Published: August 04, 2009 11:27 am         

Monticello School students return to class on Aug. 10

Monticello — It's nice to get a summer break, but this is the time of year that

Monticello Superintendent Donnie Robison looks forward to‹when the students

come back to class. Robison recently talked about the new school year, which

begins for Monticello students on Monday, August 10.

While there are few physical changes at the school this year, there is

one big change that Monticello‹and school districts across the state‹will

see this year. It will be without the CATS assessment as a measurement of

success or failure.

"This is the first year we will start the school year knowing that CATS

is not going to be used in the same way that it has been in the past," said

Robison.

Students will take the CATS assessment, but it will not be used as the

achievement measure as it was before. That's okay with Robison, who has not

been a big fan of CATS.

Instead, Robison is excited about the new measures of achievement that

will provide instructors with more immediate data on students.

"Instead of waiting until two or three months into the new school year,

we can know by the end of the week how students are performing," said

Robison.

He said this will be a tool for teachers. They can pinpoint the students

that have mastered a concept and those who are having problems and need more

help. It also improves communications with parents, allowing teachers to

provide them with more up-to-date information about their children.

That also helps the district keep its focus on the students.

"Every decision that is made is made with the kids in mind," said

Robison.

Orientation for Monticello students was held this week, beginning

Monday. Orientation concluded on Tuesday, when middle school and high school

students had the opportunity to pick up schedules and locker assignments and

to visit classrooms.

"It gives our students a chance to get a head start on the first day,"

said Robison. "It makes them feel more at home, and it allows us to actually

have school on the first day....We get a lot of of the paperwork over at

orientation and by 9 a.m. on the first day of school we have kids in

classrooms actually working."

Opening Day for staff at Monticello School will be Wednesday, August 5.

There were no major projects at Monticello School over the summer. The

science classrooms got a new roof, after sustaining damage during last

winter's ice storm. Robison said the next major construction project for the

district will be the baseball/softball complex, which they are currently

look at funding options for.

School staff who work during the summer saw a little different schedule

this year. They worked four ten-hour days, which Robison said translated

into some savings. He noted that electric bills were about one-third of what

they were in a comparable period last year.

Robison said that staff members liked the four day work week, and there

was no drop in services.

This year's school calendar is very similar to last year. It includes

the traditional fall break, breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a

traditional spring break. The school day will begin at 8 a.m. and will

conclude at 3 p.m., which is the same as last year.

Robison noted that bus schedules will be about the same, though routes

could take a little longer the first few days.

Anyone with any questions about Monticello School or about

transportation should contact the school for more information.

     

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