Katie Buchanan got in front of the board to voice her displeasure with the reading proficiency of 3rd grade students in the Altoona School District. Buchanan read off a list of poor numbers for reading levels, particularly 3rd grade. She said that only 52% of 3rd graders read at that level in Altoona, and she blamed the district for its poor performance. Buchanan stated for the record that the district is failing its students, and that it is a bottom line school district only, where money is the only thing that seems to matter. The superintendent responded to Buchanan’s comments saying that the program he installed to improve reading skills has worked at a number of other places and will work here also. Buchanan did say that parents have to become more involved with helping their children learn how to read.
