By larry E. binz
The Press Register
Published: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 8:27 AM CDT
Higgins Middle School has set a new goal for its seventh grade to show a 35 percent academic improvement during 2010-11.
Assistant Supt. Dot Prestwich said Higgins had to refocus its academic objectives because the school failed to meet the state’s average yearly progress standard during 2009-10.
Prestwich’s report brought favorable remarks.
“Sounds like you have a real improvement plan at Higgins,” board president Tom Shaw commented. “How soon will you know if the students have improved?”
Prestwich said tests would be given in October and a progress report would follow shortly thereafter.
“It’s critical that Higgins improve this year,” Shaw said.
“I expect to see great improvement from October to December,” Prestwich said.
Board member Sandy Stillions expressed his concern that a school district only has four nine-week examinations and report cards to issue.
Supt. Dennis Dupree: “We have progress reports more often than that.”
CHS principal Monika Kemp reported that 28 percent of the 10th grade students achieved proficiency. The 2010-11 goal is to achieve a 30 percent proficiency mark.
“We want to be able to see how much our students are retaining,” Kemp said. “Our students will use the standard English grammar, mechanics and sentence structure to communicate.”
By consent, the board approved the following:
• The district test security plan.
• The Mississippi Writing/Thinking Institute proposal for professional development. Cost: $27,360.
• Advertise for bids for ADA projects with architecture for Booker T. Washington, Myrtle Hall IV and Oakhurst Middle School.
• Hire Gail M. Terry as an educational consultant for professional development services.
• The Brainchild Proposal for Oakhurst. Cost: $4,140.
• The proposal to secure the services of JRL Enterprises, Inc. “I Can Learn” at Clarksdale High School. Cost: $12,174.
• The Discovery Education Association’s quote for Booker T. Washington.
• Hire the Bailey Education Group to perform Kids College Software program. Cost: $22,500.
• Request permission from the city of Clarksdale to use Clarksdale Civic Auditorium for school activities.
• Bus usage at CHS parking lot and gym and Patrick Norris & Darwin Williams Youth Foundation and Fred Norris and his Riverside Eagles.
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