, Trustee
Suzanna Tuomi, Trustee
Christopher Holmes, Trustee
SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE
PRINCIPAL’S
OFFICE
Michael
Gaunt
Superintendent
George Stockero
Principal
Jennifer Marshall
Executive Secretary
Beverly Panke
Principal’s Secretary
Jason Auel
Business Manager
Phone:
(906)523-4491 Fax: 523-4969
Phone: (906)523-4691 Fax:
523-4969
CURRICULUM
DEVELOPMENT
Every year we
continually review our curriculum to
access the needs of our students.
Michigan has set bench marks for every
grade. These benchmarks and standards
have been divided up into Grade Level
Content Expectations or GLCEs. Our
teachers review these GLCEs and
incorporate them into the curriculum.
The big news
from the past year is the Michigan Merit
Curriculum. Our state has passed a law
that sets a curriculum for every high
school student in the state of Michigan.
These new graduation standards will
begin with the class of 2011 or our
current eighth graders.
MICHIGAN
MERIT CURRICULUM
The Merit
Curriculum requires 16 credits for
graduation, which could be acquired
through subject and integrated (mixed
subject) classes, as well as, career and
technical education programs. Credits
include:
4
Credits Mathematics including
algebra I; geometry, algebra II;
including one credit in senior year
4
Credits English Language Arts
aligned with subject area content
expectations developed by MDE
3
Credits Science including
biology; physics or chemistry; one
additional science credit
3
Credits Social studies
including: .5 credit in government; .5
credit in economics; 1 credit each in
U.S. History, World History, and
Geography
1
Credit Physical
education/health credit guidelines to be
developed by MDE
1
Credit Visual, performing,
applied arts credit guidelines to be
developed by MDE
ADDITIONAL
GRADAUTION REQUIREMENTS:
In addition
to the credits outlined above, students
must take an on-line course or learning
experience; OR have the on-line learning
experience incorporated into each of the
required credits of the Michigan Merit
Curriculum. Beginning with the Class of
2016 students will need to complete 2
credits of a world language in grades
9-12; OR have an equivalent learning
experience in grades K-12. To help with
the world language experience, we will
provide Finnish to our elementary
students once every other week for
30minutes.
MEAP TESTS
MEAP tests
are standardized tests administered by
the State of Michigan in 3rd, 4th, 5th,
7th, 8th and 11th grades. They are
based on
standards or
benchmarks that are familiar to all
teachers in Michigan. There have been
changes in the grades of test
administration and the methods of
reporting student skills. Below are our
scores for grades 3 through 8. A
student can received a 1-4 score on each
subject area. The state deems a student
proficient he/she scores a 1 or 2 on the
test. Below are our students compared
to the state averages.
EIGHTH GRADE
Science:
Chassell % Proficient
95% State %
Proficient 75%
Math:
Chassell % Proficient
77% State %
Proficient 68%
Reading:
Chassell % Proficient
82% State %
Proficient 76%
Writing:
Chassell % Proficient
59% State %
Proficient 67%
Total English
Language Arts
Chassell % Proficient
73% State %
Proficient 71%
SEVENTH GRADE
Math:
Chassell % Proficient
78% State %
Proficient 64%
Reading:
Chassell % Proficient
78% State %
Proficient 80%
Writing:
Chassell % Proficient
67% State %
Proficient 65%
Total English
Language Arts:
Chassell % Proficient
83% State %
Proficient 76%
SIXTH GRADE
Social
Studies:
Chassell % Proficient
95% State %
Proficient 74%
Math:
Chassell % Proficient
100% State %
Proficient 69%
Reading:
Chassell % Proficient
100% State %
Proficient 83%
Writing:
Chassell % Proficient
77% State %
proficient 74%
Total English
Language Arts:
Chassell % Proficient
100% State %
Proficient 78%
FIFTH GRADE
Science:
Chassell % Proficient
94% State %
proficient 83%
Math:
Chassell % Proficient
94% State %
Proficient 76%
Reading:
Chassell % Proficient
94% State %
Proficient 84%
Writing:
Chassell % Proficient
65% State %
Proficient 57%
Total English
Language Arts:
Chassell % Proficient
94% State %
Proficient 78%
FOURTH GRADE
Math:
Chassell % proficient
100% State %
Proficient 85%
Reading:
Chassell % Proficient
94% State %
Proficient 85%
Writing:
Chassell % Proficient
56% State %
Proficient 45%
Total English
Language Arts:
Chassell
% Proficient 94%
State %
Proficient 78%
THIRD GRADE
Math:
Chassell % Proficient
83% State %
Proficient 88%
Reading:
Chassell % Proficient
83% State %
Proficient 87%
Writing:
Chassell % Proficient
83% State %
Proficient 52%
Total English
Language Arts:
Chassell % Proficient
83% State %
Proficient 79%
The State of
Michigan awards $2,500 to students who
receive Level 1 or Level 2 on the
Reading, Writing, Science and Math
tests. The Class of 2005 had 15 out of
23 (65%) who received this award and the
Class of 2006 had 8 out of 21(38%).
