Limestone County Schools’ top official expressed exasperation Tuesday by the state Department of Education’s recent decision to stop using the ACT Aspire to track student development.

“I argued to keep the ACT Aspire another year, not because I’m in favor of it, but because we’ve gone through three (standardized) tests in five years,” Sisk said. “How we can we track students if it keeps changing every year?”

The state DOE will switch to the GlobalScholar test next year after the U.S. Department of Education deemed that ACT Aspire was not aligned with what schools were teaching, Sisk said after the meeting.

Board member Bret McGill voiced concern that the school system had already spent money on ACT Aspire preparation materials and will now turn around and spend more money on the new test. However, Sisk said after the board meeting that the state would support the GlobalScholar test and materials.

Sisk told McGill he had no control over the DOE’s actions, but he plans to meet with teachers in the fall and explain the importance of the new test.

He said there are tests that shape instruction as well as tests that are informative, and so far, the school system has used the informative tools to develop curriculum.

“We’ve used GlobalScholar to shape instruction, but it’s not a summative piece,” he said, explaining the test hasn’t yet been used for student evaluation. “This will evaluate the district so there’s a greater emphasis on test administration and test preparation. It’s a lot more rigorous.”

McGill then asked what would happen if Limestone County board members deviated from the state’s decision. Sisk said board members have no choice when it comes to standardized testing, and though he has never challenged the issue, he thinks the state could withhold funding.

Sisk said he doesn’t agree with the state’s decision about the test, nor does he agree with the state’s decision to continue using the A-F report card.

“The state is like a caboose on a train derailing,” he said. “We’ve watched state after state after state abandon A-F report card and we’re going to stay on that track. (The report card) doesn’t take into account high poverty rates, or the strengths and weaknesses of a community. They’ve tried to apply a one-size-fits-all measurement.”

Contracts

Board members approved the following contract renewals and transfers:

• Cade Baker as principal at Blue Springs Elementary School.

• Glen Garner as principal at Cedar Hill Elementary School.

• Keith Harrell as principal at Clements Elementary School.

• Bill Tribble as principal at Elkmont High School.

• Rebecca Daniels as principal at Piney Chapel Elementary School.

• Louis Gordon as principal at Tanner High School.

• Charlotte Craig as principal at West Limestone High School.

• Robbie Lauderdale transferred from assistant principal at East Limestone High School to assistant principal at Blue Springs Elementary School.

• Susan Mullins from assistant principal at Clements High School to assistant principal at East Limestone High School.

• Ben Campbell from assistant principal at East Limestone High School to assistant principal at Clements High School.

• Russ Cleveland as assistant principal at Tanner High School to assistant principal at West Limestone High School.

• Greg Gray from assistant at West Limestone to Tanner High School.

“I know there are a lot of transfers, some willing, some not, but everyone is employed by the school board not the school,” said board chairman Bradley Young in the meeting’s closing comments. “We want everyone to put forth every effort.”

In other business, the board:

• Heard from auditor Randy O’Bannon, who reported a clean audit for three county schools;

• Approved an agreement between Owens Elementary School and Shred-It for document destruction services;

• Approved contracts with Brainspring for Phonics First Training for Sugar Creek Elementary ($7,312.95), Elkmont Elementary ($5,975), Tanner Elementary ($4,922.95) and Limestone County Schools ($1,195). Title I and Title II funds will be used;

• Approved Title I technology funds to be used to buy technology equipment and licenses for $35,279.35 at Cedar Hill Elementary;

• Approved Title I technology funds to buy 10 ViewSonic 65-inch LCD commercial display TVs and mounts to use in Clements High School for $16,030;

• Approved the Alabama Association of School Boards annual membership renewal fee of $14,000, which Sisk said was mandated by the state; and

• Approved the National School Boards Association annual membership renewal fee for $5,335.

Christ asked if membership is mandatory and Sisk said they could get away with not being a member, but board members wouldn’t be eligible for national event training.