Escambia Suspends Computer Based Testing Another Day; Statewide Fallout Continues
March 4, 2015
The fallout continued Tuesday from the troubled rollout of the state’s online school-testing platform, with a pair of Senate Democrats asking Gov. Rick Scott to suspend the exams as the House released a first draft of its plan to deal with politically combustible testing issues.
For a second day, some school districts reportedly suspended at least some testing after technology problems roiled the first outing of the Florida Standards Assessment, a test meant to measure how well students are learning the state’s new education benchmarks.
The problems prompted Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas to suspend testing again Wednesday for all middle and high schools ,with hopes that computer-based testing can resume Thursday.
The exams were being closely watched as lawmakers grapple with how to overhaul a school accountability system that some educators and parents argue has become too overbearing.
In an update to districts that Education Commissioner Pam Stewart sent out Tuesday evening, she said that more than 150,000 eighth-, ninth- and 10th-grade students had been able to take the Florida Standards Assessment writing test — about a quarter of the students registered for that exam.
Stewart said American Institutes for Research, a non-profit group that signed a six-year, $220 million deal to design the tests, had already managed to make some fixes and boost performance.
“I assure you we are working with AIR around the clock to resolve reported technical difficulties,” Stewart wrote. “AIR has taken full responsibility for the issues and has dedicated all available resources to fixing the problem.”
The Department of Education has pointed out that students have up to two weeks, plus time for makeup tests, to take the 90-minute exam.
In a letter to Scott on Tuesday, Sens. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, and Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, blasted Monday’s troubles as “nothing less than a disaster for school districts and students across the state.”
“We are calling on you to immediately suspend the administration of these tests and allow time for educators to work out the problems, instead of using our children as guinea pigs for a flawed system,” the two senators wrote.
Scott has already halted a language arts test supposed to be taken by high school juniors, though that was to give lawmakers time to eliminate that exam entirely during the legislative session that began Tuesday.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said after the House and Senate adjourned Tuesday that he was unaware of the letter from the two senators. Crisafulli largely brushed off a question about whether he was upset with the rollout.
“We understand that there (were) a few bumps yesterday,” he said. “Anytime you roll out a new program, you’re going to have something like that.”
The speaker said he was waiting to hear more from Stewart about the problems.
But even Democrats who have been critical of this week’s problems were not united around the idea of stopping testing entirely. Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who doubles as chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said he didn’t think a pause was necessary.
Montford has filed legislation (SB 774) that would suspend most of the state’s accountability system for two years to give officials time to assess how the exam is working.
“We need to go ahead and give the test, but let’s don’t use it for punitive purposes. Let’s don’t use it for diagnostic purposes,” Montford said Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the House Education Committee unveiled a draft proposal to deal with parents’ and educators’ complaints that students are tested too much. Many of the bill’s provisions would track with recommendations Stewart made to curb over-testing.
The proposal would eliminate the 11th-grade test that Scott has suspended. It would also bar final exams in classes for which the state or a local school district has end-of-course tests, and make a college-readiness test given to some students optional.
The measure would reduce how much of a teacher’s evaluation is tied to student performance, from 50 percent to a third. And it would require the Department of Education to publish a testing calendar that districts can use, along with their own schedule, to inform parents about when students will be tested.
The House Education Committee is set to hear the bill on Thursday.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Ernest Ward’s One Person Dive Team Takes Second At County
March 4, 2015
The Ernest Ward Middle School Dive Team received second place during the 2015 Escambia County Diving Championship at Washington High School. There were 24 divers — 11 female and 13 male — participating in the meet. The Ernest Ward Dive Team consisted of just one diver — Jayda Crabtree. She placed second in the girls division. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baseball: Tate, Northview Win; Softball: Tate Falls, Northview Wins
March 4, 2015
Tate 9, Crestview 2
Tate 11 ,Crestview 0 (JV)
The Tate Aggies beat Crestview 9-2 Tuesday night. Jesse Gunter took the win for the Aggies going four innings while allowing two hits, two runs, one error and two strikeouts. Brandon Fryman was 2-4 with a triple and two runs; Cole Halfacre was 2-+4 with a double and three RBI’s. Sawyer Smith was 2-3 with a double, one RBI and three stolen bases; Mark Miller was 2-4 with a double, RBI and a stolen base for the undefeated Aggies.
