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Here’s what happened at last Thursday’s meeting when ACT scores were discussed.

Larry Snow revealed a side that I had not seen before—his desire for curriculum reform.

“What are you doing this year?” he asked Johnson.

“We have been trending up,” he said.

He pointed out that reading went from 41% college readiness in 2003 to 49% in 2006.

That science college readiness only went from 20% to 21% during the same period was considered “problematic.”

“We have lagged behind the type of growth we would like to see,” Johnson said.

The principal related how the science curriculum has been re-configured so that freshmen will be taking physics, sophomores - chemistry and juniors - biology.

The change was made to match the curriculum to the subjects on the ACT.

Johnson said that previously the curriculum had not been aligned with the state standards on the ACT.

He also noted that the ACT format is different from those which students face in tests in high school.

“Our goal is to put our students in a position to be as successful as possible when they walk into to take that (ACT) test,” Johnson continued.

He explained that “over 32% who took the ACT weren’t here as 8th graders.”

“I agree with everything you say,” board member Rosemary Herringer said. “Of course, this business of being transient is typical (in the suburbs).”

Johnson explained that he was trying to benchmark with the best, which he said included Nauqua High School in Indian Prairie District, Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove High Schools in District 155 and Waubonsee.

“Obviously, they have ACT scores significantly higher than we have,” he added.

Johnson spoke of his school’s mentoring program for the large number of new teachers.

“I feel we should have vast improvements,” Herringer said.

Newly appointed board member Tony Quagliano, a Certified Public Accountant, favored “getting more students prepared for algebra before 9th grade.

“Obviously, our math scores are significantly lagging,” he continued.

Assistant Principal Eric Runck agreed that the district needed to work on math, but noted that there are “only two pre-algebra classes in high school.”

Larry Snow revealed a side that I had not seen before—his desire for curriculum reform.

“What are you doing this year?” he asked Johnson.

The principal replied that there were ”fewer pre-algebra classes.”

Veteran board member Kim Skaja pointed out that the high school was “losing them as juniors.”

Johnson contended that his school was seeking to develop “a culture of rigor.”

He said they were trying to make it less desirable for a student to take honors courses, instead of advanced placement courses for college credit.

“AP is up 60% over the last three years,” Johnson pointed out.

But, he pointed out, “Students are taking honors courses when they could be taking AP.”

He said that he was beginning “to eliminate honors levels classes“ (in order to force the capable students to take AP courses).

To meet the parental objection of the cost of taking the test, he is not going to force the students to take the test.

Johnson is also considering changing the way the grade point average is calculated. Instead of giving both honors and AP classes an extra point, he is considering limiting the honors class “bump” to .5, while keeping the AP at one point.

He talked about putting the most popular teachers in the AP classes.

“Many people will choose a course based on who they think will teach a course,” Johnson said, including his own son.

“At (John) Hersey (High School in Arlington Heights), they started putting the most popular teachers in the AP courses,” Johnson said.

“We still have a sizeable percentage of high schoolers who didn’t attend college,” Herringer observed.

She pointed out, “2005 scores are disappointing. They’re stagnant and going down in places.”

Johnson added that testing the kids in the gym, rather than in classrooms, wasn’t helpful.

Snow then regained the floor.

“So, you think this explains (why) for each year, for the last 5 years, the district has scored lower than the state average on math?

“You’re misleading the public,” Johnson replied forcefully.

Just as forcefully, Snow said, “Those are the facts. Those are the figures.”

“Our ACT scores have gone up over that 5-year period,” retorted Johnson.

“We’re under 20 for 5 consecutive years,” Snow said forcefully.

At this point, Johnson leaned away from the podium and looked at the figures.

“You are correct!” he said when he returned to the microphone, noting the ACT scores were under 20 for all five years.

Then, board member Kim Skaja said something I couldn’t catch, while Johnson said, “The key is college readiness.”

Snow said, “It’s 15% now, compared to 20%.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Herringer said.

“We haven’t done anything in math in 5 years,” Snow said, pressing his point.

Johnson again admitted, “You are correct.”

“We should look forward,” Skaja, a long-time school board member, said.

Snow’s reply:

That was my first question.

Johnson pointed out that the scores of those who were in school in Huntley before high school did better than those who came here in 8th grade.

“I welcome Mr. Snow’s questions.

“I think we’re up to it.

“It’s a complex process.

“It’s a challenge, believe me.”

Skaja asked Johnson’s “goal.”

“By 2010, 22’s on composite ACT’s,” he replied. “We may not be making a point five increase each year,” he cautioned.

“Do you think our scores should be higher that District 300?” Snow asked.

Johnson said that Huntley was significantly higher than Dundee-Crown, lower than Jacobs and within 1/10 of a point of Hampshire’s.

“D-300 would probably be higher than our schools overall,” Johnson said.

Frank Coleman, another veteran board member, asked, “What are your doing this year with some of those courses?

“We did not add any new courses or levels this year,” adding that fewer were taking keyboarding.

“They’re moving up to computer applications, maybe mouse certification.

“We have more students taking honors and A.P. This year we have no A.P. physics; less than 10 kids showed up,” he continued.

“What are you doing to line the teachers up to the standards,” Coleman asked.

“Every teacher meets every 2 weeks (‘level meetings’),” Johnson replied.

Johnson said that the high school teachers have quantifiable goals and “a much closer accountability system than we have ever had.”

He pointed to “common Algebra 1 exams.”

“Are you teaching to the standard or above the standards?” Coleman asked.

“We want every teacher teaching above standards,” was Johnson’s answer.

Shawn Green couldn’t identify who had said, “the soft bigotry of low expectations,” but it seemed to express his feelings.

“George Bush,” Snow said, then, “George W.,” to clear up any ambiguity.

Green pointed out, “(Arlington Heights District) 211 is more diverse than we are and they’re kicking our butts right now.

“If you get a D in Algebra 1, how much of a chance (does a child have) at Algerbra 2?"

Principal Johnson pointed out that D’s now go on to the next class.

“What’s your initial thought on that?” Green asked.

“If we have high standards, hopefully a D will allow them to succeed in a subsequent class,” Johnson said, reminding the board, “We’re a high school system based on credit.

“What happens when that kid doesn’t go on?

Snow suggested going back and finding out how the D’s did on their math ACT’s…whether they were “miraculously self-healed or maybe track for failure in Algebra 1."

He continued, “If you can’t get a 70, you (might) need remedial help.”

Johnson introduced me to a new "school" word—“articulation.”

The concept is that education beneath high school should mesh with that given in high school.

He didn’t think that was the case in Huntley.

Junior high school principal Jim Stotz then spoke, but I was taking pictures, not notes.

Newly appointed Superintendent John Burkey then put in his two cents:

“The real question is what course of action will lead…to better success when he is a 2nd semester junior in Algebra 2.

“It’s the same thing with the retention debate.

“The biggest thing we have to look at (is) if we do exactly the same think the 2nd time as (we) did the 1st time,” Burkey said.

“Absolutely,” Snow replied.

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