When Onalaska and Morton schools were identified as “required action status” districts in 2011, leaders could have scoffed at the analysis.
Rather than that, though, each institution made changes to vastly improve their learning environments for students.
Both schools used the less-than-flattering designation — and the financial resources it offered — to chart a new course.
Onalaska and Morton were among three schools to be officially removed from a state list of the eight lowest achieving school districts this week.
The State Board of Education’s announcement Tuesday was a formality.
The school districts were told of the news in March.
The official declaration by the state provides many reasons to celebrate, though.
The Onalaska School District had double-digit gains from 2011 to 2014 in reading, science and math at the middle school level.
There was a 30 percent improvement in math and reading scores alone.
Morton Junior-Senior High School also showed significant increases among test scores in the seventh and eighth grades, particularly in math and writing. Seventh-grade math, which had a 24 percent pass rate in 2011-12, jumped to 56.5 percent in 2013-14. Writing jumped up 12 points at the same grade level.
The schools each used different methods to improve the quality of education offered to students in their districts.
You can read about many of the measures in today’s edition.
A comment by Onalaska School District Superintendent Jeff Davis in March remains inspiring.
“It’s good news, and it’s great because most of our middle school staff that were here when the RAD announcement was made are still here,” Davis said. “But this isn’t the destination, this is still the journey. We’re still looking for ways to continue to improve what we do.”
Educators at both school districts endured negative headlines as the state listed them as poor performers, and now they deserve public praise for making corrections that will aid in the success of students for years to come.
The announcement also proves, despite ongoing education funding shortfalls, that intervention from the state and federal government can have positive impacts.
The schools have benefitted from thousands of dollars in investments from the federal government.
Credit goes to the educators who accepted the need for change and propelled their students to a new, better learning experience.
Also appreciated is the understanding that while this week’s announcement is great news, the road to providing a great education to our children is never-ending.
There will always be need for changes and improvements.
Morton and Onalaska have illustrated what can happen when that fact is embraced and implemented into positive action.
