ADAMS TWP — A new procedure enacted by the Mars School Board Tuesday is touted by school administrators but some parents disagree with its importance.

Board President Dayle Ferguson told principals and department heads that their monthly reports to the board now should include information on one of four goals in the district’s comprehensive plan in addition to activities at the schools.

She said the move is to keep the board in touch with how the goals are impacting students, staff and programs.

The goals are professional development, teacher and administrative effectiveness, resources and data analysis.

The administrators’ assignment on Tuesday night was to discuss data analysis in their buildings or departments.

The subject is controversial because some parents have told the board that the five school days with two-hour delays to analyze data only take away from instruction time with students.

The delays were the recommendation of Matt Friedman, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum. They began in the 2011-12 school year so teachers and administrators can analyze data such as test scores, standardized test results, attendance and the progress of programs.

The delay days also allow faculty time to review student achievement data with other teachers and staff and to set a course for improving student learning, Friedman said.

Parents have complained about the delays at no fewer than three meetings since their inception, saying they cause morning classes at the high school to last 15-minutes, result in less than two hours of instruction time for kindergartners, and decrease instruction time for all students.

On Tuesday high school Principal Todd Kolson said this year’s initial “data day” was used to help teachers maneuver the district’s data system and to identify the school’s top 10 percent at-risk students. He also outlined the plan for upcoming data days.

“I’ve heard several times that parents are concerned about the loss of instruction time,” Kolson said, “I’m a parent myself, and I worry about it. As a principal, I protect instruction time.

“But I believe the two-hour data delays are valuable.”

Middle school Principal Rich Cornell said his staff is focusing on instruction and curriculum data. Centennial School Principal Todd Lape outlined the plan at his building for each data day, and said the information is used to drive instruction and target the weaknesses of individual students, classrooms and grades.

“Those days are very beneficial,” Lape said.

Elementary school Principal Bob Zaccari talked about the data collection methods at his building and how it supports instruction. He said state test results are used to formulate plans, look at strengths and weaknesses, and develop action plans for students with academic needs.

He said the state testing scores from the previous year help the staff to look at patterns, trends and curricular issues.

Primary center Principal Elizabeth McMahon said data recently showed that last year’s Title I reading students at the elementary school scored in the top 5 percent in the state in reading improvement. That resulted in the state Department of Education naming the elementary school a “distinguished school.”

McMahon said that means her school is on the right track for the instruction of early reading skills.

“Students don’t learn how to read in fourth grade,” McMahon said.

Anna Saker, director of pupil services, said she uses data from the five school buildings to determine which students are lagging behind academically. She then is able to make accommodations for those students.

Ferguson said she is pleased with the unique ways in which the data days are used in each school building and in each department.

“I appreciate that they were all a little bit different,” Ferguson said. “That was a good start.”

Friedman said Wednesday that the items mentioned by the administrators in their reports represented only part of their immersion in data in the school buildings.

“I really think that, like it or not, public education has become data driven,” Friedman said. “Having the administrators really take ownership over their own building or department data is something that I feel is a necessity.”

He said the focus on data analysis at Mars is in its infancy, so positive growth and change will continue to take place.

“I am working with administrators to help them become data-driven instruction leaders,” Friedman said, “and I think we’re off to a great start.”