Lima Schools report improvement

Mar. 6—LIMA — The Lima City Schools Board of Education heard positive reports from principals Kelli Lee, Independence Elementary School; Stacy Barker, Heritage Elementary and Chandra Nuveman, Freedom Elementary. All three schools reported increases in math and reading skills since the beginning of the school year.

All three schools are using a computer program to improve basic skills. I-Ready reading and math are computer programs used daily for reading and mathematics. The program determines every student's needs, personalizes learning, and monitors progress throughout the school year. I-Ready allows teachers to meet each student where they are and provides data to increase students' learning gains. A common intervention time allows time for students to work with a tutor or intervention specialists as well as classroom teachers.

All three principals reported gains from the beginning of the school year. Success in reading and math can boost students' confidence, leading to more engagement in class and a greater willingness to participate in discussions and activities. Students with improved reading and math scores are likely to perform better in school, leading to better grades and graduation rates.

Parent involvement in a child's education can have a significant positive impact on their academic success and overall well-being. At Freedom Elementary, there are monthly parent workshops, normally on the first Thursday of every month. Workshops last about an hour.

The Lima City Schools is using a systematic approach to identifying areas for improvement, developing and implementing strategies to address those areas, and evaluating the effectiveness of those strategies.

Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409