WESTMINSTER — Bellows Falls Union High School Principal Kelly O'Ryan told the school's budget committee this week that seven freshmen out of a classroom of 14 students were reading at a first grade or elementary school level.
O'Ryan, who made her statement Tuesday during a BFUHS budget meeting, told the full board Wednesday night that the students' lack of reading skills is an indication that the school needs additional help, although she didn't say what kind.
Teachers and students are working hard on the problem, she said.
But board members, including BFUHS Chairman Jason Terry of Rockingham, said the low reading ability is cause for alarm on several levels and he vowed to do everything he could to help the struggling students.
Without strong reading ability, students face a much harder life, he said.
O'Ryan, who is in her first year as principal at the 320-student school, said the students were reading at a "first grade level" although the minutes of the budget committee were changed to reflect "elementary school" level.
The board had scheduled a special session on Wednesday to approve contracts and bid specifications for several large construction projects at the school, and the board approved a $4.3 million contract for the new HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) system for the high school, as well as a contract for a new roof for the high school, $1.75 million.
The cost of the new roof could be reduced by $650,000 if the contractor can reuse the existing insulation, according to Superintendent Andrew Haas.
Other construction projects in the pipeline at the 1971 high school include a renovation of the science wing, estimated to cost about $2 million, and rebuilding the driveway and parking lots at the school, at a cost of $2 million.
The four towns that belong to the BFUHS district have already approved two, $2 million bond issues for the roof and driveway projects. The HVAC system is being paid for with $3 million from the district's ESSER funds, with the balance expected, if needed, from the school's capital reserve fund.
However, the board got into a wrangle over the reading issue, with some board members wanting to go behind closed doors to discuss the situation and others opposed.
School Director Priscilla Lambert of Rockingham said that an "executive session" was not warranted under the state's Open Meeting Law.
Individual students should not be discussed, she said; the board was only ready for a general discussion.
The board, which was missing three board members because it was a special session, ultimately turned down the executive session, and Terry immediately called a 10-minute recess.
He left the room, while other board members waited. The meeting resumed after 10 minutes, and Terry announced a discussion about the reading scores would be held in open session.
Terry said Thursday that he was very concerned and supported O'Ryan for bringing the matter to the budget committee's attention.
"I'm thankful that Kelly shined some light on the challenges at the high school. We cannot fix the problem unless we know about it. Going forward I will ask what are the problems so we can fix," he said. "This can't happen on my watch," he said.
"Reading is a critical skill," said Lambert, herself a retired special education teacher and the mother of a special needs son. She said her own son had to utilize "flexible pathways" to get his diploma.
But Terry pushed for higher expectations.
"I am programmed as a person to fix issues and have high expectations of myself to perform well. Kelly has my full support and is doing great things," Terry said.
Haas said that half of the students are on individualized education plans, or IEPs.
"We work with all students to meet their individual needs all the time," Haas said after the meeting. "We have students who struggle academically for various reasons. Our goal is for every student to be proficient in both reading and mathematics. We are currently building systems to support teachers in their efforts to provide the appropriate education for all students," he said.
"These include targeted academic and behavior interventions when students need them most. Learning loss can happen very quickly, but restoring it takes time," he added.
BFUHS Director Deborah Wright of Rockingham said the news from O'Ryan about the reading levels was "very upsetting" and the first time the school board had heard about lagging reading scores.
"Apparently, there's a lot we don't know," said Wright.
She said she had questions on whether those seven freshmen with the low reading abilities came from the local schools or somewhere else.
Wright and Terry said the low reading scores come at a pivotal time in negotiations, as the unionized teachers have asked for what was termed "a substantial increase."
Wright said she would be in favor of a pay system tied to students' performance, but she admitted she didn't know of a Vermont school that uses such a strategy.
"I am also challenging all educators to do the same along with board members. We can and have to do better," Terry said.
