Academic goals set for Concordia schools
Supt. Loretta Blankenstein outlined instructional goals last week for 2008-09 during the regular meeting of the Concordia Parish School Board.
To improve student achievement at all schools, Blankenstein said parishwide assessment teams will review each school's academic strengths and weaknesses and that "rigorous parishwide assessments" will be provided periodically to increase "math and ELA performance in grades 3,4,5 and 8."
She said each school's academic program will be evaluated for effectiveness and a Professional Development Plan will be implemented "based on a review of student data and imput from administrators and teachers."
The goal of this plan, said Blankenstein, is to increase school performance scores so that no school will be labeled "School in Decline," and the number of schools labeled "Exemplary Academic Growth" will increase.
To improve classroom management with more instruction time, consequences will be established parishwide "for specific behavior, including tardies," a Positive Behavior Support program will be implemented and a districtwide Dropout Prevention Team will be created to keep students in school.
The result should be, she said, a decrease the number of tardies and a reduction in the drop-out rate.
At the meeting last week, the board agreed to pay school employees the 13th check on the second Friday of January totaling: full-time certified $1,000, full-time non-certified $800, part-time certified 1/2 or $500, and part-time non-certified 1/2 or 400.
Employees will also receive a December check on the second Friday of that month totaling $500 full time employees, $250 part time employees.
Will Nolan was recognized for being named Louisiana School Psychologist of the Year and Matthew Couie, a Vidalia High student, was recognized for his heroic efforts following a school bus accident in Vidalia which seriously injured bus driver James Cockerham. Couie assisted Cockerham and students until paramedics arrived on the scene.
Wanda Adams was named Supervisor of School Food Service and the board approved invoices for the month of October totaling $5,107,132.
In other business, the board approved the following:
Resignations:
Debbie Bairnsfather, Child Nutrition Program Supervisor, effective November 5, 2008.
Kim Cowan, bus driver, effective October 24, 2008.
Retirement:
Neeva Sibley, principal, Monterey High School, effective January 8, 2009.
Leaves:
Teneeshia Barber, teacher, Ferriday Jr. High School, sabbatical leave for professional improvement, effective January 5, 2008-May 22, 2009.
Amanda Wilson, teacher, Vidalia Lower, maternity leave, effective October 27, 2008-January 30, 2009.
Jennifer Smith, teacher, Vidalia Lower, extended medical leave, effective January 5, 2009-February 13, 2009, upon exhaustion of accumulated sick leave.
Noelanne Bennett-Kimball, teacher, Ridgecrest School, family medical leave, effective December 4, 2008-December 19, 2008.
Amy Goodman Prather, paraprofessional, Vidalia Upper Elementary, maternity leave, effective December 1, 2008-February 6, 2009.
Amy Mayse, paraprofessional, Ferriday Jr. High, maternity/medical leave, effective October 21, 2008.
Nancy Philley, secretary, Monterey High School, family medical leave, effective November 10, 2008-December 19, 2008.
Appointments:
Kimelar Skipper, paraprofessional, Ferriday High School, effective November 10, 2008
Lydia Evans, paraprofessional, Ferriday Jr. High, effective November 21, 2008.
Rescind Action:
Christy Welch, paraprofessional, Vidalia Jr. High. |
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