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Jaffrey-Rindge parents reiterate concerns over grading practices

Keene Sentinel - 9/19/2018

Sept. 18--RINDGE -- For the second week in a row, parents in the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District expressed concerns about new grading practices.

Some parents said they worry the new system -- under which academic performance is graded separately from "work habits" like punctuality and effort -- means less accountability for their children. Others, though, praised the school district for moving toward what they described as a more tailored approach.

They spoke during the public comments phase of the school board meeting Monday night at Rindge Memorial School. The discussion lasted more than an hour. It kicked off with three board members reading prepared remarks that acknowledged recent pushback from parents.

"We heard from you that our communication was poor, and we understand that," board member John McCarthy of Jaffrey said, adding that in the face of "questions and rumors," the board did not provide a "source of answers."

Last week, parents, students and teachers packed into a room at Conant High School. There, Brett Blanchard and David Dustin, principal and assistant principal for Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School and the high school, said the changes should make it easier to target specific areas that are giving students difficulty.

Most speakers at that meeting opposed the new grading policies. Several people complained that the school district had not adequately communicated the new system to parents and students and was unprepared to implement it.

Those concerns resurfaced Monday, with a parent and a student saying students are confused about how they're being graded.

"I'm still confused with why we're pushing through with things, when we're not prepared to handle them," parent Erin Chamberlain of Jaffrey said.

Tracy Roberts of Rindge said her daughter, a senior at Conant High, thrived under the old system.

"Your previous model -- working hard, making the grade, doing the homework, holding her accountable for the work that she has done -- has got her there," Roberts said. " ... I'm sorry, I'm just not on board with this. I feel like you're setting up a bunch of children to fail."

Patricia Barney, a teacher at Conant High School, said she sees ambitious juniors and seniors taking advantage of a policy giving teachers discretion to allow students to re-do tests and other assessments. Angling for scholarships, those students feel they can "continue to work on something until its perfect," she said.

Another point of contention was last year's addition of flex time, half-hour blocks that students can use for "enrichment" activities, including study time, tutoring, course offerings and physical fitness.

Chamberlain complained that students don't always have things to do during flex time, which was echoed by a couple other speakers.

Other attendees said they support the changes, or are at least open to them.

Lydia Hatch of Rindge said her daughter "is much happier" with the new grading system. "She has the ability to go at the pace that she is most comfortable ... in all areas now, whereas before there was more stress because there was less flexibility," Hatch said.

Karen Arsenault of Rindge said she had initially been skeptical of flex time, but likes that her daughter can use the time to exercise.

Toward the end of the discussion, Shauna Smith, a 6th-grade teacher at the middle school who has two children in elementary school, asked for more community support.

"Right now, what I feel when I walk into my classroom is nothing but turmoil," she said. "And to be honest with you, that starts at home. So if we are kind of in the social media frenzy of negative comments towards the school district and teachers, I personally have had enough, and it's starting to bleed into my classroom.

" ... What I am seeing is kids really coming in with defiant attitudes towards their teachers and towards this in general, not even giving it a chance," she said.

After the meeting, Superintendent Reuben D. Duncan said he appreciates the feedback from this and previous discussions.

"I feel that we're all, as a community -- whether it's comfortable or not -- we're growing together," he said.

Paul Cuno-Booth can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1409, or pbooth@keenesentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @PCunoBoothKS.

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(c)2018 The Keene Sentinel (Keene, N.H.)

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