WBESC supt. speaks out on overtesting

VW independent/submitted information

The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Governing Board met in December and learned about a greater need for therapy services in the WBESC’s service area.

Superintendent Brian Gerber talked about an increase in primary-age students who have a need for therapy services.

“It appears the numbers are exploding in the districts we serve,” Gerber told the board, adding that the WBESC conducts early intervention screenings throughout the year, with the number of students requiring intervention increasing.

“These students have an increased need for speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy as early as three years of age,” Gerber said. “We have a duty to provide those therapies because the goal is to prepare these students for kindergarten curriculum.”

The WBESC superintendent said the curriculum in kindergarten and first and second grades has changed considerably over the past several years, adding that “high-stakes standardized testing” has put an incredible amount of pressure on teachers and students in those grades.

“Quite frankly, we are over testing our students,” Gerber said. “I think all the standardized testing is ridiculous.”

While he said he is in favor of accountability, Gerber said, the amount of testing is taking all the instructional creativity out of teachers’ hands.

“Teachers have a tremendous amount of creativity to offer their students, but they do not have time to teach creativity because they are bogged down in preparing their students for standardized testing,” he added.

Gerber said he thinks testing will go full circle at some point when legislators realize testing is becoming a negative for both students and teachers, although he said he didn’t know when that might happen.

“It’s hard to say when common sense will kick in,” he said. “The higher-ups at the state level who have instituted this entire standardized testing process have never spent a day teaching in their life, but somehow think they are experts when it comes to curriculum.”

While he disagrees with the amount of state testing required, Gerber said the WBESC would continue to address the needs of local students and serve them to its fullest capacity.

“Fortunately for us, we have high quality therapists in our two counties who do a great job and will continue to do a great job in meeting the needs of our students,” the superintendent noted.

In action taken at the meeting, the board approved a budget revision to the Fiscal Year 2016 21st Century Grants, due to changes in personnel and programs.

The board also accepted the resignation of Deanna Wann, effective November 30, and approved the temporary reassignment of Allen County paraprofessional Brittany Cunningham as a classroom teacher.

The board also renewed the WBESC’s membership with the Ohio School Boards Association Legal Assistance Fund for 2016, at a cost of $250, and OSBA annual membership for 2015 at a cost of $2,528.

The next meeting of the WBESC Governing Board will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 20, 2016, at the Van Wert ESC office.