Northview 2, Jay 0
Northview 11, Jay 1 (JV)
In a district game, the Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals 2-0 in Jay Tuesday night. The Chiefs (7-0, 3-0) will host Holmes County Friday night at 6:30, following a junior varsity game at 4:00
SOFTBALL
Northview 4, PHS 0
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat Pensacola High School 4-0 Tuesday night in Pensacola. Mallory Ryan pitched a no hitter with 16 strikeouts and just two walks. At the plate, Kyndall Hall went 3-3. Northview softball will be on the road Thursday with games at Bonifay.
Niceville 5, Tate 4
The Tate Lady Aggies fell short 5-4 to the Niceville Eagles Tuesday night for their first loss of the season. Tori Perkins allowed eight hits, five runs, three errors, walked five and struck out four for the Aggies. Casey McCrackin 2-5, 2B; Hayden Lindsay 1-3, 2B, 2R; Tori Perkins 2-4, RBI, 2B; Rachel Wright 2-2, R, RBI; Izzy Werdann 1-3, 2 RBIs.Tate (12-1,4-1) is on the road at Milton at 7:00 Friday night.
Pictured: Northview at Jay. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston.
Radiothon On Nash, Soft Rock To Benefit Children’s Hospital
March 4, 2015
The 17th Annual Radiothon will be held March 4-6 in the lobby of The Children’s Hospital at Sacred. All proceeds benefit The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart – the region’s only dedicated pediatric hospital – through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
This year, three radio stations are teaming up for an unprecedented Radiothon partnership – NASH FM 102.7, Soft Rock 94.1 and Magic 106.1. The live broadcast is a culmination of community fundraising efforts to help provide sick and injured children along the Gulf Coast with quality, compassionate care, regardless of their ability to pay.
Familiar personalities representing these radio stations will be on the air during the following times to encourage their listeners to pledge donations to The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart:
Thursday, March 5:
- NASH FM 102.7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Soft Rock 94.1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Magic 106.1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday, March 6:
- NASH FM 102.7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Soft Rock 94.1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Magic 106.1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Listeners will also hear heartwarming stories from young patients themselves and their parents as they are interviewed on the air about their experiences, along with their doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals at The Children’s Hospital. To make a donation during Radiothon, please call 416-KIDS (5437).
One-hundred percent of funds raised through Radiothon will help patients continue to receive care at The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. The hospital provides a range of children’s services in partnership with Nemours Children’s Clinic, which provides many pediatric specialists to the region.
Northview Talent Show Is Thursday Night
March 4, 2015
The Northview High School Talent Show will be held Thursday night beginning at 6:30 in the school theater. Special guests will be the band Calamity. Tickets are on sale now for $4 in advance; admission will be $5 at the door.
Grilled Seafood — Fire Heavily Damages Delivery Truck
March 3, 2015
Fire heavily damaged a seafood delivery truck Tuesday afternoon on Highway 29 north of Champion Drive in McDavid. The fire apparently began with the brakes on the truck before spreading to tires and the delivery box. The truck was partially loaded with frozen seafood headed to Pensacola area restaurants. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Congratulates Escambia Teacher Of The Year Anna Barry
March 3, 2015
Northview High School welcomed Escambia County Teacher of the Year Anna Barry back to work Tuesday morning. Teachers, staff and faculty held a small reception for Barry prior to the start of school.
Barry was named Escambia County Teacher of the Year last Thursday night, just a few hours before she departed on a school field trip to Orlando. Tuesday was her first day back in the classroom after returning late Monday night.
Barry is the first county teacher of the year from Northview. She is now in the running for Florida’s teacher of the year award.