Eighteen students from the class of 2007
received this monetary award (58%).
ACT - COLLEGE
ADMISSION TEST
CTS National
2000-2001
21.9
21.0
2001-2002
21.8
20.8
2002-2003
20.7
20.8
2003-2004
23.0
20.9
2004-2005
24.0
20.9
2005-2006
21.8
21.1
2006-2007
20.7
Not available
Starting in
the year 2005 all juniors are
required to take the ACT. Prior to
2005, only college-bound students were
required to take it.
VOCATIONAL
TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Seven Copper
Country school districts are members of
the Consortium to provide Career
Technical Education Courses. This year
CTE classes are offered in Nurse’s Aide,
Computer Network Administration, Early
Childhood Education, Automotive
Technology and Health Careers. Last
year we had over nine students signed up
for these classes. Six seniors have
enrolled in these classes for next year.
Chassell also provides vocational
classes on site. These include small
engines, consumer automotive, basic
electronics/robotics, drafting, C.A.D.,
and wood shop.
CAREER
PREPARATION
Chassell
Township Schools adopted a new program
from the Michigan Department of
Education during 2000-2001, termed the
Career Pathways Initiative. Career
Pathways focuses on six career paths.
They are (1)Arts and Communication,
(2)Business, Management, Marketing and
Technology, (3)
Engineering/Manufacturing and Industrial
Technology, (4) Health Sciences, (5)
Human Services and (6) Natural Resources
and Agriscience. Students are
introduced to various careers throughout
elementary school. In eighth grade
there is a nine week course taught by
our guidance counselor that explores
careers in a more formal setting. Then
on paper and also electronically they
store information about their interests.
They will then be guided to make sure
they take the courses they need to
prepare for certain paths. These choices
and interests can be updated as needed,
but at least every year.
Our school
district also developed a six page
report on all the career preparation
that is already done in the elementary
school and high school. We have a
variety of speakers and field trips at
all age levels. Our guidance counselor
will be available Monday – Friday.
SCHOOL
ENROLLMENT
The
historical enrollment for the district
(as of the fall pupil count day each
school year) is as follows:
School Year Enrollment
2006-2007 279
2005-2006 289
2004-2005 311
2003-2004 314
2002-2003 325
2001-2002 312
2000-2001 333
1999-2000
307
RETENTION AND
DROPOUT RATE
Enrollment No. of
Graduates Dropout Rate
2001-02
22
22 0.0%
2002-03
27
24 11.1%
2003-04
22
21 4.5%
2004-05
23
21
8.0%
2005-06
21
20 5.0%
2006-07
31
30 4.0%
POSTSECONDARY
OPTIONS
The
Postsecondary Options Act provides that
students who meet certain criteria
enroll in college courses at nearby
colleges or universities. Students may
elect to receive college credit, high
school credit or, in some cases, both
high school and college credit for these
courses. The local school district is
required to pay for a prorated portion
of tuition costs. There will be three
students taking Calculus on line with
M.T.U. next year and two taking
Accounting through Gogebic.
SCHOOL
ACCREDITATION
The school
accreditation process has been replaced
by EDUCATION YES! and No Child Left
Behind legislation. We completed the
required paperwork on schedule this May.
Our School Report Card has been
published for the elementary and middle
school. Using an “A through E” scale we
have received a “B” in fourth grade and
an “A” in eighth grade. More importantly
we have been judged as making adequate
yearly progress in both of these
sections of our school. The high school
has not yet been rated as of press time.
You may access this information on the
internet by going to <michigan.gov/mde>
and clicking on Michigan School Report
Cards.
HIGHLY
QUALIFIED TEACHERS
We have
reviewed the qualifications of our staff
carefully. All are teaching in the areas
for which they are “highly qualified”
with one exception. Our physical
education teacher has finished taking
P.E./Health classes and is waiting to
take the state test in October. If we
had to replace a teacher for more than
six weeks with a non “highly qualified
teacher”, we would inform you.
CHASSELL
TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS NONDISCRIMINATION
POLICY
In compliance
with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, Title IX of the Education
Amendment Act of 1972, Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination
Act of 1975, it is the policy of the
Chassell Township School District that
no person shall, on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, age,
religion, marital status, or disability,
be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subjected
to discrimination during any program or
activity or in employment.
The following
individual has been designated to handle
inquiries regarding the
nondiscrimination policy: Mr. Michael
A.Gaunt, Superintendent, Chassell
Township Schools, P.O. Box 140,
Chassell, MI 49916.
CHASSELL
TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX
of the Education Amendment Act of 1972;
Title II of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990
Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age
Discrimination Act of 1975
Section I
- Any person believing that the Chassell
Township School District or any part of
the school organization has inadequately
applied the principles and/or
regulations of (1) Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, (2) Title IX of the
Education Amendment Act of 1972, (3)
Title II of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, (4) Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
and (5) the Age Discrimination Act of
1975, may bring forward a complaint,
which shall be referred to as a
grievance, to the local Civil Rights
Coordinator at the following address:
Mr. Michael A. Gaunt, Chassell Township
Schools, P.O. Box 140, Chassell, MI
49916
Section II
- The person who believes a valid basis
for grievance exists shall discuss the
grievance informally and on a verbal
basis with the local Civil Rights
Coordinator, who shall in turn
investigate the complaint and reply with
an answer to the complainant within five
(5) business days. The complainant may
initiate formal procedures according to
the following steps.
