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Westerly updates reading‑screening results, highlights AP growth and ESSER III spending
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Steve Marrone presented fall aimsweb plus reading-screening tier‑1 percentages by grade; Superintendent Dr. Garcel highlighted AP/dual‑enrollment growth at Westerly High School; finance staff reported ESSER III/CARES Act expenditures and obligations with a Dec. 31 de‑obligation/reporting deadline.
At the Oct. 2 meeting of the Westerly School Committee, Assistant Superintendent Steve Marrone presented a fall snapshot of reading screening results from Aimsweb Plus and outlined how the district uses those data within its MTSS framework.
Marrone gave grade‑by‑grade 'tier 1' percentages from the fall Aimsweb Plus screening: kindergarten 28%; grade 1, 43%; grades 2–4, 54%, 58% and 59% respectively; grades 5–8, 73%, 74%, 88% and 79%; and grade 9, 83%. He emphasized these are one of several data points the district triangulates and said winter assessments will report student growth.
Superintendent Dr. Garcel placed the screening inside broader performance context. He cautioned against using a single standardized score as a final measure and highlighted district successes: Westerly High School ranks third in Rhode Island for number of students taking Advanced Placement exams; 55% of WHS students are enrolled in AP or dual‑enrollment classes this year — a reported 37% increase over last year — and the high school received state recognition and was named among U.S. News & World Report’s best high schools.
On finances, district staff (identified as Cindy Baldy) provided a CARES/ESSER III update as of Sept. 30, 2024. The district’s ESSER III allocation was stated as $4,500,000; nearly $3,200,000 (about 70%) had been expended and roughly $1,300,000 remained obligated for an ongoing high‑school HVAC project. Staff explained that ESSER reimbursements are request‑based and that the district had not yet requested cash reimbursement for approximately $2,400,000 as of Sept. 18; the district had received up to $2,100,000 to date. Officials noted the district has until Dec. 31 to de‑obligate funds and submit the final expenditure report and request reimbursement.
The presentations concluded with routine agenda business: committee announcements about subcommittee meetings, correspondence regarding the district transgender policy, approval of the consent agenda, and adjournment.
Next steps: Marrone said winter screening results will be presented to show growth; finance staff will request remaining reimbursements as obligations are de‑obligated and expenditures finalized.
