Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 22, 1993 TAG: 9307220626
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Joe Kirby suggested the city change its system and the way it computes grade-point averages to make its students more competitive.
Board members approved a first reading of the change after Kirby told them their grading system was tougher than those of other schools, which could make Salem students' grades look lower to college admissions directors.
"A quick glance at a Salem student's transcript might put our students at a disadvantage," he said.
Kirby suggested lowering the minimum score for an A from 95 to 94, a B from 88 to 87, a C from 80 to 79, a D from 75 to 70 and an F from 74 to 69. He also suggested weighting grades from advanced classes when computing grade-point averages to give more credit to students who tackle tougher subjects.
Another change that needs to be made in the city's grading system is the way it reports on behavior, Kirby told the board. He suggested enlarging report cards to include a section for comments to discourage teachers from including behavior in subject grades. Currently, teachers may lower a student's grade for poor behavior or raise it slightly for effort.
In the future, behavior should not have an impact on a student's letter grade, he said. Teachers instead will be given a range of 30 comments - 12 complimentary, 17 negative and one asking for a parent-teacher conference - to include on the report card.
The board must approve the changes at its August meeting to make the policy shift final.
Also at the meeting, the board re-elected June H. Long chairwoman and Walter R. Franke vice chairman. Both have held those positions for six months.
by CNB