Penfield candidates debate 'equitable grading' and academic standards at forum

At a candidates' forum for the Penfield Central School District, candidates debated the district's equitable grading practices and how the community should measure academic performance.

The discussion focused on whether the district's equitable-grading policies lower academic standards and how recent changes in testing complicate year-to-year comparisons. "They are lowering standards and expectations of the students, inflating grades, and failing to hold students accountable," said Dr. Sarah Pace, a parent and candidate, arguing the district should “prioritize rigorous standards and merit based grading.”

Several candidates said measuring academic performance is more complicated now than in the past. Susan Gilbert Collins, a candidate and former ESL teacher, cautioned against drawing conclusions from recent test results, saying, "You cannot compare the computer based tests with the previous tests." She also noted that Penfield has a high rate of opt-outs for standardized tests, which makes straightforward comparisons difficult.

James Ashby, a parent candidate who campaigned on restoring academic rankings, said he wants Penfield to return to the top 10% in the state and emphasized using comparative data: "You need a baseline...we can compare it to neighboring districts." Other candidates urged balancing academic rigor with individualized supports. Nate Chienenko, a strategy consultant candidate, said the board should identify root causes for any learning gaps before prescribing remedies.

Candidates described a range of classroom strategies and district supports they favor, including continued access to Advanced Placement courses, targeted interventions for struggling readers and individualized approaches that meet students where they are. Emily Roberts, a teacher and incumbent board member, noted the district has paid for AP exam fees this year so students do not face that cost barrier.

The exchange underscored a common ground among candidates: a desire to support teachers and students while disagreeing on whether and how current grading and testing practices should be changed. Candidates repeatedly said they would consult teachers and administrators when reviewing policy changes.

The forum was moderated by Amy Thomas, executive director of the Monroe County School Boards Association, and organized by district clerk Lynn Scott. The district's budget vote and school board election are scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, at Penfield High School West Gym.