Maryville School District officials will be taking a harder look at whether education programs make the grade –– with possibly your opinion playing a factor.

School board members unanimously approved Wednesday a new evaluation process when reviewing academic services and programs.

Superintendent Vickie Miller said the new process would involve a more in-depth review that includes feedback from students, parents and educators as well as other data to create a more comprehensive report.

“In this age of accountability and student performance focus, I just think it’s a bigger step we’re taking to grow and it’s part of our continuous school improvement process,” Miller said.

“It’s just another way to ensure we’re making good decisions and then looking at what the results of those decisions are.”

In the past, Miller said evaluations were more one-sided with one evaluator rating whether a program was meeting goals or state guidelines.

Some programs she said are easier to evaluate than others. Character education, for example, includes many factors that can affect the success rate from one student to another. Miller said other programs a student might be involved with also can play a part in that student’s overall success.

The process will be put into place in November to give teachers and other education staff members time to become familiar with the process.

“I think it will mean a lot more work for the person evaluating programs by having to gather more information,” Miller said. “But hopefully it will also get others more involved and allow them to have a say concerning our programs.

In other business, board members:
• Unanimously approved to set the 2008-09 budget hearing for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 at the board office.
• Unanimously approved the resignation of Bonnie Temke, ACES office manager/secretary, effective today. Her position will be changed from a 12 to 11-month position.
• Unanimously approved the hiring of Suzanne White as a pre-school paraprofessional at Eugene Field Elementary.
• Unanimously approved the hiring of Serena Loving as assistant instrumental music director at Maryville middle and high schools.
• Unanimously approved the hiring of Sarah Ellis as a paraprofessional at Maryville Middle School.
• Unanimously approved the hiring of Ashlee James as a counselor at Maryville High School.