Plymouth school administrators are among those weighing in on proposed changes to school accountability standards. During Tuesday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Andy Hartley reported that the State Board of Education is still working on its new accountability rules. “A few of us were up in South Bend testifying before the state board,” he said. “They had a hearing up there, they did some regional hearings – just providing our feedback and comments, as well as many other educators and citizens from the area.”
He said he still has a few concerns with the proposal. “While the legislation regarding a single diploma type is still likely going to be a favorable change, we still have some concerns with the metrics,” Hartley explained. “There’s going to be two different systems kind of operating there with that. I’m still pushing comment to them through their online means, and we’ll see what happens with that. But something that we’re still keeping our eye on, and however it lands, we’ll navigate and figure out.”
Hartley also gave board members an update on several education-related bills in the Indiana General Assembly. Senate Bill 242 would require redevelopment commissions to give an annual report to school boards. School Board President Todd Samuelson spoke in favor of the measure. “I think it’s a good process to open up communication, and I think we have great communication here with the redevelopment commission and the school,” Samuelson said. “Not all communities have that luxury.”
Other proposed changes highlighted Tuesday involve teacher licensing and school funding.
