Interim Superintendent James Johnson-Waldington reported at the Leflore County School District’s board meeting on Wednesday that the county schools are off to a good start for the 2018-19 school year.
“It has been an exceptional beginning,” Johnson-Waldington said. “This is the best start of school I’ve seen in the districts I’ve worked in before.”
Johnson-Waldington said that over 90 percent of students were in attendance over the first two days of the semester and that serious instruction began on day one, which was Monday.
“Teachers are setting the climate for growing and learning from the very beginning of the year,” he said.
All classrooms have full-time teachers, although Johnson-Waldington said some of them are not certified.
“Our teachers slots are filled. Are they all filled with the most highly qualified teachers? No,” he said. “But we are working on professional development with the non-certified staff, trying to give them all the help they need.”
Johnson-Waldington referred to the shortage of certified teachers as “the biggest elephant in the room in the state of Mississippi,” indicating that this is a statewide problem that is even more difficult in rural locations such as the Mississippi Delta.
He could not say exactly how many non-certified teachers are heading up classrooms in the Leflore County district.
One new feature of the school year will be an early release day for students at all Leflore County schools each month, starting Aug. 22.
Johnson-Waldington said students will be let out at 12:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month and staff will remain for professional development from 1 to 4 p.m. on those days.
“I’ve done this in districts previously,” Johnson-Waldington said. “It’s a nice reward for the students for their hard work, and it’s an opportunity to integrate professional development each month.”
The board meeting’s consent agenda, all approved by the interim superintendent, included a general procedures manual for students and teachers at the Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center and an affiliation agreement with Life Help for in-school mental health services.
“This affiliation with Life Help gives us the opportunity to provide services to our students beyond what our counselors can provide,” he said. “We are very fortunate to have these services available right in the building every day, helping children.”
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
