LETTS, Iowa - A larger percentage of Louisa-Muscatine students are graduating and a lower percentage of students in grades nine-12 have dropped out since the 2002-03 academic year.

Peg Colton, L-M curriculum director, told the School Board Monday night that the graduation rates in the past four years have been higher than that of the state. In 2002-03, L-M’s graduation rate was 82.26 percent while the state’s was 90.4 percent. In 2006-07 LM’s graduation rate rose to 91.55 percent compared to the state average of 90.5 percent.

In 2002-03 L-M’s dropout rate for ninth- through 12th grades was nearly double that of the state. L-M’s rate was 3.96 percent while the state’s rate was 1.98 percent. By 2006-07 L-M’s dropout rate was 1.81 percent compared to the state rate of 2.3.

Colton said the difference in numbers can be attributed to the diligence of counselors and support staff who are working with students earlier in the their high school career to keep them on target for high school graduation.

Colton told the Board that the formula used to figure the graduation and dropout rates has changed. In 2004-05 the state established a student ID system that follows each student through their academic years and will allow a comparison of the students who were enrolled on count day in September 2004 with the number of students that graduate this spring.

Mentoring program

School principals Anthony Lohse and Doug McBride praised a mentoring program for new teachers.

McBride said the mentors are guiding the new teachers though their first years through formal monthly group meetings and individual weekly meetings.

Lohse said he believes the mentoring program is “second to none.” He said the teacher mentors provide extremely valuable knowledge, guidance and advice on a daily basis.

Mentors in the elementary school are Gale Barrick, Jill Cochran and Michelle Ryan. High school mentors are Bill Yost, Stacy Peterson, Chris Parkhurst, Kim Awalt, Deb Cooper, Vicky Shady, Willie Offerman, Elizabeth Pittman and Tammy Walsh.

Curriculum changes

Colton also suggested the following curriculum changes for the 2008-09 academic year. The Board approved them:

* Changing the name of the grades nine-12 physical education class to Team Sports and adding a personal fitness class for students who may not be comfortable in competitive situations.

* Combing grades nine-12 American Literature 1 and 2 and World Literature 1 and 2, and adding other language arts classes.

* Adding a sixth- through ninth-grade second-chance reading program.

* Dropping the Ag Leadership class and adding a Turf Management class. Colton said there is another leadership class available and the Turf Management class would garner dual credits — L-M credits and Muscatine Community College credits.

* Adding chorale to the music program

* Changing Music History to Music Appreciation.

In other business

* The Board set 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, for a budget hearing. The meeting will be held in the elementary library.

* The Board approved a trip to St. Louis for 17 members of the L-M National Honor Society.

Reporter contact information

Connie Street: 319-527-8164

ckcasey@louisacomm.net