Feedback

Ground Rules (9/6/06) - Readers' comments, with their permission, will be included here under their name. Comments may not mention a Caston employee, past or present, by name. Personal attacks even when not mentioning an individual's name will not be published. When providing feedback it is suggested that you keep in mind that the intent of this website is to ultimately assist in providing a more effective education for each of Caston's students. Feedback from the community is invited and encouraged, however, the final decision as to whether it is published resides with the website administrator.

(From Lora Redweik, Aug. 31, 2006) - I appreciate the web site in which you have put together. My only concern is that you are only showing part of the picture. If we are to assess the test scores and make judgments then we should have all of the scores for all of the grades in the school both Elementary as well as the High School.   I don’t know why you have just picked out two different results but in order for me personally to make a judgment I need to see all the scores from several years as well as the scores from past administrations to make a correct assessment.
     It is very important to include the lack of help for some of our students in all grades with involvement from home. We can make blame toward teachers, administration but the fact of the matter is that if these kids are not worked with in both education and social well being that there is a higher rate of failure.
     I will be looking forward to the additional information on your web site.

(Response by Russ Phillips, Sept. 7, 2006) - Lora, thanks for the feedback. The information that I have shared does not establish "blame" or "responsibility." That is not the focus and purpose of this website. My emphasis is on sharing information/data in hopes of stimulating greater interest in Caston's Schools that will lead to a more effective education for each student. As you rightly point out the total picture must be considered, you can't just look at a part of it. Furthermore, the "total picture" includes more than just looking at test results. As I mention on the site I don't plan to generally include on this site what is available elsewhere online. However, I will draw attention to it and give the link. Readers will need to do some of their own "homework" in order to have a more complete picture.
     Regarding your reference to "two different results" - If you are referring to the End Of Course assessments (ECAs), Algebra 1 and English 11, these are the only two ECAs, I believe, that Caston administered in the spring of 2005. ECAs from the Indiana Department of Education (DOE) are relatively new for our state. The 2006 results have not yet been put online by DOE for the public. Further info about ECAs is at http://doe.state.in.us/core40eca/welcome.html. DOE has a variety of information online for each school in the state. I refer to this on www.castoncomets.org/performance.htm. For our Elementary you will find this at http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/SEARCH/snapshot.cfm?schl=2157 and for our Jr.-Sr. High at http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/SEARCH/snapshot.cfm?schl=2159.
     I feel you are right on target regarding the importance of the home regarding students' education.
     Thanks again for taking the time to give me feedback.

(From Matt Walsh, Sept. 22, 2006) - Russ, I wanted to thank you for putting together the castoncomets.org website. I appreciate you taking the time to place relevant information on the site regarding the state of the school and the education of the students. I have found the site to be extremely informative and I can quickly find information regarding Caston. Again, thank you for taking the time to not only create this site but keep it updated as well.

"Mission Statement - Caston School Corporation is committed to providing each student with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to function as tomorrow's exceptional citizens. Teachers, administrators, staff, and the at-large community are dedicated to seeing that the students develop to their full academic, vocational, and personal potential in order that they may take pride in themselves, their accomplishments, and their school. It is our goal that each individual at Caston School Corporation will do his/her utmost to teach, assist, counsel, and encourage one another in making our school the best center for a lifetime of learning."
(Policy # 2105)