LINN, Mo. - After a few tough years in the Osage R-2 School District, Superintendent Shawn Poysner, now in his second year, believes the district is poised for a turnaround.
The district earned 108.5 of the 140 points available - 77.5 percent - on its annual state performance report, made available by DESE last week.
The rural district faces academic challenges, but earned high scores for college and career readiness, attendance and graduation.
Academically, the district has seen drops in academic performance in all four categories: English/language arts; math; science and social studies. Four years ago, 64.6 percent of students were proficient or advanced in English/language arts. But by 2014, that number had dropped to 52.8 percent. Math scores dropped from 58.1 percent to 45.9 percent.
In nearly all of the academic subjects, the district is "approaching" Missouri's goal of becoming one of the Top 10 states by 2020, but isn't yet "on track" for reaching that goal. The district is doing better in other categories. For example, 71 percent of Osage students who took a standardized test like the ACT are at or above the state average.
Poysner said the district is focusing on "getting there" by updating the district's curriculum, providing more professional development to staff and asking teachers to collaborate more.
He noted the lower scores might be the result of high staff turnover, recent heavy revenues losses that led to budget cuts and families coping with poverty. According to DESE, 43.5 percent of Osage R-2's children are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches.
"I know what we need to do. I don't always have the money to do it all," Poysner said. "My basic philosophy is: If we're teaching the way we ought to be, then our kids are going to be learning and test scores will improve."
But he's optimistic the district has turned a corner. Summer school was recently extended, and voters approved a new elementary school, for which ground will be broken in November.
"We hired a lot of people two years ago (in 2012) and added staff this year," he said. "We've been pleased with our new hires and the gains they've made."
Introductory article:
State's MSIP 5 ranks performance, progress of 21 area schools
How 21 Mid-Missouri school districts fared:
- Blair Oaks School District MSIP
- Cole County R-1 School District MSIP
- Cole County R-5 School District MSIP
- Eldon R-1 School District MSIP
- Fulton Public Schools MSIP
- High Point R-3 School District MSIP
- Jamestown C-1 School District MSIP
- Jefferson City Public Schools MSIP
- Miller County R-3 School District MSIP
- Moniteau County R-1 School District MSIP
- Morgan County R-2 School District MSIP
- New Bloomfield R-3 School District MSIP
- North Callaway R-1 School District MSIP
- Osage County R-1 School District MSIP
- Osage County R-2 School District MSIP
- Osage County R-3 School District MSIP
- Prairie Home R-5 School District MSIP
- St. Elizabeth R-4 School District MSIP
- School of the Osage R-2 School District MSIP
- South Callaway R-2 School District MSIP
- Southern Boone School District MSIP