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| This page provides information specific to SAU16, and links to important pages on the school district's official website (www.sau16.org) |
| Why have changes been implemented against the will of parents and teachers? Why have administrators and school boards demonstrated lack of accountability in addressing parents' and teachers' concerns? |
Through the policies that are continuing to be put in place in the district, academic
excellence is not the priority of the Cooperative Board and the SAU 16 administration.
It appears SAU 16 officials and educators incorrectly believe that emphasizing
academic achievement at any level may harm some students' self-esteem, and they
consider prioritizing academic achievement socially unfair. This social philosophy
attempts to place self-esteem ahead of academic excellence, when in fact, the
overwhelming research indicates that true achievement precedes gains in
self-esteem. (See National Research Links tab at the top of this page.)
excellence is not the priority of the Cooperative Board and the SAU 16 administration.
It appears SAU 16 officials and educators incorrectly believe that emphasizing
academic achievement at any level may harm some students' self-esteem, and they
consider prioritizing academic achievement socially unfair. This social philosophy
attempts to place self-esteem ahead of academic excellence, when in fact, the
overwhelming research indicates that true achievement precedes gains in
self-esteem. (See National Research Links tab at the top of this page.)
NEASC REPORT This report details accreditation at CMS. Please note pages 4,6 and 55 are important because
the goal of the CMS leadership is heterogeneous grouping. The NEASC report is therefore a self guided tool, not an
independent recommendation. Accreditation is not tied to heterogeneous grouping.
the goal of the CMS leadership is heterogeneous grouping. The NEASC report is therefore a self guided tool, not an
independent recommendation. Accreditation is not tied to heterogeneous grouping.
CMS curriculum and philosophy visioning report A collaborative, comprehensive report compiled by
teachers, administrators, board members, and 29 community members with specific recommendations for
the new Cooperative Middle School. A brief summary of this important report is linked HERE.
teachers, administrators, board members, and 29 community members with specific recommendations for
the new Cooperative Middle School. A brief summary of this important report is linked HERE.
Exeter Regional Cooperative NHEIAP Exam Results Exam results specific to SAU 16. Three year averages and
compare with other districts in the state using the site below.
compare with other districts in the state using the site below.
NHEIAP Exam Results 2006 This website is devoted to scores on the academic assessment exams given over
the last three years.
the last three years.
| If you are concerned about any issues relating to grades 6-12, please write a letter addressing your concerns to the Cooperative School Board. The address is 24 Front Street, Exeter, NH 03833 Concerns about grades K-5 should be addressed to your community's local school board |
Accreditation
Specific SAU16 Info
Specific SAU16 Info
NHEIAP Link: Exam results over three years for third, sixth and tenth grades in all schools in New Hampshire.
Is accreditation important at CMS? On the surface, most people would be surprised to learn that less than
5% of the schools containing a sixth grade in New Hampshire are actually accredited. Of these schools, only
one, Rye, has consistent academic achievement. The remainder of the accredited schools occupy the
bottom 30 percent of NH achievement scores. Clearly, the accreditation process fails to predict or facilitate
academic success. The accreditation process is not tied to Federal or State funding: we are neither
rewarded, nor penalized financially.
The process of accreditation involves many resources and staff hours in a process of self-evaluation to
determine strengths and weaknesses of a school, which is fine, but how do we measure the success/failure
of the process? In an era where teachers are consistently asking for more preparation time and smaller
classes, why are we demanding their time in a process where success cannot be objectively measured?
Accreditation is NOT tied to a specific method of teaching, such as heterogeneous grouping. The New
England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) is the group responsible for providing a report, a
path, toward accreditation. NEASC was given a self study guide prepared by officials and staff of SAU 16,
including the goals of the SAU 16 leadership. These goals included heterogeneous grouping.
Accreditation is NOT an independent or objective recommendation for middle school
philosophy and it's components, including heterogeneous grouping in our schools. NEASC
does not advocate any specific middle grade philosophy or method of teaching: Middle
School, Junior High, K-8, or otherwise. Schools without heterogeneous grouping can be
accredited.
5% of the schools containing a sixth grade in New Hampshire are actually accredited. Of these schools, only
one, Rye, has consistent academic achievement. The remainder of the accredited schools occupy the
bottom 30 percent of NH achievement scores. Clearly, the accreditation process fails to predict or facilitate
academic success. The accreditation process is not tied to Federal or State funding: we are neither
rewarded, nor penalized financially.
The process of accreditation involves many resources and staff hours in a process of self-evaluation to
determine strengths and weaknesses of a school, which is fine, but how do we measure the success/failure
of the process? In an era where teachers are consistently asking for more preparation time and smaller
classes, why are we demanding their time in a process where success cannot be objectively measured?
