CD: County schools prepare for better state testing

BONNIE COBLENTZ

STARKVILLE — Board members heard about plans being made and action taken to address academic performance in the Oktibbeha County School District as they prepare for state testing that begins in late March.

The county school district has been labeled “at risk of failing” by the Mississippi Department of Education For perspective, the Starkville School District ranks just two steps higher at “academic watch.”

The board took up the matter of the 2010 state testing and the West Oktibbeha County High School’s improvement plan. They also spent some time discussing problems with the district’s energy savings contract they have with Johnson Controls.

Jerome Smith, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, had good news and bad news for the board regarding progress made to prepare students for the upcoming state tests.

“Three of four schools improved, but one school dropped,” Smith said, referring to student performance on the most recent round of practice tests.

Superintendent James Covington indicated the school that dropped was East Oktibbeha County High School.

“On the first test, they blew it out of the water, so we know they can do it,” Covington said. “We just need to find the incentive to make them want to do it” on the real test.

Smith identified four groups of consultants and specialists who are working with teachers and district staff to address the areas where students performed the lowest.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

CD: County schools may rethink school uniform policy

BONNIE COBLENTZ

Oktibbeha County school board members postponed their decision whether to allow students out of uniform as a reward so they can decide if the district will continue with a school uniform policy.

The board met Monday night for its regular meeting, and Cynthia Ward was the only board member absent. The bulk of the meeting dealt with testing and school performance issues, and the uniform question came up in these discussions.

The issue came up when the board tabled the request to approve the West Oktibbeha County Elementary School’s performance contract. Principal Andrea Pastchal-Temple’s proposed contract would reward high performing students with incentives that include a trip to Six Flags Over Georgia and the option to not wear a uniform on certain days.

The board said the proposed incentive plan would allow students who score as proficient on the state tests in the spring to wear non-uniform but appropriate school clothes every other Friday during the coming school year. Those who score advanced on the state tests would be allowed out of uniform every Friday.

“If telling a kid you can wear whatever you want within reason if you score proficient or beyond — and we’re all about test scores — if that gets them to do it, then I have no problem with it,” Superintendent James Covington said.

He suggested the incentive could be tried for a time to see if it works.

“That alone is not going to do it,” Covington said, explaining that this incentive would not improve test scores but reward performance. “Give it a shot. If it doesn’t work or gets out of hand, we know how to get it back.”

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CD: Action plan: County schools respond to poor test results

BONNIE COBLENTZ

County school officials discussed their preparations for the 2010 state testing in a business meeting Monday night at East Oktibbeha County Elementary School.

All board members were present for the meeting where the board handled mostly matters of routine business. However, Superintendent James Covington told the board that they are required to attend some special sessions because of the district’s poor performance in the last round of testing.

Board president Curtis Snell and Covington “had to attend a mandatory meeting because we have a couple of schools that are failing,” Covington said.

All the board members will have to do the follow-up training, and a member of the Mississippi Department of Education attended Monday night’s meeting as a guest.

Jerome Smith, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said test data from last year shows the district very strong in some areas, but other areas need work. The Oktibbeha County School District is labeled “at risk of failing” by the MDE, based on results of the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2, taken by students in grades three through eight each May. Students in high school take tests in the state Subject Area Testing Program.

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CD: Area schools assessing when to return to class

DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

Local school districts canceled school for today, but Friday’s plan is hinged on the severity of winter weather — snow, freezing rain and sleet — predicted for today.

Officials with the Columbus Municipal School District were out at 4:30 this morning checking road conditions to determine if buses could run. By 5:30 a.m., school officials had decided to close for the day.

But plans for Friday are still up in the air. CMSD Superintendent Del Phillips is meeting with transportation coordinators at 4 p.m. today and will make a decision from there, said Janet Lewis, district spokeswoman.

The district will notify parents of closures via Falcon Phone Blast messages. Employees will be notified by e-mail; television and radio stations will carry the announcement at 6 a.m.

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CD: County schools approve classes for coming year

BONNIE COBLENTZ

Trustees of the Oktibbeha County School District started off the year with a brief business meeting Monday, approving of the course offerings for the 2010-2011 school year.

Superintendent James Covington presented the high school course selection/curriculum guide for the upcoming school year.

