School
Improvement Plan
Committee
Members
Mission
Statement
Michigan
School Report Card
Goals
2003-2004
Personal
Goals as
Principal
Evaluation
Staff
Development
Building
Level
Decision Making
Student
Achievement
Post
Secondary
Achievement
Retention
Report
Parent
Teacher
Conferences
Specialized
Schools
Accreditation
2003 - 2004
Mr. James R. Hansen, Principal
Click here for Annual Report in PDF format for easy printing
School Improvement Plan StatusEscanaba Area Public High School initiated its school improvement plan during the spring of 1991. The result of this effort was the establishment of a community based school improvement team, adoption of a school mission statement, and the development of broad-based goals on a yearly basis.
Faculty Heads Student Council Other Members Vic Thompson Nicole Wakkuri
James R. Hansen Steve Freidhoff
Carolyn Kobasic
Terri Mileski
Denise Hirn
Lesley Noel
David Ballard
Betty Hivala
Mallory Vincent
Kay Johnson
Lisa Maki
Mari Anderson
Greg Potvin
Garrett Lantange
Matthew Reeves
Brian Bisson
Jan Reardon
Jan Robitaille
Teresa Wright
MISSION STATEMENT
ESCANABA AREA HIGH SCHOOLOur purpose is to facilitate learning and to teach students. The students are responsible for mastering basic skills, practicing rational thinking skills, demonstrating self-confidence, integrity and a positive attitude to becoming productive members of a democratic society within a world of diverse cultures. This schooling will be done by providing a safe and healthy environment; conducive to promoting maximum learning by the student, with a challenging and well-balanced curriculum, taught by a caring and professional staff committed to excellence.
MICHIGAN SCHOOL REPORT CARD
Based on the Michigan School Report Card for 2003-2004, Escanaba Area Senior High School received a "B" rating and did achieve Annual Yearly Progress (AYP).
GOALS 2003-2004
GOAL #1: Improve students' writing skills so they can be successful in meeting the MEAP Exam objectives.
STRATEGIES:
1. Increase cross-curricular writing activities.
2. Train each student in the use of computer writing software.
3. Improve teacher/student understanding of the MEAP Exam.ACTION PLAN:
EVIDENCE OF NEED FOR GOAL: Low MEAP test scores.
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS OF GOAL: Increase the number of students achieving at a satisfactory level to attain state accreditation for Escanaba Area High School.
GOAL #2: Improve students' math skills so they can be successful in meeting the MEAP Exam objectives.
STRATEGIES:
1. Increase cross curriculum math/algebra activities.
2. Coordinate math curriculum to incorporate Transitional Math objectives through
beginning Algebra I.
3. Improve teacher/student understanding MEAP Exam.ACTION PLAN:
EVIDENCE OF NEED FOR GOAL: Low MEAP test scores.
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS OF GOAL: Increase the number of students achieving at a satisfactory level to attain state accreditation for Escanaba Area High School.
GOAL #3: Improve students' cooperative learning, active thinking skills, and self-esteem.
STRATEGIES:
- Professional development activities to explore and promote new teaching/learning strategies.
- Active promotion of new strategies for learning.
- National Honor Induction to be in the fall so students can do active positive projects for self and school.
- Continue to incorporate the class officers and RA's in high school decisions, harassment training, Homecoming and political issues of Escanaba Area Senior High School.
ACTION PLAN:
EVIDENCE OF NEED FOR GOAL: Teachers/administrators/students/parents observations.
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS OF GOAL: Increase the opportunities for staff members to attend professional development activities related to cooperative learning and active thinking skills. Increase the use of these new strategies in the classrooms of Escanaba Area High School. Increase student involvement in school related issues and activities.
GOAL #4: Improve students' learning through expanded curriculum offerings and design.
STRATEGIES:
1. Review current curriculum with recommendations for improvement.
2. Improve opportunities for teachers/students to use technology in their learning.
a. Interactive TV courses.
b. Computer applications education.
c. Technology plan for Industrial Arts & Applied Technology Labs.
d. Utilization and participation in the ISD Tell Grant Programs.
3. Continue support of Advanced Placement Courses.ACTION PLAN:
EVIDENCE OF NEED FOR GOAL: Observations and concerns expressed by parents, students, staff, administration and the State Department of Education.
