Last week’s Simpson County School Board meeting opened with kudos from board member Stan Bulger to Superintendent Dr. Toriano Holloway.
Bulger noted the many positive changes in school affairs since Holloway came on board last summer and praised the way the staff has adjusted to working with Dr. Holloway to improve things and get the schools moving in the right direction.
Bulger said there are no longer bunches of automobile parked at the central office, indicating that the district staff was out in the field helping to solve issues and address problems.
Board Chairman Danny Cowart reminded the board of the need for annual visits to all campuses and indicated that meetings may start at individual campuses around the county.
Dr. Holloway has implemented procedures to streamline board meetings. Much of the agenda is distributed to board members prior to the meeting to help facilitate the actual meetings. Information for discussion is available to the media as well as the general public upon request.
Board Attorney Wesla Leech informed the board that the process for preparing the $9.5 million bond loan is moving along. Part of the proceeds will go to build a new consolidated high school. The balance goes to loan refinancing and will save the county a lot of money because of lower interest rates available now.
Curtis Wicker will serve as the new director for students who utilize SPED (special education) resources. He and his wife reside outside of Magee, and he formerly worked with one of the school systems in Jones County. He replaces Jeanie Pigg as associate superintendent of Support Services.
The board approved half-time teachers for Magee and Mendenhall High School in mathematics. The board discussed the fact that Dr. Robert Sanders, assistant superintendent for human resources, plans to hire retired math teachers, who can only work for the state half days after retirement. Student test scores indicate the need to add the additional instruction.
Sydney Magee, principal of Mendenhall Jr. High, informed the board that benchmark scores should be available for students in January. Her indication is that the scores will reflect improvements she and her staff are seeing in the classroom.
Some scores have been lower, however, particularly in lower level grades, because of pandemic restrictions on class attendance. The lower scores are not specific to Mendenhall but are actually commonplace around the state. The restrictions on in-person learning are impacting younger children more because they have not learned the basics and had the number of application opportunities provided to older students.
Magee High, which is listed as “problematic” and having to report to the board monthly, is seeing improvements, according to new Principal Bill Broadhead. He did indicate some continuing attendance issues with students but said they are working to improve that area. Attendance has a direct impact on school funding, which is tied directly to average daily attendance. Broadhead said that even missing two days a month can impact a student’s learning, and poor attendance also directly affects discipline.
Magee Middle School is another county school which is required to update the board monthly based prior performance. Principal Tracye Pierre indicated that Magee Middle is progressing. They are participating in the “Go to Green” program, and the faculty hopes to improve the score ratings for the school in the near future. Pierre said the students are being rewarded for their efforts, with events such as having a winter formal as a result of improved efforts. Board member Stan Bulger indicated he has seen much improvement from Pierre as well as in student scoring.
Dr. Holloway reported to the board that child nutrition rates were improving for breakfast as well as lunch in the district.
The school board plans to discuss the public comment section of their board meetings in the January board meeting. At a previous meeting Dr. Holloway had expressed the importance of staff handling issues arising in their specific schools and the board not being tied up with addressing individual school matters. There was initially a little apprehension over moving in that direction.
Dr. Holloway explained that the change will not prevent parents or people in the community from communicating with the board, but he said that staff may be able to solve some issues before the county school board needs to step in.
