Carole Geary, PVSD assistant superintendent/curriculum, presented to the Pleasant Valley School District's board of directors a PowerPoint presentation of an overview of a recent report from the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assesment System (PVAAS).

She showed district, IU, and state scatter plot graphs that showed the relationship between student achievement data and student growth data."The district did quite well with all grades in the district that were tested, (4th-8th and 11th grades) meeting or exceeding the adequate achievement measure in math and reading. Most grades met or exceeded one year of growth in all categories. The data showed that 5th grade is an area that we need to monitor in that they fell a little short of meeting a year's worth of growth in reading. Overall, our buildings and district are doing quite well. It is important to keep in mind that the data does not account for demographic information," she said.PVAAS is a statistical analysis of PSSA assessment data, and provides districts and their schools with progress data to add to achievement data. This new lens of measuring student learning provides educators with valuable information to ensure they are meeting the academic needs of cohorts of students, as well as individual students.The PVAAS analysis is like an academic progress/growth chart like a child's physical growth charts utilized by a child's physician, which monitor a child's development, but they are just one of the indicators used by the physician to ensure a child is growing at the minimum expected level and on the trajectory to grow as expected.Dora Tartar, PVSD reading supervisor and Lori Hagerman, K-4 literacy coach, presented a PowerPoint presentation on the district's K-4 Reading Program. Ms. Hagerman demonstrated how the teacher tests and monitors students' reading progress. Data Analysis is a key factor, along with effective interventions and instruction on a continuous basis. Extensive teacher training and collaboration helps to maintain effective teaching strategies and the consistent monitoring of each student.Dr. Arnold thanked them for their reports and stated that they were "a fine example of the hard work our staff is putting into the literacy program for our students and the positive data is proof of their improvement. Ms. Geary, Mr. Newman and Mrs. Tartar are to be commended for their hard work as well as our staff. We've implemented these new programs and they work very hard to see that they are successful. These reports show that they are."School board member Linda Micklos, Monroe Career and Technical Institute representative, reported that 37 of its students brought home medals from the recent Skills USA competition and 14 of those were from Pleasant Valley with seven first place winners, three second place and four third places.Dr. Arnold said PV is very proud of its MCTI students and their accomplishments.Micklos also reported that the MCTI budget for 2011-2012 shows an increase of 1.85 percent more than last year.Board member James Spinola voted "No" for the approval of policy revisions.Dr. Douglas Arnold reported that to date PV has taken seven snow days with June 10, as of now, as the final day for students. If there are any other snow days taken, it may affect the current commencement date of June 10.Dr. Arnold said that he and others from PV will be participating in the Bowl-a-thon for For Kids Sake on March 26 at Sky Lanes and are looking for more volunteers to bowl and for sponsors.The board approved with member Harvey Frable absent:*Hiring Bethany Swink as a substitute paraprofessional associate*Hiring Elizabeth Drinkwater as a substitute secretary*Hiring Mariealaena Miscannon as a long-term substitute for Marissa McKenna, effective the second semester of 2010-2011 at $39,000 a year prorated*Hiring Elaine Yampolsky as a long-term substitute biology teacher for Peter Pappalardo, effective Feb. 8, 2011 at a salary of $39,200 prorated.*Hiring Maria Centini as an English teacher substitute*a prorated annual salary adjustment to $67,015 for Erica Walters, Chestnuthill Elementary School assistant principal/grant writer, effective Jan. 26, 2011.*named Steve Borger as varsity softball coach, Michael Scheller as junior high softball coach, Darin Altemose as junior high softball coach and Eric Williams as high school set painter coach.*a no-increase Polk Elementary fire alarm preventative maintenance annual agreement with CSI for $1,380*the cost of $62.50 per student per day to Behavorial Health Associates for participation in the Career Employment Program. The amount of days per week is dictated by each child's IEP. The cost is in addition to regular tuition rates effective for the 2010-2011 school year.*$1,200 professional fee to the DaVinci Science Center for one day (six instructional hours) of professional development for 12-16 teachers/administrators on May 5, 2011*denying a taxpayer who was seeking relief from payment of $393.99 tax penalty