“These are the same courses offered as last year,” Covington said. “There are no new courses and no new graduation requirements that we are aware of.”

The county school district offers 84 credits for high school students to select from as they choose courses and meet graduation requirements.

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CD: School board looks to raise funds by harvesting timber

BONNIE COBLENTZ

Oktibbeha County school officials discussed results of the most recent safety audit and easement issues related to timberland in Monday night’s meeting at West Oktibbeha Elementary School in Sturgis.

Two forestry items took the board’s attention. The board followed the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s recommendation and agreed to pay $25,821 to replant 237 acres of trees that had been harvested for timber. Superintendent James Covington said this amount covers the trees, the labor and their guaranteed survival.

The second item was tabled until the board could get legal advice and explore its options. The school district has timber worth about $345,000 that is ready to harvest, but they must cross private land to get to it.

“The owner said he wants $5,000 to cross his property,” Covington said. “We need to find out what we can do legally to obtain an easement so we can access that property.”

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CD: County schools to get free H1N1 vaccines

BONNIE COBLENTZ

Oktibbeha County school officials set events in motion Monday night to bring free H1N1 vaccines to district students.

They also approved a job description to create four new part-time learning strategist positions, and approved a $5 per student activity fee for participation in an elementary art club.

Superintendent James Covington said the Mississippi Department of Health contacted the district through the local health department seeking to administer the H1N1 vaccine in the schools to students. The vaccine is being offered free of charge to all public and private school-aged children.

“They want to offer it in the schools because of the increased risk of infection” in this age group, Covington said.

Parents must provide written consent before children can be vaccinated for H1N1. The free vaccinations are not being offered to faculty. Covington said he would contact the department today to move the process forward.

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CD: County schools look to give old Maben school campus to EMCC

BONNIE COBLENTZ

The Oktibbeha County School District is “well under way” in talks with East Mississippi Community College about opening a college branch at the unused O.L. Wicks school in Maben, the district’s superintendent said.

“EMCC-Mayhew had a record enrollment this year. I think they are trying to branch off some and meet the needs in other communities, such as the Maben area,” Superintendent James Covington told the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “The Wicks campus was a real good fit for them.”

He said the college is conducting a feasibility study to determine such things as the soundness of the structure, which had been a high school before the county school district consolidated facilities.

Covington said if EMCC does move forward to open a branch in Maben, the school district would turn the property over to them for that use. EMCC would pay a nominal fee to gain ownership of the property in the not-for-profit arrangement.

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CD: Board discusses feeding students

BONNIE COBLENTZ

Oktibbeha County School District board of trustees discussed two issues related to food for students in their meeting Monday night.

The board addressed portion sizes being served to students and money earned in fundraisers being spent to feed the football team.

The board began the discussion with James Brown, treasurer of the West Oktibbeha County High School Parent-Teacher Association. Superintendent James Covington asked him to come to the board and discuss his organization’s financial status. The high school does not have athletic boosters, so the PTA runs the concession stands and fills in some of the duties typically performed by athletic boosters.

“Last Friday, we made $256 in concessions. We spent $100 on food and $101 on feeding the team,” Brown said. “That left us $55. We’re not making any money.”

Brown also said that he and some of the coaches buy meals for some of the athletes after an away game when they are traveling home and the student doesn’t have money for a meal.

Two members of the board and Covington picked up on that thought. Yvette Rice may have been the most vocal.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

CD: County schools get 5 percent budget cut

BONNIE COBLENTZ

The Oktibbeha County School District spent time at Monday night’s meeting going over numbers, and many of them weren’t favorable as they learned of the 5 percent budget cut they received from the state.

The district also closed the books on their fiscal year 2009 budget. All board members were present for the meeting where Superintendent James Covington announced the budget cuts.

“The governor ordered cuts for K-12, and the (Mississippi Adequate Education Program) cut for our district was $208,563, a 5 percent cut for the district,” Covington said.

Other cuts were $634 from the education enhancement fund — EEF money is set aside for classroom supplies — and $4,126 in ad valorem tax reduction.

Board member Cynthia Ward asked the question likely at the forefront of each board member’s mind.

“How are we doing?” she asked Covington. “Are we cutting back on personnel or something like travel?”

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

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