Advanced Placement Data:

An outstanding report was presented to the school board in February.  The results appear below.  The first row of charts demonstrate that in 2008, 44.44% of Norwalk seniors participated in advanced placement coursework at some point in their career.  That number far exceed the participation statewide or nationally.  Norwalk students participate in Advanced Placement at a higher rate than other students in Iowa or nationally.  In addition, Norwalk students also achieved higher scores on the Advanced Placement Tests …..statewide or nationally.  The bottom chart demonstrates that in 2008-09, 13.2% of students nationally scored a 3 or higher (demonstrating proficiency).  In Iowa, 8.3% scored a 3 or higher.  In Norwalk, over 28% of our students scored a 3 or higher.  Norwalk proficiency was over twice the national average and three times the state average!   Congratulations to the staff, parents and students who challenge themselves with rigorous work.  You will benefit over the long run.  More information is available at: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html

Clarifying the Indianola Article:

     Many of you may have seen a recent article in the Indianola Record Herald regarding Norwalk administrative expenses.  I’m not sure why Norwalk was included in an article about the CIML schools, but I really need to clarify some of the information.  Unfortunately, the brevity of the article did not allow comparative charts to be addressed in depth.  So, I will take that opportunity now.  As you may have noticed, the data was taken from the 2007-08 school year.  I have more recent data.  Norwalk is now the 34^th largest school district in Iowa.  In our calculations, Norwalk principals rank 46^th in  princpal’s salary when compared to principal’s salaries across the state. Mark Crady and Laura Sivadge also receive a stipend for being Norwalk’s curriculum director.  Mark serves the secondary and Laura serves the elementary.  We pay a total of $16,052 for those services from Mark and Laura.   When you realize that the average salary of a curriculum director in Iowa exceeds $70,000, you realize what a bargain we get.  Over one-third of the schools in Iowa have curriculum directors listed in some fashion on the Department of Education website.  Sometimes they are called school improvement directors, or assistant superintendents or other similar names.  Based on this data, we are one of the largest (if not the largest school) that does not have a fulltime curriculum director.   

     The move of counselors to the role of deans has also been a cost-savings.  Our counselors perform many administrative roles at a much lower rate than traditional assistant principals.  The average salary for an assistant high school principal in the metro area is over $82,000.  Norwalk deans make far less. 

     Norwalk’s superintendent salary ranks 57^th in Iowa among superintendents.  Iowa is the 34^th  largest district with 2388 students.  Specifically, there are 14 districts with populations between 2000 and 3000 students.  Norwalk superintendent salary ranks 8^th of 14.  In Warren County, of the four fulltime superintendent’s, Norwalk’s superintendent salary ranks third of the four. 

     Don’t misinterpret the message.  Norwalk administrators are happy to serve Norwalk and grateful to our public.  However, there were many apples and oranges comparisons in the Record Herald study which must be refuted.  In fact, we are continually searching for ways to become more efficient.  I believe you have seen the economy and excellent service provided by our deans.  Additionally, the following data may assist that understanding by comparing oujr administrative team in 2010 with our team ten years ago, in 2001:

As you can see from this chart, despite Norwalk’s growth, we have tried to keep the growth of administration minimalistic.  But, realistically, Norwalk will eventually need to structure in more curriculum director time to manage the huge Iowa Core initiative.