Dear editor,
Just the facts: Greg Doverspike has been the superintendent of Durand School District for the past 12 years, enrollment 999 k4-12. Mosinee enrollment 1,983 k4-12. Of Mosinee’s 70.8 percent of high school students tested, only 51.8 percent are proficient in ELA (Durand 36.5 percent) and 44.9 percent are proficient in math (Durand 32 percent). What are the proficiency results if 100 percent were tested?
Per the DPI website, “Reporting based on ‘total tested’ provides a disincentive to administer tests or makeup tests to students who are not expected to do well because their inclusion in testing may lower the results for the school.”
Things get worse. When examining postsecondary preparation grades 9-12, 9.6 percent of Mosinee students participate in advanced courses (Durand 6.3 percent), dual enrollment 59.3 percent (Durand 10.6 percent), and work-based learning 18.9 percent (Durand 2 percent). What is more telling given these dismal student achievement numbers, the Durand School Board curriculum committee did not meet monthly, but only five times in the last seven years, the last being May 26, 2020. These numbers come directly from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Durand Public School website.
Mathematically, given Mr. Doverspike’s performance record at Durand, would Mosinee District residents be satisfied if of the 2,000 students enrolled in the Mosinee School District, over 1,300 would not be proficient in reading, writing, comprehension and math? The solution is not more money. Are Mr. Doverspike’s credentials worth compensation in the neighborhood of $200,000/year?
Mosinee is taking a giant step backward. If you would like to get involved, please contact 715-321-3000 for more information.
It’s all about your children’s future and hard-earned money!
Gary Crawford, past president of the Mosinee Board of Education
Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email [email protected] or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403.
