Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 12:29 PM
Subject: NOVA proposal

To Superintendent David Schuler and Members of the School Board:
 
I would like to join other community members in urging the Stevens Point

School Board to gather accurate and comprehensive information regarding
the NOVA program before recommending any restructuring.
 
I must echo the sentiments expressed by recent letters to the editor of
the Stevens Point Journal by Ginny Carlton and B.D. Fisher.  They
expressed concern about Karen Halverson's statement that a proposal to
restructure the gifted and talented program came from a recommendation
of the Stevens Point Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee.  As a
long-standing member of that committee, I expressed the same concerns to

Dr. Schuler in an email that I am forwarding separately to each school
board member.
 
Beyond my concerns of Ms. Halverson's misrepresentation of the source of

the recommendation, I am fearful that a hasty decision will be made that

will have long lasting negative consequences on the quality of education

in the Stevens Point district.  I fully understand that the School Board

has had to face many difficult decisions with the recent budget
constraints.  In light of these constraints, however, it is imperative
that each decision made is based on accurate information and a full
review of the long-lasting effects on the quality of a Stevens Point
education.
 
I believe that the School Board needs more information regarding gifted
and talented programming in the district before making a decision
regarding a change.  As a member of the Stevens Point School District's
Strategic Planning Subcommittee, I also hope that any decision would be
consistent with the objectives and implementation strategies of the
district's strategic plan.
 
One of the strategic plan's implementation strategies for the curriculum

objective states that the district will "ensure that curriculum
continues to be research-based and developmentally appropriate."
Through years of review by the Steven Point Gifted and Talented Advisory

Committee, there is a significant body of research supporting the need
for the NOVA program model.  Access to this research would be crucial
for the School Board to make a decision regarding any program change.
 
I also understand that decisions must be made on cost effectiveness of
programs.  As stated in B.D. Fisher's letter to the editor, "The program

receives no additional funds from the district."  The three NOVA
classrooms, which serve the needs of students from all 10 elementary
schools, are each headed by one classroom teacher.  If the NOVA program
was eliminated, the students from these three classrooms would simply be

added to the classrooms of our other already swollen elementary school
classrooms.  In addition, an expansion of the "pullout" program would
cost extra money for more teachers to administer.  In addition, research

has shown that pullout programs are an ineffective method for educating
students.
 
Objective 1 of the district's strategic plan calls for the curriculum
and instructional program to be "measured by defined outcomes." It is
crucial that a review of the NOVA program's effectiveness be made before

deciding to eliminate it.  How are NOVA students performing compared
with their peers in our district and with their peers across the state?
I am aware of some of the measures that demonstrate effectiveness that I

would like to share:
(1) Midwest Talent Search - Every year, Northwestern University sponsors

the Midwest Talent Search for gifted and talented students in 8
Midwestern states.  Students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades who score in
the top 5% of a standardized test, such as the Iowa Basics, are invited
to take the college-level SAT or ACT tests.  Thousands of students
participate every year, including Stevens Point students who are not
NOVA students.  NOVA students have consistently scored at the top of all

Wisconsin and Midwest students who took the test.
For example, in 2001, three students in the sixth grade NOVA class
received top honors in the state.  One student received the 2nd highest
SAT math and 3rd highest SAT combined score out of all 6th graders in
the state of Wisconsin.  Another student received the 2nd highest ACT
math score and a third student received the 3rd highest ACT math score.
The following year, in 2002, two NOVA students were recognized by
Northwestern University for scoring in the top 1% of all students taking

the SAT and ACT in 8 states.  The Midwest Talent Search provides an
opportunity to objectively measure gifted and talented students across
the Midwest and Stevens Point NOVA students consistently excel.
(2) Wisconsin Mathematics League - The Wisconsin Math League consists of

a written math test given to 6th grade students throughout the state of
Wisconsin.  NOVA students consistently scored better than their peers
across the state of Wisconsin.  For example, in 1999-2000, the NOVA team

had the highest team score out of 207 schools participating.  That same
year, 3 of the NOVA students had 3 of the top 5 individual scores in the

state of Wisconsin.  In 2000-2001, the NOVA team again had the highest
team score of 194 schools participating.  That year, 2 NOVA students
tied for the highest individual score in the state of Wisconsin and one
NOVA student had the 3rd highest.  The NOVA math league team has
consistently scored at the top of the state.  It must also be noted that

the 207 schools participating include many types of schools, including
other gifted magnet schools, and affluent private schools, such as
Milwaukee's University school.
 
Before a decision regarding changing the NOVA program model is made, I
urge you to review comprehensive performance measures that demonstrate
the effectiveness of the existing program.
 
In conclusion, please make district decisions based upon a comprehensive

review of all information available and consistent with the district's
mission and strategic plan.  One of our district's governing values is
"The primary focus of our schools is the academic preparation of our
students."  I am concerned that a proposal has been made to eliminate
one of the district's most successful academic programs based upon
limited and possibly inaccurate information.  I wonder if the district
had a similarly successful hockey program, one which won a state
championship title for ten consecutive years, if a proposal would be
made to eliminate the program and instead have the hockey players
participate in a "pullout" program out of regular physical education
class.
 
Thank you for your time.  I would be glad to provide any further input
in a review of the gifted and talented program.
 
Sincerely
Linda Weitz
home email:  weitz@charter.net < mailto:weitz@charter.net
<mailto:weitz@charter.net> >
work email:  weitzl@co.portage.wi.us < mailto:weitzl@co.portage.wi.us
<mailto:weitzl@co.portage.wi.us> >
home phone:  342-4692
work phone:  345-5906