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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NUMBER 42, 155TH YEAR
Sigourney teacher leadership advocates for Standard Based Grading implementation Springfield Cemetery Association Meeting The annual fall meeting of the Springfield Cemetery Association will be held at the City Hall in Delta on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 11 a.m.
Sigourney Fire Department Annual Breakfast
The Sigourney Fire Department is hosting their Annual Breakfast on Sunday, Oct. 23 from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the fire station. Free will offering accepted.
Prairie View United Methodist Church Turkey Supper
The Prairie View United Methodist Church will be holding its annual Turkey Supper on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Serving begins at 4:30 p.m. The church’s number is 641-667-2502. Prairie View is located on Highway 78 between Richland and Ollie.
Events at Sigourney Health Care
October 26 Fall Soup Luncheon 12 p.m. Beals will play at 1 p.m. Public is invited to these activities.
What Cheer Volunteer Fire Department Breakfast
What Cheer will be hosting its annual Hunter’s Breakfast on Saturday October 29 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Thomas Hall at the Keokuk County fairgrounds. This is a free will donation event.
Larry Wheeldon and Lonesome Country
Larry Wheeldon and Lonesome Country will perform at the What Cheer Opera House on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. Call 641-203-3299 or 641-203-0222.
James Moore and Friends Jam Fall/Winter
All dates will take place at Delta Neighbors Gas and Grill. Oct. 29-Halloween Party (costume contest) Nov. 12-Sports Night (wear your favorite team apparel)
Keota Volunteer Fire Department Breakfast
The Keota Fireman’s Association Breakfast will be held on October 30 from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free will donation.
Trick or Treat Around The Sigourney Square
The News-Review will host their Annual Trick or Treat Around the Square in Sigourney on Monday, Oct. 31 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Businesses that wish to be a part of the event may contact The News-Review at keokukconews@midamericapub.com or call 641-622-3110 to get on the list.
Keswick American Legion Soup Supper
The Keswick American Legion will host a Soup Supper on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Continued on page 2
In This Issue Church Calendar............. Pg. 5 Classifieds.................. Pg. 6, 7 Milestones........................... 3 Obituaries........................... 3 Opinion/Editorial............ Pg. 4 Local........... Pg. 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 Records........................ Pg. 8, 9 SICL Salute, Sigourney.... Pg. 14 SISC Salute, Pekin......... Pg. 15 Sports............... Pg. 16, 17, 18 Tri County Tribune......... Pg. 13
By CJ Eilers News Editor During the Oct. 12 Sigourney School Board meeting, teachers from the junior and senior high school gave a presentation on new grading system known as Standard Based Grading, and wish to implement this system into Sigourney as soon as next school year. Standard Based Grading (SBG) can be defined as identifying the standard from the common core and assessing that standard specifically. For example, if you have a two-step equation, a teacher will grade partially based off the fact the students knows the process, even if they were to have a mistake with the answer. In essence, grading is specific to what the student can do and if they truly understand the subject. No extra credit is involved, and a letter grade and GPA is still generated. “With SBG, it’s about communicating the level of understanding,” Donita Clarahan, a high school math teacher at Sigourney said. “We want a system that shows a better reflection of student’s understanding of the subject in their grades.” Another component of SBG is a reassessing process; allowing students to retake tests under certain guidelines in order to better learn the subject and improve their grade, rather than simply moving on. Students who would wish to take a test again would have to show attempts and practice at the concept through their daily work, discuss a reassessment with their teacher, and would be given a test with different questions if approved. The test might also be in a different format than the original assessment that fit a student’s strengths and needs effectively. “Testing is comprehensive and can better reflect how prepared how a student is,” Mindy Jensen, a special education teacher at Sigourney said. “In college, there is a great emphasis put on testing, with many courses giving final exams. We want our grad-
ing system to limit the anxiety many students feel about testing. Although students will not have the opportunity to retest in college, we believe SBG will provide students with a solid platform and prepare them for effective test taking.” In order to learn more about SBG, Sigourney teachers and administrators have been in contact with Solon Community Schools, who have implemented this system into their system. Matt Townsley, Solon’s Director of Instruction & Technology, helped start the transition as far back as 2008, when Townsley was math teacher that learned about “an effective grading practice.” The school provided additional professional learning to develop additional assessments and revise existing assessments to fit the new system. “Solon teachers created additional assessments that elicit student knowledge of the same concepts, but in different ways,” Townsley said. “For example, math teachers might use different numbers in a reassessment opportunity. Social studies teachers might ask students to apply a similar concept using a different scenario.” Though teachers had concerns with finding the time to prioritize standard and create appropriate assessments, the added professional learning and a few years with the system left them in a positive position. In 2015, District Administration Magazine named Solon a District of Distinction for their grading practices. “We didn’t have to added any additional staff for SBG and we restructured a time in the day called seminar so students are provided more targeted re-teaching and re-assessment opportunities,” Townsley said. “Our teachers may still provide a semester final, but teachers determine the frequency of assessment that go into the grade book.” Currently, the Teacher Leadership Committee (TLC) is reviewing the guidelines they would
need to implement for SBG, and are carefully discussing the impact it would have on the students. The committee is considering a sample implementation for particular units or classes for the last trimester of the current school year. Clarahan’s high school math classes have already begun using SBG and she feels it has led to a better understanding of her subjects. “Who wouldn’t want their grade to truly reflect what they understand?” Clarahan said. “However, our teaching is the same that if a teacher notices the class isn’t understanding a concept, it is an opportunity to reteach to the whole group. The teaching process is still thoughtful and meaningful in a SBG system too.” In order for Sigourney to switch to Standard Based Grading, the TLC Team would have to give their final approval and then the Sigourney School Board would have to vote on implementation at a regular or special board meeting. Denise Conrad, Board Vice President and a parent of a current high school student, is excited about this new system. Her son, Mac, has been in Clarahan’s math class for several years, and Conrad has noticed a positive difference in her son’s education. “We as a board are learning more about SBG to get comfortable with the system.” Conrad said. “SBG a different mindset, but I feel it’s a win-win for students and teachers. I’m excited to see more and more teachers implement this system, and the whole school” While nothing is currently set in stone, Jensen and Clarahan, both of whom are on the TLC team, are very interested in switching Sigourney to this system. “We feel this process raises the bar for our students.” Jensen said. “It’s a different mindset and change may be hard, but we truly want our students to learn the concepts being taught. SBG will enhance our current system for both Sigourney students and teachers.”
