WASC notes MHS improvements

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has advised the Marianas High School leadership to prioritize three areas outlined in its action plans in pursuit of sustaining the public school’s ongoing improvement.

The visiting team, which conducted an onsite evaluation of the public high school last April 10 to 12, recommended that MHS continue to work on increasing its student learning and achievement; aligning a written curriculum that meets students’ needs; and focusing on collaborative ways to assess the achievement of the Expected School-wide Learning Result.

The nine-page Three-Year Term Revisit report released to the Public School System Wednesday also highlighted on MHS’ progresses since it last went through an accreditation process in 1999.

Among the five main commendations offered by the WASC was: “The principal is commended for his vision, leadership, commitment to students and staff members in helping them reach their potentials, tenure of service, people skills in working with all stakeholder groups in the school community and his aggressive pursuit of grants and resources for the school.”

Robert H. Myers, the PSS’ Public Information Officer, quoted a WASC member as saying during a roundtable discussion with PSS officials that “Dr. [James] Denight has facilitated [a good] transition [at the school].”

Furthermore, faculty, staff and students were also recognized for their contributions in the school’s positive growth. “The school staff for their support of students and willingness to adopt and improve block scheduling as a means to increase the depth of instruction and to meet the needs of individual students.”

The Community Council, whose goal is to achieve site-based management by August 2003, was also commended by the WASC.

In the backdrop of the significant developments, however, MHS was specifically encouraged to:

• Continue to carry out its action plans and incorporate components of the “Strategic Priority: High Student Performance” to strengthen its direction and efforts in increasing student learning and achievement.

• Continue efforts in establishing and aligning, both horizontally and vertically, a written curriculum that meets the needs of students, utilizes best practices and recognizes the PSS standards, scope and sequence.

• Focus on collaborative ways to assess the achievement of the ESLRs and the learning outcomes. (MM)