By Donna
Williamson
Opelika Observer

Jean Miller, assistant superintendent of curriculum, presented the ASPIRE test data at the December meeting of the Opelika City Schools’ Board of Education. The ASPIRE test, which is state mandated, is given in third grade through seventh grade and will also be given this year in 10th grade. “This test is a process for us; however, we are seeing steady growth,” Miller said.
According to Miller, students will not take the ASPIRE test on computers this year. Instead the answers will be handwritten. “We want to own our test scores,” she said.
Dr. Farrell Seymore, Opelika High School principal, and Katie Murray, secondary resource teacher, presented the ACT data. Seymore explained that the ACT measures college readiness and that the state pays for all Opelika High School juniors to take the ACT.
Murray identified numerous activities which are available to students to help them increase their ACT scores. “Students have a list of online resources, along with ACT prep classes. Teachers are also including ACT strategies in their daily lesson plans,” she said. “We have purchased ACT prep software and in January all juniors will take a mock ACT.”
Nancy Olaveson, child nutrition director, presented the 2015-2016 average monthly participation percentages for child nutrition.
In other business the board also:
-approved a request for both Opelika High School show choirs to attend a competition in Poplarville, MS on Feb. 4 and 5.
– approved the superintendent’s request to negotiate a contract to clear the wooded area at Opelika High School.
-approved personnel recommendations of employment, transfers, resignations, and one leave of absence.