BONNIE COBLENTZ
STARKVILLE — Board members heard about plans being made and action taken to address academic performance in the Oktibbeha County School District as they prepare for state testing that begins in late March.
The county school district has been labeled “at risk of failing” by the Mississippi Department of Education For perspective, the Starkville School District ranks just two steps higher at “academic watch.”
The board took up the matter of the 2010 state testing and the West Oktibbeha County High School’s improvement plan. They also spent some time discussing problems with the district’s energy savings contract they have with Johnson Controls.
Jerome Smith, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, had good news and bad news for the board regarding progress made to prepare students for the upcoming state tests.
“Three of four schools improved, but one school dropped,” Smith said, referring to student performance on the most recent round of practice tests.
Superintendent James Covington indicated the school that dropped was East Oktibbeha County High School.
“On the first test, they blew it out of the water, so we know they can do it,” Covington said. “We just need to find the incentive to make them want to do it” on the real test.
Smith identified four groups of consultants and specialists who are working with teachers and district staff to address the areas where students performed the lowest.
Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.
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