Superintendent addresses future of local schools

Four Bloomington High School South students perched on the thinly carpeted steps in the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center. Student Dan Fuson had a guitar slung across his chest, and he played and sang as the other three harmonized.

Meanwhile, students, teachers, principals and community members milled around the room, clutching coffee, spoons and star-shaped pastries.

Judith DeMuth, superintendent of the Monroe County Community School Corporation, delivered the county’s first state of the schools address at 8 a.m. Thursday.

The address followed an exhibition by students that featured many projects, such as a silver robot arm that whirred, grabbed and dunked a basketball through student Alex Knox’s arms. Visual arts students presented painted masks, paintings flashing across a monitor and intricately carved busts.

Other students showcased community service they had performed.

Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, was one of several to thank those in attendance and praise
DeMuth’s work.

“We believe in our school system,” Gillenwater said. “We believe in our
superintendent.”

She said she and others at the Chamber encourage community support and have been pleased to see it in the past. She cited the MCCSC School Tax Levy Referendum, passed in November 2010, which raised property taxes 14 cents for six years to benefit the school corporation.

“We’re also excited to see how the community’s investment in the schools with the recent referendum pays out,” Gillenwater said.

Tom Bunger, MCCSCpresident of the board of directors, said the recent changes to MCCSC’s finances support and reflect community values.

“That’s one of the things about education in Monroe County,” Bunger said. “Whenever I speak, I say we value it.”

DeMuth’s first words as she took the podium praised MCCSC students. She smiled and nodded at student booths as she spoke.

“It really doesn’t matter what I say,” DeMuth said. “When you see what you saw this morning, that’s what it’s about.”

DeMuth presented slides with numbers she said set MCCSC apart. These include a higher-than-state average number of English language learners, free and reduced lunch recipients and students from outside city limits. She reminded the audience that MCCSC serves 10,820 students and is the fourth largest employer in Bloomington.

She said test scores, which are important to the State Board of Education, will be a priority going forward. DeMuth showed a chart of ISTEP scores by grade level and showed that, while MCCSC’s ISTEP scores are often above the state average, there are few grades that have passed 80 percent or more students and none that have passed 90 percent.

“We have our challenges there,” DeMuth said.

But MCCSC’s average scores for the ACT college entrance exam are more impressive, which DeMuth showed with a chart.

“Our schools score well above Indiana and the nation,” she said. “However, we always have to make sure our schools are prepared.”

DeMuth also discussed alternative learning methods used by Monroe County schools.

In addition to courses in new technology and visual arts, the high schools offer many Advanced Placement courses. Students at Bloomington High School North can earn up to 42 college credits before graduation, and students at BHSS can earn up to 39,
DeMuth said.

An area that many schools have had to streamline after state education financial cuts is second language courses, DeMuth said. Yet MCCSC has not had to do so. BHSN offers French, German, Spanish, Latin, Japanese and Greek, and BHSS offers French, German, Spanish and Latin. Several middle schools also offer French and Spanish.

“I have to thank the community for this referendum,” DeMuth reiterated, saying the schools could not have kept the language programs without it.

DeMuth said 92 percent of the funds from the referendum are used to pay salaries and benefits, enabling the schools to hire teachers who can lead many diverse programs. Of the overall budget, which is $104,942,021, 69 percent pays salaries
and benefits.

“We’re very fortunate that the majority goes toward resources for our students,” DeMuth said.

After recapping statistics and concerns from previous years, DeMuth named six main goals for 2012. She said she wants to focus on safety, improving test scores, accountability for referendum funds, introducing and teaching new technology, reassessing the corporation’s mission, vision and core values statement and using the 55-minute extension of the school day efficiently.

The extended school day project is directed by the Community Enhancement Program with help from students at the Kelley School
of Business.

The project seeks to evaluate the efficiency of the extra minutes and the extension’s benefit to students, staff and parents.

“With all the demands, that has worked out wonderfully,” DeMuth said.
Overall, DeMuth said continuing excellence, remaining accountable and focusing on student achievement are the goals of MCCSC officials.

“You are all integral partners,” DeMuth said. “I want to thank each and every one of you.”