Sellers splits time between four schools as HR Manager By CJ Eilers News Editor Missy Sellers might be a Sigourney graduate, but she now works to improve human resource duties at English Valleys, Keota, Pekin and Sigourney as the new HR Manager for all four districts. In May of this year, the four area school districts began discussing the need for a shared Human Resource Manager whose duties would include personnel filing, documentation, approving advertisements, handling insurance and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and making sure the districts meet the numerous requirements under ACA. In June, the schools chose Sellers, who has nine-years of experience in human resource with University of Iowa Health Care and lives in Sigourney. English Valleys holds Sellers contract, but in order to split her time as evenly as possible, the schools agreed to have her on their campuses for one day a week, with Monday acting as a weekly rotation day. Sellers is at Keota School District on Tuesday, Pekin on Wednesday, Sigourney on Thursday, and English Valleys on Friday. “It’s been challenging, because
Missy Sellers human resources in a health care field has major differences from my current position with the schools,” Sellers said. “I’ve been here since August, and I have barely scratched the surface, especially with something as tremendous as the ACA.” Along with the above duties, Sellers is making it a priority to watch and understand each school’s work process, and get
to know both new and veteran staff. Currently, Sellers is scheduling tours of Pekin to discuss the upcoming bond election for improvements to the school, streamlining the processes of all the schools into one simple process, and filing reports to the state for administration, teachers and staff. Its those same people she works with each week, however, that make Sellers glad she has this position “I enjoy meeting so many new people and learning about them,” Sellers said. “Everyone has been very friendly and I feel welcomed at all the schools.” While she tackles the mountain of responsibilities before her, Sellers plans to make her colleagues’ jobs easier, by eventually taking over the reins of ACA work and making sure the districts comply with the Federal Medical Leave Act, which protects employees who take time off for medical conditions and lets them keep their jobs. Sellers enjoys spending time with her family-husband Aaron and sons Hunter and Nile- in her free time. She loves the outdoors, the Detrioit Lions, Chicago Cubs and is the lone Cyclone in her family.
Jack Hayes of Hayesville shows off some old family photos of his father, who grew up in a farm just outside of town.
Hayesville celebrates 100 years By CJ Eilers News Editor The town of Hayesville hit their centennial on Oct. 15, celebrating with memories, food and a crowd-pleasing fireworks display. More than 75 people, ranging from current to former residents and families with ties to the area, stopped in at Hayesville’s city hall. Attendees met for a social hour at 5 p.m., going over photos provided by residents and the Keokuk County Historical Society. Food prepared by city councilman Jim Hauschilt was served around 6 p.m., and the crowd grew to its largest around this time. Sherry Casper, city clerk, helped serve and greet guests to a warm dinner and warm reception. “The city council and I have been planning this event for months,” Casper said. “”We always have a roast in October, but with the centennial around that time, we decided to make it a bigger event to celebrate.” Casper has lived in Hayesville for 50 years with her family, ever
since she traded properties with her grandparents in 1966. She attributed herself and her family remaining in the area, which currently houses approximately 46 residents, due to the small town feel Another resident also in attendance was Melissa Bird, a member of the city council who organized the event. Bird has lived in Hayesville on and off for 20 years, and her husband Shawn also grew up in the area. Both planned the grand finale of the evening; a fireworks display in the field adjacent to the city hall. Despite cloudy skies and a slight possibility of rain, the fireworks proved to be a successful way to celebrate the town’s 100-year existence, which Bird also feels was a pleasant tribute as well. “We wanted to keep this day simply, down to earth and homely,” Bird said. “This has been a nice crowd, and we’re really pleased with the turnout.” All donations collected will go to a new tornado siren system in Hayesville.
Attendees look over old photos and articles of Hayesville during a social hour beginning at 5 p.m.
Melissa O’Neill and Quinten Glandon of Hayesville enjoy a hot meal inside the city hall.
Staff adjustments made at school board meeting to fit Tri-County’s needs By CJ Eilers News Editor The Tri-County School Board met for their regular meeting on Monday, Oct 17, where they discussed and made a shuffle of employees to meet the district’s needs. Previously, Connie Zimmerman had taken double duties as an elementary secretary while maintaining her food service duties for the school. With the hire of Linda Hockey as a Title 1 As-
sociate, June Williams will take over as an elementary secretary for the school year and Zimmerman will move back into the food services department, Tammy Pierce will work as a one-toone associate for an elementary student, then work in food service later in the morning. Superintendent Dennis Phelps presented his report to the Board, addressing a lockdown TC STAFF to page 2