Dale Riser, principal architect of Beard + Riser Architects, presented a proposal on Wednesday to renovate schools within the Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District.
Speaking at the school board’s work session, Riser brought up primary concerns within schools such as roof replacements, better mechanical and electrical systems, more energy efficiency, and repairing or replacing underground pipes.
Riser said school buildings within the district were 65 years old on average.
“Generally, most of the buildings are in a position where they need to be renovated or replaced,” he said.
The last bond issue passed for renovations to the Greenwood or Leflore County schools was in 1991 for
$3.9 million, which paid for three buildings at Leflore County Elementary School in Itta Bena, according to Riser. The Greenwood and Leflore County school districts consolidated effective last July 1.
Riser also said that the school district was the only one of the 25 largest districts in Mississippi not to have made “significant” restorations to school buildings, which he said cost other districts millions of dollars.
He reported that Threadgill Elementary had the greatest need for repairs or renovations, and Greenwood Middle School had the least need.
The board did not take any action or agree to officially begin renovations with the company due to the need to discuss legalities and bond approval processes.
“I think it would be really wise to study the cost of (renovation) so you’d have something to make a decision off of,” Riser said. “It’s a big responsibility and a big school district.”
Attorney Kelvin Pulley brought up to the board that there were legal requirements regarding the issuing of bonds to pay for this work. He said that he would provide documents to the board that would show what has to be done, how long it would take and who would need to be included in the strategic planning as early as Thursday afternoon.
In other business, the board discussed introducing a dropout prevention plan at its upcoming regular meeting.
The plan would identify students at risk and focusing on their improvement to reduce the likelihood that they will drop out. The main focus would be on high school students, but earlier grades also would be taken into consideration.
The Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) program is geared toward helping struggling students in schools. It provides specific, targeted support to students who are falling behind or otherwise need supplemental instruction.
“If we catch (students) who are failing, one or two grades behind, that’s why our (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) process is so important to provide those interventions,” said Dr. Kenneth Pulley, deputy superintendent.
The school district reported a graduation rate of 83% for the 2018-2019 school year. That number comes from averaging the combined graduation rates from Greenwood School District and Leflore County School District, which were 81.6% and 84.7%, respectively.
These figures compete with the state graduation rates, which were last reported at 85%. They also exceed the national rate, which was last reported at 84%.
The district’s dropout rate for the same time frame was 10.1%.
“We’re working to keep these numbers where they are,” Pulley said. “The graduation rate impacts our accountability model, so the higher it is, the better off our accountability rating can be.”
•Contact Kerrigan Herret at 581-7233 or kherret@
gwcommonwealth.com.
