| School board members discuss CSP and technology
The Lauderdale County Board of Education welcomed Terry Sellers
at its regular meeting on Thursday, May 11. Sellers was
appointed to represent District 5 by the County Commission on
Monday, and will run for the position unopposed in the August
election.
Board members also recognized Harriet Shelby, who presented
Component Five of the system’s Comprehensive System Plan for the
2006-2007 school year. The component listed the goals and
five-year action plan of the school system, incorporating data
collected through earlier components of the plan.
“This was a collaborative effort like we have never undertaken
before at Central Office,” said Shelby. “(We have) produced a
plan we think we will be workable.”
The plan addresses the data received in Component Three and the
challenges found in Component Four of the TCSPP, and provides
realistic and workable ways to achieve the goals stated in
Component Five.
Board members approved Component Five, as well as the entire
Comprehensive System Plan, and gave approval for the document to
be submitted to the State.
Board members also held the first reading of its Energy
Management Conservation Policy, which will become Code 7600, and
approved the system’s Education Technology Plan.
“In the area of professional development, we have done a
tremendous amount in the past few years and will be doing even
more,” said Technology Coordinator Kate Grammer. “We are helping
teachers to teach the same lesson plans using technology instead
of a piece of chalk and a chalkboard.”
Superintendent Phillip Jackson informed the school board that he
had met with officials from Apple to create a 20- to 30-minute
presentation concerning the addition of laptops for students in
the Lauderdale County School System.
Jackson said that he has received feedback from teachers who
have had great success using the new carts of laptops for
students in their classrooms, including some teachers who
usually deal with high discipline problems. According to
Jackson, those teachers reported that students who had not done
anything all year were animated and respectful of the new
technology, and that discipline problems were near zero during
the lessons.
“It is doing exactly what we thought it would do,” said Jackson,
who said that he is working with State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh on
the possibility of becoming a pilot program and gaining funding.
“I hope to be able to make that presentation to you and to the
County Commission. I’m planning to request funds in the budget.
I’d like to at least start with the sixth grade.”
Budget amendments included end-of-the-year transfers to balance
the system’s budget, an amendment to pay half of the SRO Officer
at Ripley High School’s salary and adjustments in the Workman’s
Compensation policy.
The board reviewed Codes 2000 through 2330, as well, making
changes that will keep the board’s policy book up-to-date.
Jackson requested that the regularly scheduled June meeting be
changed to Tuesday, June 6, at the RES Board Room, and listed
upcoming events, including Baccalaureate and Commencement
exercises for both Halls and Ripley high schools.
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