By Charlotte Smith
The Bladen County Board of Education met on Monday, October 14 for their regular scheduled board meeting. Preliminary end of grade data was discussed, along with the financial summary, a mental health report, a new justice partnership, school improvement plans and other items of business.
Mrs. Sharon Penny, with the finance department gave the September Financial Summary. Other than “a lot of A/C problems” causing some extra expenses there were no extra significant expenditures for September, Ms. Penny reported.
Due to the State’s budget not being passed the Bladen County Schools are operating on last year’s budget, according to the report. Mrs. Penny explained the budget passed the NC House, but has not passed the NC Senate yet.
“It’s likely we wont have a budget passed by October 31st,” Mrs. Penny stated.
She added the state legislators are approving “mini budget bills” and may pass some for the salaries of the state and law enforcement employees. However, the bonuses for veteran teachers and principals will not be paid until the new budget is passed.
The board’s attorney, Mr. Gary Grady introduced a Justice Partnership. The partnership would be between local law enforcement, social services, and the schools. The group would meet to discuss effective strategies to limit referring students with non-serious disciplinary actions to the court system, according to Mr. Grady’s presentation. Judge Scott Ussery would be an adviser in the partnership. The partnership is a non-binding agreement and would be formed to limit youth from going into the court system.
The motion for the partnership carried.
Mr. Hinson presented the preliminary North Carolina End of Grade (EOG) and End of Course (EOC) data and the Every Student Succeeds Act School Performance Grades for the 2018-2019 school year. He told the board, “I am pleased to tell you we are a lot better off than we were when we adopted common core back in 2010-2011.”
View the slideshow with photos of some of Mr. Hinson’s presentation:
[slideshow_deploy id=’173347′]
The ESSA is a law passed in 2015 to govern the nation’s grades K-12 in public education. The law replaced the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), however, it did not eliminate provisions related to the standardized tests given to students.
According to Mr. Hinson’s overview, all high school grade levels have the following percentage of proficiency:
ACT 42.5%
WorkKeys 46.8%
ACT/WorkKeys 50.3%
Math Course Rigor 93.9 %
EL Progress 31.5%
Along with those percentages the report has the 4 year cohort graduation rate at 91.6%. This includes students who attended Bladen County Schools for all four high school years.
The ESSA School Performance Grades Mr. Hinson presented are as follows:
Bladenboro Middle School: Growth- 74.9, Proficiency-58 Grade: C
Bladen Early College: Growth-71.2 Proficiency-58 Grade: C
Bladen Lakes Primary: Growth-80.6 Proficiency-54 Grade: D (Low performing)
Clarkton School of Discovery: Growth- 60.5 Proficiency-59 Grade: C
Dublin Primary School: Growth- 73.5 Proficiency-48 Grade: D (Low performing)
East Arcadia Elementary: Growth- 84.8 Proficiency-47 Grade: D (Low performing)
East Bladen High School: Growth- 78.1 Proficiency-67 Grade: C
Elizabethtown Middle School: Growth- 57.8 Proficiency-49 Grade: D (Low performing)
Elizabethtown Primary: Growth-81.4 Proficiency-56 Grady: C
Plain View Primary: Growth- 78.7 Proficiency-50 Grade: D (Low performing)
Tar Heel Middle School: Growth- 62.8 Proficiency-49 Grade: D (Low performing)
West Bladen High School: Growth- 77 Proficiency-67 Grade: C
After Mr. Hinson’s presentation there was some discussion. Mr. Dennis Edwards said, “We are sending our best students to Clarkton School of Discovery. Why are they not preforming better?”
Mr. Hinson countered Mr. Edwards’ statements. “Clarkton School of Discovery exceeded growth last year. When student are moved to new schools it effects students tests scores. On the topic of Project Challenge, Mr. Hinson replied, there were only 12, 6th grade students enrolled in Project Challenge last year verses 100 in the program several years ago.”
The school also had some long term substitute teachers which can directly effect student testing, Mr. Hinson continued. In addition to those reasons, Mr. Hinson announced more people are taking their children to Emereau: Bladen, a local public charter school, instead of enrolling them in Project Challenge because of transportation issues, even though Bladen County Schools has exceeded the charter school in growth.
Mr. Edwards asked if the Project Challenge Program was worth the overhead. Dr. Taylor explained the school did cut one position in the program last year.
Clarkton School of Discovery inherited children from East Arcadia and less children in the Project Challenge program, Mr. Hinson reported.
One board member stated the Project Challenge program offered at Clarkton School of Discovery needs to be marketed more in order to pull more students into the program.
Dr. Robert Taylor, Bladen County Schools Superintendent did point out that even though East Arcadia Elementary received a D grade they have worked hard on their growth. He asked the board to draw their attention to the school’s growth compared to last year’s growth. “They are working hard,” Dr. Taylor stated.
Dr. Taylor also told the board he would be creating a Reading Task Force to target K through third grade reading proficiency.
Mr. Jason Atkinson presented the school improvement plans for 2019-2020. He stated all the plans with the North Carolina Star platform are compliant. The board approved the plans.
Mrs. Cheryl White-Smith, EC Director and two colleagues gave a presentation on mental health in the schools. Ms. White-Smith presented the School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE).SHAPE is a system for a school mental health team to use to document, track and advance quality and sustainability improvement goals. There are 12 individuals on the SHAPE team for Bladen County.The School Mental Health Quality Progress Report for Bladen County Schools were as follows:
Mastery: N/A
Progressing: Evidence-Based Services and Supports and Evidence-Based Implementation.
Emerging: Teaming, Needs Assessment/Resource Mapping, and Data Driven Decision Making
Overall Score: 32% Students Screened with 0% receiving School Mental Health Services.
Ms. White-Smith gave some staggering results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 2017. According to her report, there were 100 Bladen County students that reported they seriously considered attempting suicide during a 12 month period. In Bladen County, 20 students attempted suicide that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdoes and there were 67 high school students who attempted suicide within a 12 month period.
View the slideshow with the Mental Health SHAPE presentation here:
[slideshow_deploy id=’173331′]
Mrs. Angela Mendell, Behavioral Specialist did state the case load she and her colleagues have this year is 23 students each. She explained the case load was large and they have received assistance. Mrs. Mendell also told the board she was excited Bladen County received a coveted grant. The SHAPE representatives explained different grants and partnerships they are working on to improve the mental health of Bladen County students.
The board did go into closed session for certified and classified personnel issues, student transfers and legal issues. When the board reconvened they approved the personnel matters.
Mr. Vince Rozier stated he would like the board to look at employees who have not had a raise in a while such as the cafeteria workers. “I know we can’t do anything now, but we can at least think about it,” Mr. Rozier said.
Mr. Alan West reminded everyone of the East Bladen Homecoming Parade on October 25th in downtown Elizabethtown.
Chairman of the Board of Education, Mr. Roger Carroll said he would like to find out who the tennis courts in Bladenboro belong to, the school or the town.
Before the board adjourned, Dr. Taylor reported board members, Mr. Cory Singletary, Mr. Gary Rhoda and Mr. Roger Carroll along with Dr. Taylor himself would attending an educational conference this week.
Mr. Gary Rhoda was the only board member not present at the board meeting.
During the meeting the board also presented awards and spotlights. Read the article now:
About Author