Pictured top: A sign welcomed Escambia County Teacher of the Year Anna Barry to Northview High School Tuesday morning. Pictured inset: Barry (left) and Northview Principal Gayle Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Revenue Bonds To Be Issued To Cover Gas Leak Repair Under Highway 29
March 3, 2015
The Century Town Council Monday night authorized the issuance of up to nearly $700,000 in revenue bonds to secure financing for a now-completed project to repair a gas leak under Highway 29.
The project, financed by USDA Rural Development, will likely come in with a bottom line cost closer to $400,000, Century Mayor Freddie McCall said, which means all of the bonds may not be issued.
It has been about four years since the leaking section of pipe was publicly revealed as a “major public safety issue”. The project included large pipes bored under Highway 29 that will connect a new 4-inch pipe on west side of Highway 29 with a new 2-inch pipe to be installed on the east side of the highway, eliminating the need to install individual service lines under the road to service natural gas customers. Pipes were installed where existing easements exist or were obtained at no cost, otherwise, it was installed under existing sidewalks.
R.A.W. Construction, LLC of Tallahassee worked to install the new natural gas lines along the right-of-way of Highway 29 (North Century Boulevard) from about McCurdy Lane to West Highway 4 near the courthouse. Town employees then completed the addition of individual taps and service lines.
Pictured: Gas line replacement work along North Century Boulevard at West Highway 4. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Claims $57K Lottery Prize
March 3, 2015
A Cantonment man has claimed a $57,384.10 prize for a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold last week in Cantonment.
Charles T. Harris of Cantonment purchased the ticket for the February 26 drawing at CMP Food Mart. . Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Aventura, West Palm Beach and Parrish.
The 354 tickets matching four numbers won $104.50 each. Another 10,610 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9.50 each, and 103,236 ticket holders won a free Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Winning numbers in the February 26 drawing were 7-11-15-18-35.
Schools Experience State Testing Problems; Escambia Suspends Tuesday Tests
March 3, 2015
Students in Escambia County and across the state had problems logging on to the state’s new online-testing platform, raising questions about the testing system as lawmakers consider an overhaul.
Education groups and media reports said students had problems taking the new Florida Standards Assessments in a variety of districts, including Escambia, while other schools or districts had fewer problems. At Northview High School, for instance, all students scheduled for testing on Monday were able to complete their assessments.
Due to the problems at the state level, Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Escambia County was suspending all computer-based state testing for Tuesday, with a plan to resume testing on Wednesday.
State Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who doubles as chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said his organization sent a survey to districts about 9 a.m. Monday. By about 3 p.m., 30 had responded, with more than 20 reporting problems.
“Maybe the other 37 have had a perfect day. I doubt it,” Montford said.
Joanne McCall, vice president of the Florida Education Association, said reports of problems were coming from “all over,” but the union didn’t yet know exactly how widespread they were.
“This is our biggest fear coming true,” McCall said. ” … For us, it’s a false start for students.”
A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education said Commissioner Pam Stewart was working on the problem.
“While many students across our state are testing successfully, we have heard from some districts that are experiencing difficulties,” spokeswoman Meghan Collins wrote in an email Monday afternoon. “This is a 90-minute test; students have a two-week window, plus a makeup window, to complete the test. Commissioner Stewart is looking into any reported issues to determine the cause and will work to immediately resolve it.”
But Montford said that’s not good enough. He said students were prepared to take the test Monday, and districts made preparations to administer the exams.
“This is a high-stakes assessment with the future of these students riding on it,” said Montford, a former Leon County superintendent.
The snafus came as the Legislature is considering whether to overhaul the state’s testing plan, which some parents and educators argue has become too overbearing.
Critics of the tests say the early problems simply back up their arguments.
“Today’s fiasco once again demonstrates that Florida testing policy is being driven by politicians and ideologues, not educators,” said Bob Schaeffer, a Florida resident and public education director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, an organization critical of high-stakes testing. “Florida schools and the children they serve need a pause in testing insanity and a thorough overhaul of the state’s assessment system. Enough is enough.”
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.