Administrators with the Union-North United Schools understand how the IDOE (Indiana Department of Education) arrived at the grades for their two schools that were in the news on November 6; however, they believe clarification may be helpful for the community to get a true picture of progress.
Nate McKeand is in his second year as principal at LaVille Jr.-Sr. High School. He said, “I don’t feel the grade that we received was a good representation of what we are doing.”
The state graded the LaVille Jr-Sr. School as a “C” school. McKeand explained that the grade was determined by combining the “A” from the senior high school and the “D” From the junior high school. The senior high was able to raise their grade from a “B” in 2012-2013 to an “A” in the 2013-2014 school year. Out of 4.00 points possible, the senior high school received 3.7 points. The junior high remained at a “D” for both grading period, but they were able to raise the points from a 1.00 to a 1.75.
LaVille Elementary continued as an “A” school. In combining all of the points, the Union-North United Corporation attained a “B” rating.
McKeand said there are a number of positive steps that they have incorporated to continue the upward progress. He said, “We have increased the communication between our two schools (LaVille Elementary and LaVille Jr.-Sr. High School) to help students make a smoother transition.” At the Jr.-Sr. High School level, they hold morning professional development meetings where teachers can collaborate on teaching methods and ideas. “We are using student data to make decision for instruction. After we give assessment tests to students, we use the data to adapt our teaching.” McKeand said.
LaVille Schools are attracting students from the South Bend area as well as many of the other surrounding schools, according to McKeand. He said, “We offer many vocational opportunities and dual credit classes in math, history, science, and language arts.”
McKeand gives the credit for making positive improvements to the staff and the some 550 junior and senior high school students. He said, “It’s not the programs. It’s the people.”
McKeand taught business and marketing classes before obtaining his MA in Building Administration from Purdue University. He was the Assistant Principal at Bremen for six years prior to moving to the LaVille position.
Carol Anders Correspondent
