THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 20, 2023 Page 3 Malden Public Schools show improvement, progress in newest MCAS testing scores All grade levels are close to on par with state averages; Malden High School and English Learners show dramatic improvements By Steve Freker T he Malden Public Schools showed a measured degree of improvement in their newest MCAS score results, with higher scores than most school districts similar to MPS. According to the Mass. Department of Education (DOE) the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) – administered each year – “helps teachers, parents, and students know where students are excelling and where they need help.” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ligia Noriega-Murphy and her team made a detailed presentation of the results at the October regular Malden School Committee meeting. Pamela Stazesky, Data Analyst for the Malden Public Schools, delivered the Malden schools MCAS results. Some drastic changes had adverse effects on the testing process, particularly the onceMalden has shown much improvement in its MCAS testing results in just one year. in-100 years pandemic, which began in spring 2020 and continued through 2022. There were also substantial changes in both the MCAS testing platform itself, as well as in the Malden Public Schools curriculum. In 2020 there was no MCAS testing, and in 2021 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) mandated that half the regular testing platform was administered. In 2022, full MCAS testing was administered. Improvements were cited in the 2023 testing – exceeding targets – from the 2022 results. She noted that the “pandemic Mayor, City Councillors, School Committee members all receiving pay raises City Council unanimously approves ordinance increasing salaries for all elected officials By Steve Freker T he Malden City Council at a meeting earlier this month unanimously approved an ordinance which formally increases the salaries of all elected officials, beginning with the new municipal term beginning January 1, 2024. There had been one major constant in the top echelon of Malden municipal government for over a decade. Gary Christenson has been Mayor of Malden since January 1, 2012, after winning election in November 2011. There’s another constant: When Mayor Christenson first took office on the first day of 2012, his annual salary was $105,000. Remarkably, today, Mayor Christenson’s annual salary remains unchanged: still $105,000. At that figure, Malden’s MayPAY | SEE PAGE 14 slide” had halted and that targets for improvements were either met in some areas, or “very close to meeting targets.” Malden High School’s grade 10 students made perhaps the most dramatic improvement with a rise from an overall testing score of 17 on the DESE scale, all the way to 60. The presenters on behalf of Central Administration were particularly encouraged, they TESTING | SEE PAGE 14 On Tuesday, November 7th GRAND OPENING SPECIAL! GO TO REVERESELFSTORAGE.COM TO RESERVE ONLINE OR SCAN QR CODE • 100% Climate Controlled Facility • Newly Constructed Facility • 5000 Lb. Oversized Elevator • Secure Units–Various Sizes • State-Of-The-Art Surveillance Cameras • Secure Units–Various Sizes
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