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS OF GOAL: Implementation of ITV, computer applications, applied technology to Tech.I and Tech.II, and Advanced Placement Courses.
Goals #5: Improve Educational Environment
STRATEGIES:
1. Continuation of the semi-closed campus periods 1-3 and 4-6.
2. Continuation and improvements to the Saturday School Program for absences.
3. Use student input to determine the success or failure of the al-a-cart line and the
DMX system in the lunchroom.
4. Develop a Student Enhancement Committee through the Student Council to
address student/faculty self-esteem.
Personal Goals as Principal
- Continue to upgrade college prep curriculum in science, math and English to assist students with Advance Placement Testing and push for Advanced Placement Classes.
- Continue to work with the superintendent and Board of Education on the building renovation and infrastructure.
- Continue to use the media (radio, Daily Press, television, and letters to parents) to reinforce positive aspects of Escanaba High School.
- Continue to work on strategies to permeate an open, positive environment for all students, staff members and community.
- Work in cooperation with the technology committee to continue with upgrades to all areas of the High School,in paticular, the implementation of PowerSchool for the year 2004-05.
- Work with the School Improvement Team, Title One Director, and Curriculum Coordinator on the following Components:
1. ENGLISH CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENTa) Complete a re-write of the English Curriculum.
b) Monitor the implementation of Advanced Placement English, Accelerated English 12, and Regular English 12 to offer appropriate levels of English instruction to all students.
c) Vocabulary development program for all advanced/accelerated courses based on language as a reflective system.
d) Expansion into Contemporary Literature and Multi-Cultural Literature to strengthen present courses.
e) The use of career exploration in all sophomore classes and the use of School to Work/Job Shadowing for these students.
2. MATH CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
a) Complete a re-write of the Mathematical Curriculum.
b) The purchase of TI-84 Plus graphing calculators gets us to the point that every math teacher has access to this technology for their classes.
c) Monitor of Advanced Placement Calculus and continuation of Advanced Placement Statistics.
d) Continual evaluation of mathematics courses to determine the best combination of courses to give students the tools to be successful on the High School MEAP test.
3. COMPLETE A RE-WRITE OF SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
4. EXTENDED SCHOOL DAY TUTORIAL ASSISTANCE
In the core curriculum area (English, math, and science) tutorial assistance will be available following the school day. This program will offer trained students at no charge to assist students with homework, study skills, computer enhancement, writing skills, grammatical structure and any area of need. Students will have access to these tutors on a voluntary basis, or as prescribed by the classroom teacher.
5. STUDENT TRANSITIONAL PLAN
The special education transitional plan will be provided to prepare parents and students for the transition from high school to work, further vocational training, or education.
The plan includes parent orientation to high school, and to outside agencies, which pertain to their child's educational development and to their child's transition to an independent life style after high school. This program will also provide opportunities for parents and students to visit residential and nonresidential vocation schools or other post secondary opportunities.
Follow the rewritten Special Education Curriculum that match changes in course and hour requirements that was presented to the Board of Education in the Fall of 2001.
6. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION APPLIED TECHNOLOGY PLANa) Continue to monitor the expanded development of the Technology Lab with the addition of Technology III.
b) Continue to expand in the use of Career materials such as the Choices software system, but utilize classes other than English to pull students.c) Continue to work with Building Technology to upgrade equipment.
7. SELF-ESTEEM COMMITTEE WORK
a) Student participation in the High Five Big Brothers/Big Sisters Tutorial Program.
b) Student involvement in community political issues including voter registration and political forums.
c) Developed the student enhancement through the Class Officers and RA's to deal with student/staff self-esteem promotion.
8. CURRICULUM REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT
Continue to work with each department in the review, development, and adjustment of their curriculum as it pertains to the needs of our student body.
Examples:
9. CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE PLAN
- Continues to look into the changes of Integrated Math I and II
- Monitoring of Advanced Placement Biology, English, Calculus, Statistics, and Chemistry.
- Social Studies course changes to better meet the needs of students as they relate to the MEAP Testing.
- Monitoring of the a 5.0 grading scale for all Advanced Placement Classes.
- Monitoring of Accelerated English Summer work to be reasonable and equitable for students.
