New Leflore County Superintendent Viola Williams-McCaskill is re-aligning some of the district’s schools.
The school board unanimously approved her proposal Thursday to create a middle school at East beginning in 2012-2013.
The new configuration will be:
• Amanda Elzy Elementary, K-5
• East Middle School, 6-8
• Amanda Elzy High School, 9-12
Currently, the schools are set up like this:
• Amanda Elzy Elementary, K-6
• East Elementary, 4-8
• Amanda Elzy High, 7-12
The other schools in the district will not be affected.
Williams-McCaskill said the intent is to separate junior high students from high-schoolers. She said that will increase instruction time and improve academics.
School Board Member Margaret Buchanan praised the changes, and the superintendent said parents are excited about it.
Board Member Roy Hudson asked if eighth-graders participating in high school athletics would still be eligible and was told they would.
Board President Watson Jackson asked if East students would have use of the new gym at Amanda Elzy; Williams-McCaskill said they would. The board’s motion included the stipulation that transportation be provided between the schools, which are a little more than a mile apart.
Also Thursday:
• Williams-McCaskill said 30 high-schoolers who are at risk of not graduating because they haven’t passed subject area exams received one-on-one instruction at the central office. The program is called the SATP Academy. SATP tests in biology, English II, algebra and U.S. history are required for graduation in Mississippi.
• The board voted 4-1 to reject all bids for banks to serve as depositories and readvertise for new bids, based on advice from attorney Willie Perkins. The interest rates were minuscule; some were 0 percent, and one was only 0.0085 percent.
Perkins said the board could probably get more if it used one depository rather than spreading the business between all the banks in town, which has been a longstanding practice.
“I’m raising these concerns because just from a legislative standpoint, it’s going to get tight for school districts, and every penny that you can earn on your money will be well worth it,” said Perkins, who serves in the state House.
Jackson voted against rejecting the bids, which must be approved by the board’s May meeting.
“You don’t have too much time right now. Your best best is to go ahead and accept the bids and look for that next year,” he said.
• Contact Charlie Smith at 581-7235 or csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
