JACKSON – Standardized test results were discussed during a recent Board of Education meeting and the news was not good.
The results were examined through a presentation by Dr. Laura Godlesky, Assistant Superintendent, Grades 7–12 and Title IX Coordinator. It showed Jackson was behind state testing averages at virtually every grade level in reading, math and science.
A slide show revealed the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations had township students performing below the state average in language arts and math in every grade from 3 to 9, in most cases by double digits. In grade 3 it was by nearly 20 points.
Godlesky stated while showing a slide comparing statistics from June 2024 to June 2025, “I want to speak to a changing demographic. Specifically, I want to highlight three areas that have significantly changed in the Jackson School district. These three areas are linked to student achievement.
She noted a large growth of disadvantaged families. “In 2022 (it) was at 8% and now we are at nearly 50%. That is a pretty significant growth in that category.”
“We’ve also had significant growth in our multi-language learners our from 5.6% to nearly 10%, again very significant growth for students with English which is not their first language, so understandably having a harder time with proficiency with standardized testing,” she added.
Godlesky said “another key element was transiency in this school district. Historically the Jackson School District has had students who have completed their entire academic career in Jackson schools or at least a huge majority of it. A trend that has been noticed especially in the past year, is a change that students are registering and then departing – in the district for less than one year 1st through 12th grade. We’ve gone from 3% of our students to at least 6% of our students.”
She said this was important to note “because when you are teaching children and looking at scores you can’t assume the child has been in our district for a while or has even been in that classroom for a while.”
Godlesky also mentioned the impact of the restructuring of schools in the district which included one merged high school, one merged middle school, one upper elementary school 5-6, removal of grade 5 from the remaining elementary schools to provide added learning space for all subjects and the closure of the Christa McAuliffe Middle School.
She noted summer school programs and special tutoring programs in the problem areas that students are facing as a means to address and reverse the low-test scores in reading, math and other areas.
Good News On Grants
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli noted “we are very short on staff and we are all on overload due to the many cuts. One of the significant cuts we have had is a grant writer, so many administrators jump in and when a grant comes out, they work overtime so we are able to apply.”
In reference to this, Godlesky reported, “we have some good news. In early August the Department of Education came out with a learning equity and academic recovery grant called LEAR grants. They were primarily focused for the second level and centered around literacy. When funds are low it is hard to bring new programs and resources in without significant planning and waiting.”
She noted the turnaround time to write the grants which she gained staff assistance with “was pretty quick for these grants and we received three of the four. We have a preliminary approval on the fourth.”
She added that they had been notified that the district had received $1.2 million in grants. This includes a COACH grant which provides $150,000 for five years ($750,000 in total) for 6-12th grade literacy instruction while the IMPACT grant will see the district receive $400,000 to support measurable improvements in student literacy development for 9-12th grade students.
The third confirmed grant called RISE provides $50,000 to implement innovative evidence-based literacy interventions for students grades 6-8.
Christa McAuliffe Middle School Bid Rejected
Also noted during that meeting was the rejection of a bid concerning the sale of the Christa McAuliffe Middle School. The school was shut down earlier this year to help address the school district’s financial deficit. It was put out for bid for a minimum of $54.5 million with a deadline for bids marked for earlier this month.
Board President Tina Kas reported that only one bid had been received and it was for $25.5 million. Kas told The Jackson Times, “The board resolution that was approved at our meeting was to reject the bid that was received and to enter into negotiations with any interested party for the sale of the property as long as the negotiated price was not less than $51,018,000 (which is different than putting it out to bid again).”
She explained this approach “allows the district to explore all opportunities that may yield the highest and best value for the property. We are focused on the negotiation process, where discretion and strategic consideration are essential to achieving the best outcome for the community.”
“As we continue through this process, our focus remains on securing the best possible price for this very valuable property so we can maximize the benefit to the taxpayers of Jackson. We will continue to explore every opportunity to achieve that goal,” Kas added.
