Elementary school to consolidate report cards

WEBUTUCK — The Webutuck Central School District plans to switch kindergarten through grade 6 to a uniform report card system this year, according to Principal Katy McEnroe, who spoke at the Oct. 4 Board of Education (BOE) meeting.

As McEnroe reported, Webutuck’s past practice has included the use of different report cards for each grade, including numerical, alphabetical and checklist systems, depending on the grade level.

A committee was formed during the 2009-10 school year to look at systems used in other school districts. It was found that all of the surrounding school districts examined, including Dover, Millbrook, Arlington and Hyde Park, use the same 1-2-3-4 scale, which is the same as the scale used in state testing.

“It’s more parent friendly,� explained committee member and first-grade teacher Regina McCoy, adding the standardized system will “be much easier to read and understand.�

McCoy said the scale will also align with benchmarks set for math curriculum this past summer. The same grading system will be used for all subjects, including specialty areas like art, physical education and music.

“We’re all excited about being able to use it this year,� McCoy said. “I think it’s useful for parents and staff to be much more consistent throughout grade levels K to 6.�

McEnroe said the system would go into practice only if the board decides to approve the change. BOE President Dale Culver agreed that it was important for Webutuck to have its grading system corollate with the state’s standardized testing and was in support of the change, but the board did not hold an official vote at its Oct. 4 meeting.