Controversy over Pikeville Ind. grading scale not over; members who voted against change to 10-point scale called out to explain their reasons...and they do
Appalachian News-Express, Pikeville, April 22, 2017
Pikeville grading scale still a point of controversy
BY JOSH LITTLE
Concerns about Pikeville Independent’s seven-point grading scale were brought before the Pikeville Independent Schools Board Tuesday at its regularly-scheduled meeting.
Last month, the board voted 3-2 against changing the grading scale to a 10-point scale. With board members Ann Carty, Forrest “Buddy” Beeler and Dr. Mark Myers voting against the change, and board members Ashley Brown and Dr. Kevin Pugh voting for change.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Bill Billips, community member and grandfather to students in the Pikeville Independent School District, asked the three members who voted against the change to state their reasoning.
“In March, a vote was taken to change the grading scale, and it was voted down,” Billips said to the board. “Just out of curiosity, for the three of you that voted against it — Mrs. Brown and Dr. Pugh made their case public for why they voted for change — I’d like to ask Mrs. Carty, Mr. Beeler and (Myers) to explain why you would vote against it.”
Carty said she believes it’s “easier” to “go lower.” She said expectations are the biggest teaching tool instructors have.
“Expectations are wonderful,” she said. “We expect them for our athletic teams, and we should expect them for our academics. I’m very concerned about, not just the grade a student gets, but the other things that he learns — his study habits, his attitude toward learning.”
Beeler said he believes if you “call backwards, you are going the wrong way.”
“I think it’s very important that we keep our students at that learning level,” he said. “And, I think they want it. I think they grasp that.”
Myers said he agrees with the district’s instructional supervisors and the superintendent and the research behind the grading scale that they presented the board with in the past.
Brown discussed a compromise grading scale that she proposed at the last meeting, with the seven-point scale in effect until students reach grade nine — at which point, their grades will affect their chances of scholarship money — then, the scale would change to a 10-point scale.
“Mrs. Brown, why do we have 40 percent of our students that come in that are not in our district,” Carty said.
Brown said it was due to the quality of education students receive in the Pikeville Independent School District.
“Okay, then why are they wanting to change it, I don’t understand,” Carty said. “… Here, they come in, then they say, ‘But let’s change.’”
Billips addressed Carty’s statement, saying that students come into the district for the curriculum and the quality of instruction, not the grading scale.
“We’ve already made the motion, and we’ve accepted the ruling so, we’re just going to move on now,” Myers said.
Other items the board discussed at the meeting included adjusting the 2017-18 school calendar to compensate for next year’s state basketball tournament, in case the basketball team returns. Pugh suggested adding in three extra days during the school year to make up for any days missed due to the tournament. The motion was tabled.
The board also accepted a bid of $48,980.69 from Custom Thermal Solutions (the lowest bid) for repairs on the junior high wing of the high school’s HVAC system.
The Pikeville Independent School Board meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the board located at 148 Second Street, Pikeville.