Address compliance plan issues relative to handicap, disabled, and gender concerns, specifically drinking fountains, bathrooms, and access to the building and athletic stadium.
10. CONTINUE TO EVALUATE BUILDING SECURITY AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS PER THE DIRECTIONS FROM HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE.
EvaluationThe methods of evaluation at Escanaba Area High School are consistent with those in the educational field such as Education Yes and the Michigan School Report Card. The use of standardized tests, such as: the MEAP, ACT, SAT, PSAT, Advanced Placement Tests, text prepared tests, teacher observations, projects and portfolios are some of the evaluation tools used at the high school. Other means of evaluation come from parents, community members, and agencies such as: Probate Court, District Court, Juvenile Diversion, State Department of Social Services, and other youth oriented organizations.
Staff DevelopmentThe difficulties of staff development center on the fiscal problems at both the local and state level. This aside, opportunities have been made possible through district money and money generated by grants through the Delta-Schoolcraft I.S.D.
Staff development activities for 2003-2004 has been as follows:
Technology in Industrial Arts
School improvement meetings
Writing and reading conference
Curriculum workshops - Math/Science/Social Studies/English
Leadership conferences for staff and students
Science conferences at Seaborg Center, NMU
Science involvement at Clear Lake facility
Counselor Financial Aid Conference
M.E.A.P. workshop
Eating Disorders program
Advance Placement testing and course development
Core curriculum committees: math/science/English/social studies
Mead Educators field study
Special education workshops and conferences
Trees for Tomorrow
Aids training
School improvement/regional meeting
Hearing Impaired Skills Certification Conference
Advance Placement workshops
Workshop for Physical Science
Computer workshops - all areas
M.E.A.P. workshops and TV Conference
Math curriculum workshops
Language arts for staff members
In service for teachers on writing strategies
ITV In-service/training
Attendance Workshop
Tell Grant with DS – ISD
Half-Day Professional Development on MEAP Results
Building Level Decision MakingThe Escanaba Area High School has monthly faculty meetings, which gives each department an opportunity to have input into the general procedures and policies, which run the high school. Decisions, for the most part, are made on a consensus basis; but when consensus is not possible, sub-committees, with resource people from the faculty, student body, and community, are developed to make a more in-depth analysis of the concern and report back with recommendations.
Faculty meetings occur throughout the year for updates and input on high school concerns. Weekly meetings occur with assistant principals, guidance, special education, and custodial staff to coordinate all buildings activities and discuss concerns.
Examples are as follows:
Attendance Committee
Departmental Grouping: Math, English, Business, Social Studies, etc.
Code Alert Team development
Academic Awards Committee
Facilities Committee
Student Relations Committee/Sexual Harassment Policy
Technology Committee
District Health Committee
Campus Options Committee
Emergency Evacuation Committee
Code Red Lockdown Procedures-Department Heads
Lab Safety Committee
Student Council
Crisis Committee
E.H.S. Future Look
The development of the school improvement team has added a new dimension to decision making in that the community, students, custodians, teachers and administrators work together to share in the formation of outcomes that ultimately impact the high school.
Each year the Escanaba Area High School offers several opportunities for students to measure their achievement levels through a standardized testing program.*
The 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 MEAP scores listed below represents the percentage of students achieving at the Proficient, Novice, and Not Yet Proficient levels. This exit test is taken by all 11th grade students for reading, math, writing, and science.
Michigan Educational Assessment Program
Percent of Students Endorsed
11th Grade Percentages scoring at Level 1 and 2 receiving Merit Award of $2,500:
*Social Studies not counted for Merit Award
SUBJECT
2002-03
2003-04
STATE AVERAGE
Mathematics
58.21%
46%
51%
Reading/Writing
51-51%
74%
64%
Science
65.48%
47%
51%
Social Studies*
41.22%
26%
31%
CLASS OF 2004: ESCANABA AREA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
MATH
READING
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
WRITING
ELA
LISTENING
Level 1:
Endorsed
Exceeded
MI Standards
23
58
24
5
27
41
N/A
Level 2:
Endorsed
Met MI Standards
139
141
149
95
149
136
N/A
Level 3:
Endorsed
At Basic Level
39
25
35
82
52
36
N/A
Desegregated Sub-Group
(Must have 30 or more to be a sub-group)
Economically disadvantaged Students who were Proficient:
Number of Students
Math
Science
Social Studies
ELA
39
41%
38%
18%
62%
The ACT test scores measure higher order thinking skills required to do successful work at the college level. This test is taken by students who plan to attend college and represents approximately one-half of our senior class. The ACT score is compiled from tests in English, math, science, and social studies.