Step 1
- A written statement of the grievance
signed by the complainant shall be
submitted to the Local Civil Rights
Coordinator within five (5) business
days of receipt of answers to the
informal complaint. The coordinator
shall further investigate the matters of
grievance and reply in writing to the
complainant within five (5) business
days.
Step 2
- A complainant wishing to appeal the
decision of the Local Civil Rights
Coordinator may submit a signed
statement of appeal to the
Superintendent of Schools within five
(5) business days after receipt of the
Coordinator’s response. The
Superintendent shall meet with all
parties involved, formulate a
conclusion, and respond in writing to
the complaint within ten (10) business
days.
Step 3
- If unsatisfied, the complainant may
appeal through a signed written
statement to the Board of Education
within five (5) business days of
receiving the Superintendent’s response
in step two. In an attempt to resolve
the grievance, the Board of Education
shall meet with the concerned parties
and their representative within forty
(40) days of the receipt of such an
appeal. A copy of the Board’s
disposition of the appeal shall be sent
to each concerned party within ten (10)
days of this meeting.
Step 4
- If at this point the grievance has not
been settled to the satisfaction of the
complainant, further appeal may be made
to the Office for Civil Rights,
Department of Education, Washington,
D.C. 20202.
Inquiries
concerning the nondiscriminatory policy
may be directed to Director, Office for
Civil Rights, Department of Education,
Washington, D.C. 20202. The local
Coordinator, on request, will provide a
copy of the district’s grievance
procedure and will investigate all
complaints in accordance with this
procedure. A copy of each of the acts
and regulations on which this notice is
based may be found in the Civil Rights
Coordinator’s office.
SPECIALIZED
SCHOOLS INFORMATION - SPECIAL EDUCATION
In addition
to special programs and services
provided by the Chassell Township
Schools for children from birth through
25 years, special education is also
provided for children who are more
severely impaired at the Copper Country
Intermediate School District Learning
Center program in Hancock. The purpose
of the center program is to provide
classroom programs, specialized
equipment and supportive services for
children in a larger geographic area to
better meet their specific needs.
During the
2006-2007 school year, one student from
our district attended the elementary
social skills program at the CCISD; two
attended the MOCL classroom at Good Will
Industries; one attended the head start/
early childhood classroom at the CCISD;
two at the Hancock Public Schools; and 5
at the Houghton/Portage Township
Schools.
During the
1998-99 schoolyear, Chassell Township
School instituted a Special Education
Program. The program was started so
that the majority of Chassell Township
students that need special education
services could remain at the Chassell
Township School and not have to transfer
to another school district. Our
designation is a Resource Room and this
past year had 10 students who received
services there.
Students
requiring the services of a speech and
language therapist, occupational
therapist, physical therapist, school
social worker, or teacher consultant
receive these services in their own
school buildings. The therapists,
social workers, and teacher-consultants
are employed by the Copper Country
Intermediate School District and travel
to the Chassell Township School to work
with the children.
Ancillary
Services: # of Students
Speech
Therapy 5
Teacher-Consultant for Autistic 0
Teacher
Consultant for Visually Impaired 1
School Social
Worker 1
Physical
Therapy 1
Students are
placed in the appropriate program or
service through the Chassell Township
Schools’ Individual Planning and
Placement Committee process. The
specific needs of each child are
provided for by, and outlined in,
his/her Individualized Educational Plan
which may include basic classroom
programs, occupational, physical and
speech therapy, school social work,
school psychological testing, teacher
consultant, and other supportive
services.
Measures of
success include program outcome
indicators designed by the Michigan
Department of Education, as well as the
Program Effectiveness Review Project.
Each child’s Educational Plan includes
specific evaluation criteria and is
reviewed by school officials and the
parents at least annually. Marked gains
occur when students receive early and
continuous intervention services.
ADEQUATE
YEARLY PROGRESS
The Education
YES! program determines adequate yearly
progress by comparing the number of
students in level 1 and level 2 to a
predetermined state objective. The state
also uses numbers from the last three
years to calculate this for our school
because we have less than 30 students in
each class or sub group. If the group
has less than 30 members, it is not
considered statistically valid and
comparisons are not reliable. We were
determined to have AYP or Adequate
Yearly Progress in both the 4th and 8th
grades. High School has not yet been
designated.
The results
for 4th grade were 68% or 64% in levels
1 & 2 in English language Arts. This is
greater than the required 38%.
The 4th grade
results were 64% in levels 1 & 2 for
mathematics. This is greater than the
required 47%
The results
for 7th grade were 90.9% & 72.7% in
levels 1 & 2 for English language arts,
which exceeds the required 31%.
The 8th grade
results were 63.4% in levels 1 & 2 for
mathematics. Again this exceeds the
required 31%.
However the
state includes other years to have at
least 30 students to compare.
|
