The Attala County School Board met Monday night, officially agreeing to changes that will allow for the high schools to move to a block schedule starting in the next academic year, as well as reviewing beginning benchmark results, approving some personnel for the next year, and getting feedback Saturday school.
Ethel and McAdams go to block scheduling
The board Monday night approved the reorganization of teaching positions within the district to give Ethel and McAdams high schools the staffing needed to move both to a block schedule starting with the 2020-21 school year.
“We have some over-staffing at the elementary level, so we want to shuffle some positions,” said Superintendent Kyle Hammond. “We’re not adding to the payroll.”
Hammond said this strategy allows the schools to build remediation and enrichment into regular class time in the earlier grades. In the eleventh and twelfth grades, he said, it would offer greater opportunities for students to take part in accelerated classes.
He also said the district will be looking into partnerships like the Kosciusko School District has with Holmes Community College that allows upper classmen to earn their associates degree while finishing high school.
Beginning benchmark results discussed
Hammond presented the board with beginning benchmark results of the district, noting that there appear to be issues with accuracy due to how the tests were delivered to students.
Because benchmark tests were given as a standalone exam, not as carrying weight in student performance, the superintendent believes some students didn’t take the test seriously enough to put their best effort forward.
“We’ve got to actually give a grade for the test,” he said, noting that the plan is for the next round of benchmark testing is for it to count as a third nine weeks test so performance has value to individual students.
“We need to know where each individual student really is. We only have four weeks following spring break for review and to get them ready for the end-of-year test,” said the Superintendent. “We’ve got a lot of work to do before the end of March.”
Hammond then reviewed the preliminary results, much of which showed performance below the goals set last week during the board’s strategic planning work session.
The superintendent said, however, that he believes the goals set by the district are attainable.
“I believe everybody is working hard toward those goals and that they are attainable,” he said.
“We just need to communicate with students about their individual goals. It’s not just for the school or the district,” Hammond said, “we are doing this for the students.”
Saturday School popular effort at McAdams
Hammond reported to the board that the Saturday School at McAdams, set to run through the first Saturday of March, was far more successful in its first week than expected. Some 86 students participated in the remediation program that offers transportation and lunch to students, as well as a basketball game. Students who attend all the scheduled sessions will be invited on a trip as a reward.
“Students were excited to be there,” said Hammond. “That school is not an F school. I really appreciate those students showing up.”
Administrative personnel approved for 2020-21
The board approved the rehire of all of the district’s administrative personnel for the 2020-21 school year except for the McAdams High School principal.
Hammond said he did not yet make a recommendation in relation to the McAdams’ principal slot because he hasn’t yet completed the review of Andrew McFarland in that role. The superintendent has until March 1 to present all recommendations to the board.
All other principals and the heads of federal, testing and career tech programs were rehired, to be paid on their current salary scales.
Backpack issues
A McAdams high school student and her parent approached the board during the public comments section of the agenda complaining about how students at the school must carry all their belongings in backpacks all day, as lockers at the school are assigned to students for their use.
The parent said she feared for the well-being of the students, particularly in that they could be doing damage to their backs carrying such heavy packs. The student brought her overflowing back pack to show the board.
The board said district personnel would look into the reason why lockers are not available to the students.
16th Section leases
The board received bids for two 16th section land leases.
For section 16-15-5, for 240 acres, a $10 per acre bid was received from Cody Latner. The current lease-holder, bid $6 per acre and now has the right to meet the higher bid to maintain the lease. If he does not, Latner will be awarded the lease.
For section 16-13-9, for 309 acres, a high bid of $11.50 per acre was received from Benjamin Cayson. Since there is no current lease-holder, Cayson will be awarded the lease.
