The Leflore County School District is addressing issues raised as a result of the new statewide accreditation ratings, Superintendent of Education Jean Hall said Monday.
The district moved up two spots from last year’s accreditation level — from “At Risk of Failing,” the sixth-highest of the seven levels, to “Academic Watch,” the fourth-highest.
While the overall results were good, the district needs to increase its efforts, Hall told the Leflore County School Board.
“We’ve seen some significant progress on student achievement; however, we have some areas where we need to improve,” she said. “In the area of English II, much needs to be done.”
Efforts are already under way to address deficiencies, she said.
“We have placed new teachers in English I and II at both high schools. We are providing additional professional development and are continuing to analyze test data to provide the appropriate instruction to meet the individual needs of all students,” Hall said.
Three schools improved over their 2009 ratings: Amanda Elzy Elementary moved up from “Failing” to “At Risk of Failing,” East Elementary moved from “Failing” to “Academic Watch,” and Leflore County Elementary School improved from “Academic Watch” to “Successful,” which is the third-highest level.
Both Leflore County High School and Amanda Elzy High School remained unchanged. They were rated “Failing” and “At Risk of Failing,” respectively.
Claudine Brown Elementary was not included in the accreditation report, but Hall said the school is considered to be “High Performing” based upon its students’ performance on standardized tests.
Also Monday, Elmus Stockstill requested that Leflore County High School’s football stadium be named after Marcellus Singleton, a former football coach there.
Stockstill, who graduated from the school in 1992, said Singleton has had an impact on young people.
“Coach Singleton has made a big difference in their lives and also has contributed to the community,” he said. “He would stand up for us when we were right and put us in our place when we were wrong.”
Singleton no longer coaches but still works as a comprehensive health instructor at the school.
“I think we’ll be doing the community a favor as well as the high school by naming the stadium after him,” Stockstill said.
Also appearing before the board was Greenwood resident Troy Brown, who billed himself as an ambassador for the “Keep Hope Alive Coalition for a World Class Education in the Delta.” Brown said he is embarking on a proposal for “community-board collaboration.”
Among the items the coalition seeks, Brown said, is “a dialogue that will result in empowered school leaders, empowered schools and empowered children.”
He said the coalition has three driving principles: accountability, fiscal responsibility and “the inherent right of every child to a quality education.”
Brown said the coalition’s first scheduled meeting will take place in October, although an exact date and time have not been set.
Also Monday, the board approved:
• An emergency purchase to replace an air conditioner unit at Amanda Elzy High School’s cafeteria. The replacement and installation come to $27,675.
• Attending the Delta Area School Board Association meeting scheduled for Sept. 27 at Delta State University.
• Attending the Mississippi School Board Association’s Risk Seminar on Oct. 7-8 in Ridgeland.
• A request by Leflore County Board of Supervisors for District 5 Supervisor Robert Collins to rent the inside of the walking track at East Elementary for $1 per year. The Leflore County Board of Supervisors will install playground equipment in the leased area and will assume all liability for its use.
• Sending board members Roy Hudson, Shemeka Collins and Watson Jackson to the National School Board Association’s annual conference in San Francisco, the week of April 9, 2011.
• Changing the October board meeting from Monday, Oct. 11 to Thursday, Oct. 14. This is being done to conform with the district’s fall break schedule.
• Contact Bob Darden at bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
