By Lori EhdeIt’s report card time again for Minnesota schools, and this year, Luverne made the grade for "adequate yearly progress" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette told School Board members at their Aug. 26 meeting that she appealed last year’s AYP report that said Luverne wasn’t "adequate" in the special education subgroup.AYP is determined by test scores of third-, fifth- and seventh-graders taking Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. It also follows results of sophomore reading and junior math MCA tests.She said schools are required to test at least 95 percent of their student population. Because Luverne’s special education population is relatively high (17 percent compared to a 12 percent state average), it affected outcomes.Luverne’s appeal of the AYP rating resulted in a B rating being replaced by an A rating, all things considered. "I’m glad we went through the process of the appeal," Gillette said. "Personnel from the Minnesota Department of Education notified the school that we were granted our appeal and will receive an A rating in all areas. There were a number of schools and districts around the state that received a B rating (below target) in the special education subgroup."AYP is important to districts, because state and federal funding may be tied to those numbers in the future.Education Minnesota released a statement last week that the complex rules of AYP can produce misleading results."A school that serves most students well can still fail to make AYP because a single subgroup of students did not score high enough, or a few students did not show up on test day," said Judy Schauboch, president, Education Minnesota.School day scheduleThe new start time for middle school-high school students this year is 8:10 a.m. and dismissal is at 2:47 p.m. "At the end of the day, middle school students will go to homeroom as in the past," Middle School-High School Principal Gary Fisher said. "Those who need it will strategize for study skills, etc. during that time."He said this will also allow teachers to be in the classroom for 20 minutes at the end of the day to help students if they need it. In the past, teachers with extracurricular assignments aren’t available after the class day ends, and this makes them more accessible to students.The staff day will be from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. It used to be 8 to 4. "That will give teachers additional time to prepare, and also give them time to leave for special activities for their own kids at the end of the day."In personnel action, the board hired:oMary Dupic as sign language interpreter at $20 per hour.oLaDonna Iveland as fall play co-adviser at $692.oDarren Olson as eighth-grade boys basketball coach at $1,441.oNick Nafziger and Tom Cauwels as boys hockey co-head coaches at $3,152 each.oSherri Thompson as part-time elementary secretary at $10.72 per hour.oHolly Barber as elementary cook at $9.83 per hour.oPaula Lammert as long-term substitute for Kari Lais, health teacher, for the first semester while Lais is on maternity leave.oRoger Headrick as long-term substitute for Sheleen Bauer, English teacher, from Sept. 1 through Nov. 5.In other business:oThe board officially called for a special election to ask voters for a levy referendum. The board agreed to ask for $455 per pupil unit, which would bring an estimated $603,995 to the district in operating funds for up to 10 years.The state would match 48 percent of that amount, and 52 percent would be paid by residents in the district.oTwenty-five new students registered in Luverne Elementary, and 11 have left the district for a net gain of 14 students. Gillette reported that some of those new students will need classes in English as a second language.oElementary school doors will be locked during the day for security reasons. The front doors and "link" doors between the elementary school and middle school-highschool will be open during school hours.oThe six Title 1 aides will be assigned as follows: two to third grade, two to fourth grade and two to fifth grade. Teachers will share the aides as schedules permit.Third and fifth grades have the largest class sizes, and those grades, in addition to fourth grade, are the years students take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Tests.oScheduled a capital outlay hearing for Oct. 28. At this meeting, the public can offer input for capital improvements for the 2005-06 budget year.