Advanced Placement

I have been voting in Jefferson County School Board elections for more than two decades and the hot topic is always the same - money. This year is no exception. Incumbent School Board candidates are busy defending why they have not attracted more state funds to Jefferson County. Challengers promise their winning personalities will serve as a magnet for education dollars. I am disappointed that the topic I am most interested in has received little attention - academics, particularly at the high school level.

Russell F. Williams II, 65 Hagerstown What is your position on science education, particularly with regard to evolution vs. intelligent design? Knowledge of the physical sciences and the scientific method are a lifetime protection for our students. Daily people are bombarded with ads for new methods to lose weight, increase in gas mileage, stop aging, or get relief from pain and disease. People who have not learned what a good scientific study is will be taken in by these often worthless products and treatments.

50 W. Oak Ridge Drive Hagerstown Principal: Jeff Stouffer Phone: 301-766-8050 Fax: 301-797-9743 Web site: www.washingtoncountytech.com Start time: 9 a.m. Dismissal: 3 p.m. Grades: 11-12 Date of construction: 1972 Age of building: 35 years Latest renovation: 1996 Size of building: 106,373 square feet State-rated capacity: 553 Projected 2006-07 enrollment: 334 From the principal Q. What are your goals for the school year?

Jacqueline Fischer has been off the Washington County School Board since 2006, but nobody would accuse her of being out of touch with local education. She worked on the committee that made the recent redistricting recommendations - more about that later - and still attends many of the board's officials meetings, or watches them on TV. I asked her why, after spending more than 30 years in the classroom and serving a term in the lowest-paid elected county office, why she wants to return to the seat she lost in 2006.

scottb@herald-mail.com The number of Washington County Public Schools students taking Advanced Placement exams reached an all-time high during the last school year, Boyd Michael, executive director for secondary education, told the Washington County Board of Education during Tuesday's meeting. School board member Bernadette Wagner attributed the increase to the board's decision in January to give Advanced Placement classes more weight than regular classes. Students are more likely to take a tough Advanced Placement class if they know it carries more weight than another course, she said.

Advanced Placement Exam scores rose last year among Washington County students, and more teens are taking the college-level tests. [cont. from front page ] The results demonstrate academic improvement but they also show more ambition to be college-bound achievers, according to Jan Keefer, supervisor of assessment for Washington County Board of Education. "You have more kids going further with their high school course work and more who want to move on with their education," she said.

Advanced Placement scores in county below average Advanced Placement test scores for Washington County students have been below the state and national averages every year since at least 1995, according to a study provided by the Board of Education. continued The results have prompted the board to undertake a countywide assessment of its advanced program to determine why the scores are down, said Linda Fernandez, the board's director of curriculum. "That's what we're trying to figure out," Fernandez said.

While the number of Washington County Public School students taking advanced placement courses and the number of AP exams taken increased for the fourth straight year, some of the discussion during Tuesday's school board meeting concerned whether some students are overextending themselves by taking the courses or taking too many of them. Richard Akers, director for secondary schools and student services, said it's one thing for students to challenge themselves by taking one AP course and another to stretch themselves by taking four.

There are many brilliant students in the Washington County schools. Many of these students have the ability and intelligence to work at the college level. All students should be working hard regardless of their achievement level. As citizens of Washington County, we should be providing them course work that will challenge our students. Do advanced-placement courses do this? Why do we have to bribe students by inflating their grades to get them to take accelerated course work?

pepperb@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - The Washington County Board of Education Thursday presented its five-year master plan that includes major financial allocations for school improvements and curriculum enhancements. The plan calls for $5 million worth of construction project proposals, $1.8 million for restructuring and modernizing its print shop and $200,000 worth of summer school repairs. Patricia Abernethy, deputy superintendent of schools, headed the master plan presentation at Thursday's meeting.