River Ridge High School Test Scores at Five Year Highs

By MICHAEL MILLER | For The Prairie Advocate News

HANOVER – The River Ridge School District Board heard an an encouraging report from Principal Mike Foltz, which revealed that the District’s High School Math, Reading and Science test scores were at five year highs, at the Board’s September 17th regular meeting.

The meeting was attended by members Matt Wild, Barb Schaible, Merri Sevey, Dr. Allen Crist, President David Howard and Raymie Diestelmeier, with Don McLane absent. Also present were Superintendent Albrecht, High School/Middle School Principal Mike Foltz, Elementary Principal Beau Buchs, and Secretary Kay Bailey.

The meeting began with a detailed summation of the District’s Virtue/Steele Scholarship fund that is held at the Galena State Bank and Trust, Co, from Mr. Kim Keuter.

Area Vocational representative Diestelmeier told the Board that the AVC Board had formed a Project Lead the Way Committee, and that Albrecht had volunteered to become the District’s representative (each district will have one representative). He also reported that the $40,000.00 matching grant for roof repair was received, and that the AVC is also putting out bids for repair of the whole roof as well as half of it.

Albrecht briefly touched on the April 9th School Board elections, noting that four seats will be open. September 25th will be the first day that candidates may pick up their packets and begin the process of obtaining signatures on petitions.

The superintendent also spoke briefly on the performance growth goals-Performance Evaluation Model presented by Foltz and Buchs, in accordance with new state legislation. This model will guide the evaluations of instructors by principals. The board fully approved the model.

Buchs reported that 168 families were present at the Meet the Teacher night, comprising 75 percent of parents. Foltz reported that the high school incentive testing program went well, with very positive results. Foltz thanked the Parent Teacher Organization for sponsoring the prizes. High school Math, Reading and Science scores were at five year District highs. Good results were also reported from the Middle School, with Math and Science scores in the 90 percent range and Reading scores in the 80 percent range.

Albrecht said that so far he was pleased with the good attitude and polite behavior of the students this year, and touched on continuing efforts to incorporate a greenhouse at River Ridge. He also noted that there will be a service animal (a labradoodle) present at the school this year, one which will be able to provide medical alerts.

The Board accepted with regret the letter of resignation from Wolfgang Rohm as school custodian, and in a related matter, approved the hiring of Jeff Schoenhaar and Jim Holland as full time custodians. Mike Hoskins and Cole Havens were also employed, as paraprofessionals.