The Escanaba scores are slightly higher than the state and national scores, as can be ascertained from the five-year history below:
(For ACT Information contact High School Guidance Department)
Some specific examples of student achievement at Escanaba Area Public High School consist of local, state, and national competitions.
- Mead Essay contest resulted in seven student winners plus the overall winner.
- Three students were commended by National Merit Scholarship Program.
- The following students were successful in Advance Placement Testing for college credit:
a) 12 Biology students
b) 23 Literature students
c) 0 Calculus students
d) 17 Statistics
e) 13 Chemistry
f) 65 Students received a score of 3 or better- Physics workshop at Great America.
- 2003-2004 was the 8th time EAHS gave the American High School Math Exam to 36 students.
- In the Michigan State Mathematics Prize Competition, Escanaba Area Senior High School had one student in the top 100 in the state.
- Escanaba High School students continue to participate as leaders in most regional clubs and organizations.
- Approximately 75% of our student body participates in school and community related activities.
- Dual Enrollment at Bay de Noc Community College was at 38 students in the 2003-2004 school year.
RETENTION REPORTThe retention rate means the percentage of ninth graders who graduate from high school within four years. The drop out rate means the percentage of high school students who leave in any one year and do not enroll in another school. These rates are calculated by the state. According to State of Michigan Department of Education calculated figures based on the annual fourth Friday count, Escanaba Area Public High School maintained the following:
Official Pupil Count enrollment for 2002-2003:
September 2002: 1174
Retention Rate: 95.60%
Drop Out Rate: 4.4%Official Pupil Count enrollment for 2003-2004
September 2003: 1153
Retention Rate: 95.27%
Drop Out Rate: 4.73%
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCESInvolvement of parents or guardians is important in the successful education of a child. Over 10,000 phone contacts with parents and 9,000 written contacts where made by school personnel. 3,700 parents met individually with teachers, counselors, or administrators. An orientation for parents and incoming students was held in February of 2003 with over 500 in attendance.
The program, College/Careers, was put together for parents of juniors and seniors to assist them in making positive choices for post secondary programs.
A Career and College Planning Guide for Parents and Students was put together and mailed to all seniors and Junior parents.
A new program to deal with Special Education students and parents on the transition from school to work/community life was offered to all special education parents.
Following is a brief description of the specialized schools that serve the students from Escanaba Area High School.
Vocational Education
The Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District Area Vocational Technical Center provides occupational programs and services to youth and adults in seven public schools and one school on the Hannahville Indian Reservation. Five of the public schools are in Delta County, while two of the public schools are in Schoolcraft County. During the 2003-2004 school year, 250 Escanaba High School students participated in programs at Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District. These students were enrolled in 22 out of 22 occupational programs available to young men and women. Job placement, employment, and career counseling and other services are also provided. Students elect vocational education and are counseled through their home school counselor for admittance to the Vocational-Technical Center.
Alternative Education
In the 2002-2003 annual report, Escanaba Area High School had 24 students attending the James Fitzharris Alternative Education School. For the 2003-2004 school year, 38 students have attended the alternative program during the fall semester and thirty-one during the spring semester. Male and female students study the basic core curriculum, with the addition of programs that enhance self-esteem, pride, and self-confidence.
ACCREDITATIONEscanaba Area High School was successfully accredited by North Central Association, Traditional Model, in 1989 and has been accredited for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years.
Due to the fact that all high schools in the state of Michigan must now be accredited by the Michigan Accreditation Program, which is based on the results of the High School Proficiency Test, the School Improvement Team and Department Heads recommended to the Board of Education we concentrate on the M.A.P.S. Accreditation rather than North Central Association.
THE STATUS OF ESCANABA AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL'S PROGRESS IN MEETING THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL GOALS IS REPORTED IN THE DISTRICT REPORT.
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