According to academic data compiled by Superintendent James Johnson-Waldington, half of the schools in the Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District improved or stayed the same from the first nine-week grading period of this school year, and half did worse.
The superintendent uses data to mirror the accountability scores, ranging from A to F, issued by the state for schools and districts following each school year. He presented the latest estimated grades to the Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School Board at its meeting Tuesday.
From the first nine-week period to the second, Bankston Elementary School dropped from a D to an F, Davis Elementary from a C to D, Leflore County Elementary from a B to C and Threadgill Elementary from a C to D. Greenwood High School dropped from a B to C.
In contrast, Leflore County High School and Amanda Elzy Junior High School each improved from D to C. East Elementary was the only elementary school that showed an increase, from D to C.
Greenwood Middle School’s grade was again a C, and Amanda Elzy High School remained at B.
Johnson-Waldington said the lack of certified teachers was “certainly an overwhelming variable” in the loss of learning in the elementary schools.
“If we had qualified teachers, it would be B’s and C’s,” he asserted.
He added that the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected those students currently in the early years of elementary school. He said the district is tracking those students and “pouring funds and human capital into this group.”
To supplement the effort, Dr. Kalanya Moore asked her fellow board members and the superintendent to consider allowing teachers to go outside the district to receive education and training. Another board member, Henry Fant, suggested that the board look into the pool of retired educators in the county to help tutor students. the county to help tutor students.
The board also:
- Unanimously agreed to enter into a contract with Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC, a New York City- based personal injury law firm representing various school districts in a lawsuit against vaping companies.
The lawsuit alleges “fraudulent and negligent marketing and distribution of vaping products.”
- Accepted a $2,000 donation from Bank of Commerce in support of districtwide programs to include college and career and health fair activities.
- Contact Katherine Parker at 662-581-7239 or kparker@gwcommonwealth.com.
