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IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
September 24, 2010
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Sophomore STAR scores up, others flat or down Fluctuating scores cause some to question value of standardized tests TAYLOR TOVREA AND SARAH ROSEN Clayton Pioneer
The return of California’s trademark clear skies and sunshine goes hand in hand with picnics, spring break, and for public school children in grades 2-11, lengthy standardized tests.
The California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program makes its annual appearance each May. Public schools across California spend one to two weeks taking the California Standards Tests (CST), which measure students’ overall knowledge and comprehension of state academic standards in various subjects. The program was started in 1998 to pinpoint where improvements were needed within individual student’s overall learning.
Students’ scores are put in five categories – advanced, proficient, basic, below basic and far below basic – in order to identify problem areas. The proficient category was established by the state Board of Education as the recommended achievement goal for all students. MEASURING ACCOUNTABILITY When the scores are accumulated at the end of August, they are used to formulate a school’s Academic
Performance Index (API) scores, which is a measurement of the school’s accountability system. This score is largely responsible for the school’s reputations and often is a factor in parents’ decision of where to send their children. With an API score of 776, Clayton Valley High School falls just short of the statewide target score of 800 out of a possible 1,000. The score matches its 2010 CST results. The class of 2013’s percentage of
proficient and advanced scores fell short of past years’ scores across the board, only managing to stay above the state average in biology, language arts and geometry. At CV, 58 percent met the goal of proficiency in biology vs. 62 percent in 2009, 60 percent in 2008 and 50 percent in 2007. The language arts test dropped to 67
See STAR results, page 8
CERT volunteers hone their emergency response skills at large-scale disaster drill MIKE DUNN & HERB YONGE Special to the Pioneer
HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER Meet and greet the local police Clayton was tied as the third safest city in California on the FBI’s listing of crime statistics for 2009. This is based on violent crimes among cities with populations between 10,000 and 99,999. Clayton ranks high each year thanks in large part to our dedicated police department. In case you don’t know all of our police officers, I thought I would introduce them. This information won’t get you out of a ticket, but it may make the conversation more interesting. The Clayton Police Department is led by Chief Dan Lawrence. The chief has been with the PD for five years. He has competed in a few triathlons and completed the swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco a couple of times. He enjoys golfing and owns a rare BMW Z3 M Coupe. I wish he would use this car for patrols but, for some reason, he mainly drives the white Crown Victoria. Lawrence graduated from Clayton Valley High School. Our two sergeants, Tim Marchut and Scott Dansie, have been with the department for more than 10 years. Marchut, also a CVHS grad, has been described as a bargain-hunting, Volvo-loving, family man.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
See Mayor, page 18
Mike Dunn/Clayton Pioneer
MORE THAN 250 COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM volunteers put their training and skills to work at an areawide training drill on Sept. 11. The CERT course teaches basic rescue and survival techniques to citizens, preparing them to respond to community needs in the critical days following a major disaster.
Responders honored for exceptional service MIKE DUNN Special to the Pioneer
“And I’m very proud to say we stole her from the Concord Police Department,” Sgt. Scott Dansie said in his introduction. “Shanna shows up for work every day with a smile on her face. She is eager to be there; she is happy to serve her community,” Dansie added. “She enjoys the camaraderie of the people she works with. She is a truly a pleasure to supervise as an employee.” “I can’t tell you how honored I am to be here,” said Decoite, accepting her award. “I thank everyone here, my sergeant and my co-workers who made me the officer that I am now. I’m so
Three local first responders were chosen singled out for special recognition by their peers for emplary work and heroic acts of bravery at the annual Knights of Columbus Blue Mass on Sept.11. Two are police officers from Clayton and Concord and the third, firefighter and CVHS alumni. The event, honoring police officers and firefighters from city, county and state agencies was hosted by the Catholic mens’ organization at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Concord. Officer Shanna Decoite has been with the Clayton Police See Service honors, page 16 Department since 2008.
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Mike Dunn/The Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Officer Shanna Decoite is congratulated by her supervisor, Sgt. Scott Dansie. Decoite was chosen by her peers for outstanding service.
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Community Calendar . . . . . . . .16 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . .5 DVMS Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . .6 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Reader’s Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Senior Moments . . . . . . . . . . . .15 School News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
The morning started out like any other summer day in Concord and Clayton. Then at 9:58 a.m. on Sept. 11, a 7.0 temblor hit. No, you didn’t sleep right through it. The disaster scenario was run by local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). The training drill took place at Contra Costa Fire’s training facility in Concord, with more than 250 CERT members from Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Concord and Clayton. Seventy-seven residents played the role of victims. Rich Veal, Clayton CERT’s chief of operations, wrote the 66 scenarios for the victims. They were trapped in a high-rise office building, in an overturned bus, under a car or collapsed wall and in a house damaged by the earthquake. To add realism to the drill, victims were made up with head wounds, broken bones and bruises. Some victims wandered about
See CERT drill, page 7
Clayton third safest small city in state Clayton fared well in the latest round of FBI crime stats, tying with Mill Valley and Palos Verdes Estates for the third safest small city in the state. Ranking is based on the number of violent crimes – murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault for cities with populations of 10,000 – 99,999. The three third place cities each had seven serious crimes. Clayton, with a population of 11,333 had one murder – the
See FBI ranking, page 16
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Time to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10