While labeling of schools is embargoed until September, the district received bad news about its AIMS test scores for 2007.

New Curriculum Director Leanne Marstopn explains the current AIMS scores to the DUSD Board.

While some scores have improved in the math, reading and writing component of the test recently, it appears that Douglas students are continuing to fall behind the rest of the state.

That was the sobering message presented by new Douglas Unified School District Curriculum Director Leanne Marston.

Last school year students in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and high school grades took the AIMS test.

For example, in reading the average score for students from throughout the grade levels finished behind their state counterparts from anywhere from 8 to 20 points.

In writing, students in the fifth grade wrote at state levels but all other grades were below state averages by 4 to 9 points.

In math, third grade finished at state levels, and fourth grade students were only 1 point behind the state average. But it accelerated quickly from there as seventh graders had a score 24 points behind the state level. Eighth and Tenth grades did better, -2 and -10, respectively.

Marston's recommendations for the coming year include:

ˆ Moving math curriculum adoption up a year to this school year.

ˆ Further training, professional development and coaching needed for reading series and DIBELS testing.

ˆ Additional monitoring of the implementation of district adopted reading materials in classrooms.

ˆ Provide additional writing-across-the-curriculum training.

ˆ Data analysis training and intervention coaching for all teachers.

While there is some success in writing based on the scores, there are problems in all three subjects through most grade levels.

In other action, the board:

ˆ Approved contract amendment for Youth Transition Program.

Approved hiring seventh grade Social Studies teacher, Carol Pedroza, at a salary of $32,990; Huber Middle School Special Ed teacher, Juan Esquer, $32,990; Ray Borane health teacher, Katie Vieluf, $32,990; Ray Borane Language Arts teacher, Virginia West, $32,990; DHS Math teacher, Timothy Elliott, $32,990; DHS Math teacher, John Cadigan, $35,990; DHS Science teacher, Christine Cadigan, $39,890; DHS Special Ed teacher, Heather Everson, $32,990; DHS Culinary Arts teacher, Scott Edelsen, $19,794; DHS Math teacher, Teresa Gallardo, $32,990; Faras second grade teacher, Elizabeth Cuevas, $32,990; Clawson third grade teacher, Katie Cormier, $32,990; and a stipend of $3,000 for Ronda LaMadrid for being certified in teaching and special education.

ˆ Approved Katie Vieluf as the new varsity head girls basketball coach at a stipend of $3.201.

ˆ Approved emergency substitute teachers Jenny Blaskey, Lizette Valenzuela, Robert Monje, Martha Cano and Mary L. Vigil at $50 a day; Ben Lucero, Maria Poetter, Jennifer Thomas and Eric Meechan at $70 a day; and Mary Thomas, Elsa Obregon, William Kimble and Ken Herbert at $80 a day.

ˆ Approved renewal of senor citizen volunteer program.

ˆ Approved stipends for extra duty to Sonja Barcelo, $2,000, Enterprise accounting software oversight/training; and Lupe Acosta, $2,500, District locksmith.

ˆ Approved hiring of Secretary III, Angie Rivas, $10.08 per hour; and Jose Valenzuela, DHS In-House monitor, $9.14 per hour.

ˆ Approved volunteer football coach Gustavo Enriquez.

ˆ Approved resignations of Carlos Rosales, Special Ed TA at Huber, Martha Lorene Romero, LEP tester; and Marilyn Esqueda, Teachers Aide at Clawson.

ˆ Approved Excess Utilities plan for 2007-08.

ˆ Approved Continuing Investment Resolution with Cochise County Treasurer's Office

ˆ Approved multi-term contract renewal for Bagnall Company for health care consultant services.

ˆ Approved sole source procurement from Windsor Management-Infinite Visions software support; and National College Board-Advanced placement course material.