Board of Education sees approvals, donations, test results
The Capital Plan, a new wrestling building at BJHS and salary increases were all unanimously approved at tonight’s Board of Education meeting.
The meeting, which took place in the library of Madison Elementary, also heard a presentation about testing results in the seven elementary schools and bids on the new high school.
The approved five-year plan calls for new construction, additions, renovations and technology for local schools like heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling (HVAC) improvements, roof repairs and added security measures.
Among other topics, the Instructional Committee Report presented the results of spring testing in the elementary schools.
The committee expressed “concerns” over the testing scores in African-American students and students in the free and reduced lunch program.
Mary Long, director of elementary instruction, said once the committee received the data, they dissected it and the results showed they had been doing a good job with reading, but still needed more improvements in math, especially with the two aforementioned groups.
“We need to get support with our African-American students and our free and reduced lunch students and males,” she said. “So we’ll be doing workshops where we’ll provide professional development with our teachers to help close those gaps.”
Long did note the overall achievements in the school system.
“We have 15 of the national merit scholars and that shows that we all work as a team,” she said. “All seven of our elementary schools are very tight and I think that’s the reason for our success.”
The schools’ composite reading scores placed them fourth out of the surrounding school systems such as Homewood, Auburn and Muscle Shoals, with 94 percent of students efficient in reading.
“All seven of our elementary schools have shown exemplary scores and I am very proud of it,” said Superintendent Dee Fowler. “I know our kids and I know our teachers and I know we can go higher. We have not peaked yet.”
As far as other business actions, the board approved all six agenda including the Superintendent’s Goals, an increase in the salaries of substitute school bus drivers and a $250,000 donation to Bob Jones for the construction of a new building for the wrestling team.
