Board of Ed Discusses Test Scores

The Plainview-Old Bethpage members learned of changes to the state's examinations and concerns about last year's test scores at Monday's meeting.

Assistant Superintendent Jill Gierasch introduced changes being made to the New York State ELA and math examinations and what it means for Plainview-Old Bethpage students. 

Gierasch shared with the board and meeting attendees new requirements, including ."extended test times and an increase in questions."

In 2011, ELA scores grades 3-8 seemed to fall within the district, but math scores generally remained steady or improved. Board trustee Ginger Lieberman expressed her dissatisfaction with the falling test scores.

"I'm disappointed," said Leiberman. "We've always been ahead of Nassau County, not down. Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up and our kids weren't prepared.

Local resident and parent in the POB community, Stephanie Nelkens was also concerned and thought there could be more done.

"I looked at scores available online and if you look at the two middle schools, there were two grades that scored substantially different in ELA," she told the board. "It was a big difference and maybe there's some good stuff going on in certain areas that you could replicate."

At the end of the report, School Board President Gary Bettan assured the board and community that he is confident the students and faculty can turn those scores around like they did with math in recent years.