The Southwestern Central School District held its regular board meeting Tuesday night where Jackson Lamb, senior, received her diploma. The board also discussed the transportation and building and grounds budgets. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

On the heels of the state Education Department releasing the graduation rates in public schools, Maureen Donahue, Southwestern Central School District superintendent, noted that the percentages do not represent the five-year graduation rates fairly. At Tuesday’s board of education meeting, the district delivered a diploma to Jackson Lamb, Southwestern senior, while Donahue reinforced the importance of highlighting the five-year graduation rates.

“We have kids that are on different paths and no matter how they get there we’re just really proud (them),” Donahue said.

Donahue previously said a missing consideration in state graduation rates is the five year graduation rate of students who take an extra year. While the rate of students who remain enrolled, but didn’t graduate in 4 years, is calculated, Donahue said the five-year rates are not emphasized by the state.

The Southwestern Central School District’s graduation rate decreased to 88 percent in 2018, down from 89 percent in 2017. The 2014 cohort totalled 111 students, an increase from the 109 students in the 2013 cohort. The percentage of students who graduated with advanced placements decreased from 49 percent to 39 percent; those with a regents diploma increased from 41 percent to 47 percent; and those with a local diploma remained flat 3 percent. The district’s dropout rate increased from 4 percent to 6 percent. The percentage of students who didn’t graduate and are still enrolled decreased from 7 percent to 5 percent.

Donahue said the reasons a student takes an extra year ranges in variety, but maintained the district’s numbers should reflect those students. The district has two seniors who qualify this year within the five-year route.

They don’t count those (students),” Donahue said of the state not adjusting school districts’ graduation rates to reflect the five-year graduates.

In the state Education Department’s graduation rates announcement, a separate percentage was included to reflect the inclusion of August graduates for New York State as a whole.

Donahue did, however, mention the state is considering calculating and reporting on school districts’ five year graduation rates.

During the meeting, the board also discussed the buildings and grounds and transportation budgets. The proposed transportation budget for the 2019-20 school year will increase $72,438 from $837,320 in the 2018-19 school year to $909,420 next year. The majority of the increase was attributed to increases in salaries in employee contracts. The transportation department is looking at purchasing three new buses and 1 SUV while trading or selling four old buses.

The buildings and grounds department’s proposed 2019-20 school budget will increase $35,086 from $1,564,532 in the 2018-19 school year to $1,599,618 next year.

In other news, the district considering adding a therapy dog to the elementary school of the district to alleviate stress among young students. A service dog is currently in operation at Bush Elementary School in the Jamestown Public Schools District. Donahue said the district is in the preliminary stages of that process. She said a dog has been selected and is undergoing training.