Although results were mixed on state mandated tests taken last spring by Annandale School District students, every grade improved over the year before, which means Annandale teachers received their Q-Comp bonuses. Curriculum coordinator Kathy Holahan reported to the school board Monday, July 27, at its regular meeting that most teachers met all of their goals and qualifications for the full $2,290. Bendix Elementary School, Annandale High School and the district met their goals to achieve a certain percentage of improvement on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. Annandale Middle School missed its goal by one student. Q-Comp is an alternative pay program developed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty that compensates teachers based on performance rather than seniority. The Annandale School District was awarded $341,000 from the state to pay for bonuses and to help implement the program. Elementary teachers, whose students have been scoring high on the state tests for the last few years, were concerned that scores couldn’t get much better and they wouldn’t meet their state required 2 percent increase, Holahan said. As it turns out, there was still room for improvement. Third- and fourth-graders jumped from 87.65 percent meeting proficiency last year to 90 percent on the reading and math tests. "It is a very wonderful achievement," Holahan said. In fact, this year’s elementary scores were the highest yet. "This started six years ago when you approved the Reading Recovery program," Bendix principal Tracy Reimer told the board. She cited three things that have made an impact on students’ scores: kids’ support at home, data-driven classroom instruction and the professional learning community at Bendix. "This is a really fun place to work," she said. Bendix teachers along with high school staff received an additional $350 on top of their regular pay this summer for their efforts. The high school met its goal to increase the number of students meeting proficiency on the MCAs by 5 percent. The middle school missed its 3 percent improvement goal by just one student. A total of 378 students needed to meet or exceed proficiency on the state math, reading and science test. Only 377 students met that mark thanks to an eighth-grade class that posted the lowest scores in Wright County. "Eighth grade is where we took the biggest hit," AMS principal Tim Prom said. Officials believe a schedule change that will make math and reading daily classes for students will have a positive impact on future tests. "I’m confident in our staff. They will hang in there and it will come, but it can’t be done overnight," Prom said. Although they missed their goal, middle school teachers still saw a portion of their bonus. According to Holahan, the district’s Q-Comp plan includes a proration factor, so if a school is close to meeting its goal, teachers will still get part of the reward. Teachers received $262.50, which is 75 percent of the entire bonus. The other 25 percent will go toward staff development. In addition, AMS staff got $350 along with all of the other teachers in the district for meeting the districtwide goal, which was to increase test scores in all grades by 2 percent. Teachers also received bonuses for meeting an individual professional growth plan and for scoring an 18 or higher on their peer evaluations. They were awarded $795 for each of those two components. A very small number of people chose not to participate in the individual growth plan or the observation piece, Niklaus said. Teachers who didn’t participate didn’t receive compensation for those parts. "Staff did receive pay for their performance and their students’ performance, but the real success is the students’ improvements," Niklaus said. In other news the school board: – Approved a lease agreement with the city of Annandale to build ball fields on the city’s sewage treatment ponds once they are abandoned if a referendum for a new elementary school and ball fields is approved in September. Niklaus was going to present the lease agreement to the city at the next council meeting. If approved by the city, the district would lease the land for $1 a year for 50 years. The school would pay for utilities and upkeep, and the city would pay for water for irrigation. – Agreed not to increase lunch prices or athletic fees; – Hired Jill Wrobbel as assistant volleyball coach; Julie Aeikens as middle school volleyball coach; McLain Westman as seventh-grade boys basketball coach; Brian Atkinson as seventh-grade girls basketball coach and Jason Bartels as head wrestling coach. – Scheduled the district’s Truth in Taxation hearing for Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. in the middle school choir room.