MASB leads board workshop on how the Rochester district should use data, not to review data

The Rochester Community School District received a data-interpretation workshop from Jay Bennett of the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB), who advised trustees on how to request, review and use educational and financial data without delving into the district’s specific data this evening.

Bennett told trustees the session would focus on ‘‘why data’’ and ‘‘how to use data’’ rather than presenting detailed district metrics. "Tonight is an opportunity for us to talk about how we're going to use data... but we're not gonna talk about the data," he said. He emphasized context, suggested boards decide whether they want narratives, graphs, or both, and recommended quarterly trend reports and clear visualizations to help the board evaluate student learning and staffing decisions.

Bennett discussed academic measures (test scores, I-Ready placements, proficiency, graduation rates), financial and enrollment data, and how student-growth models are used to evaluate principals and the superintendent. He urged the board to determine the preferred formats and cadence for reports so administration can supply information that supports accountability and decision-making.

Trustees asked questions about peer-district comparisons, visualization preferences, and staffing- and budget-related presentations. Bennett recommended board members be explicit about the kinds of trend data they want, and to use data to depersonalize decision-making.

The training concluded with a brief Q&A and routine board announcements about upcoming events and the next regular meeting on Sept. 22.