Accreditation is NOT tied to a specific method of teaching, such as heterogeneous grouping. The New
England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) is the group responsible for providing a report, a
path, toward accreditation. NEASC was given a self study guide prepared by officials and staff of SAU 16,
including the goals of the SAU 16 leadership. These goals included heterogeneous grouping.
Accreditation is NOT an independent or objective recommendation for middle school
philosophy and it's components, including heterogeneous grouping in our schools. NEASC
does not advocate any specific middle grade philosophy or method of teaching: Middle
School, Junior High, K-8, or otherwise. Schools without heterogeneous grouping can be
accredited.
SAU 16 Joint School Boards Link to SAU 16 Joint School Board pages. The Joint Board consists of all 33
members of each school board within the SAU. The Board is responsible for overseeing the central office operations
and hiring central office administrators (superintendent, assistant superintendents, etc.) There is also a smaller Joint
Chairs Board which consists of the chairperson from each board within the SAU.
members of each school board within the SAU. The Board is responsible for overseeing the central office operations
and hiring central office administrators (superintendent, assistant superintendents, etc.) There is also a smaller Joint
Chairs Board which consists of the chairperson from each board within the SAU.
Cooperative School Board Link to Cooperative School Board home page. The Cooperative Board consists of
nine members elected from the six member towns. Exeter holds 3 seats, Stratham 2, Brentwood, Kensington, East
Kingston, and Newfields each hold 1. Voters in all six towns vote for each seat, but candidates for that seat must reside
in the designated town. The Cooperative Board is responsible for setting policy and oversight in the secondary schools
(grades 6 - 12) including: CMS, EHS, Seacoast School of Technology, Great Bay e-learning Charter School, and the
Alternative High School programs.
nine members elected from the six member towns. Exeter holds 3 seats, Stratham 2, Brentwood, Kensington, East
Kingston, and Newfields each hold 1. Voters in all six towns vote for each seat, but candidates for that seat must reside
in the designated town. The Cooperative Board is responsible for setting policy and oversight in the secondary schools
(grades 6 - 12) including: CMS, EHS, Seacoast School of Technology, Great Bay e-learning Charter School, and the
Alternative High School programs.
Communications Audit and Teacher Survey Link to the Griffin, Bodi & Krause Communications Audit Report.
Completed in the fall of 2005, this comprehensive, independent report completed at the request and the expense of SAU
16, highlights the strengths and weaknesses in various areas of communication in our school district. The last 25 pages
of the report include verbatim comments written by teachers who responded to the survey (anonymously). This is a
lengthy report but is a MUST READ document.
Completed in the fall of 2005, this comprehensive, independent report completed at the request and the expense of SAU
16, highlights the strengths and weaknesses in various areas of communication in our school district. The last 25 pages
of the report include verbatim comments written by teachers who responded to the survey (anonymously). This is a
lengthy report but is a MUST READ document.
Cooperative District Teacher Survey Link to the SAU 16 in-house teacher survey completed in 2006. This
survey was modelled on the teacher portion of the Griffin, Bodi & Krause audit of the previous year. This report also
includes verbatim comments from teachers. Please take the time to read these and draw your own conclusions,
particularly after looking at the 2005 report above.
survey was modelled on the teacher portion of the Griffin, Bodi & Krause audit of the previous year. This report also
includes verbatim comments from teachers. Please take the time to read these and draw your own conclusions,
particularly after looking at the 2005 report above.
Cooperative Board Agenda Link to the most recent Cooperative Board agenda
Cooperative Board Minutes Link to the meeting minutes. If you aren't able to watch the meetings on public
access cable TV (channel 22), read about what happened right here.
access cable TV (channel 22), read about what happened right here.
Cooperative Board Annual Goals Link to the Cooperative Board's goal page
Code of Ethics Link to the Cooperative Code of Ethics that is supposed to be adhered to by board members (and
one would think employees, too!)
one would think employees, too!)
Meeting TV Schedule Link to meeting rebroadcast schedule on community access cable television (channel 22)
SAU 16 Curriculum & Assessment Page Link to the SAU's official curriculum and assessment page.
This website is independently produced by and for the benefit of parents and taxpayers of SAU16. It is not affiliated with and does not represent views or opinions of the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board or SAU16 Administration. |
| This website and all of it's pages and links is a good faith attempt to provide the community with a centralized location of background information about changes that have occurred at our schools, and namely, CMS. It is not intended to attack anyone personally. If anyone sees anything contained in this good faith representation to be factually incorrect or derogatory in any way, please contact us immediately and we will review it and change it if this has accidentally occurred. |