Ella Elementary among state's underperformers

Ella Elementary in Olivehurst is on a new state list of persistently low-achieving schools — a ranking the superintendent for the Marysville Joint Unified School District says follows static test scores by Ella after an earlier dramatic rise.

No increase was recorded in Academic Performance Index tests taken last spring, Superintendent Gay Todd said, but Ella in 2007-08 had the highest increase in such tests in the school district when student scores climbed 38 points.

"There has been a significant turnaround," Todd said of progress at the school. "It's been a Herculean task."

A total of 188 schools in the state, among approximately 10,000 in California, are on the preliminary listing by the California Department of Education released Monday.

Linda resident Amanda Woods, who has three children attending Ella, said they do well in school and that's she surprised by the state listing.

Marysville resident Amy Fraser, who was picking up her niece at the school Monday, linked the listing to economics of the community and the need for more parent involvement.

"It's a very poor area," Fraser said of Olivehurst. "They have excellent teachers here. That's not the problem."

Van Derryberry of Olivehurst, who has three children attending Ella, said he graduated in 1986 from the school.

"Some of the teachers are still here," Derryberry said. "It might be time for some of them to retire."

Schools on the state list must put in place one of four models that include closing the school or rehiring no more than 50 percent of its staff.

Todd said the school district plans less severe improvement strategies that include working more closely with the Sacramento County Office of Education.

She said that while the California Department of Education lists schools the state agency provides no exit crit ria to end such low-performing status. A spokesperson for the state agency could not be reached Monday for comment.

Schools on the list can apply for federal grants, Todd said, and Marysville Joint Unified will do so.

"It can be a huge motivator for staff," she said of the school and the state listing.

Sandy Fonley, a Marysville Joint Unified trustee, called the state list an artificial standard and said, "I wouldn't do anything to replace any of the staff."

Biggs Middle School in Butte County is also on the state's preliminary list.

Superintendent Bill Cornelius, who is a candidate for the Sutter County Superintendent of Schools, could not be reached Monday for comment.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Ryan McCarthy at 749-4707 or rmccarthy@appealdemocrat.com.