Heritage camp lauded, Buchanan promoted at board meeting

At its Aug. 8 meeting, Madison Board of Education approved a new assistant principal and heard positive feedback about summer outreach.

Carmen Buchanan is Liberty Middle School’s new assistant principal. She has taught for 20-plus years at Liberty, most recently as instructional partner. “(Liberty) is where my heart is. I have worked for some wonderful mentors there,” Buchanan said.

This summer’s Super Camp at Heritage Elementary School was highly successful. This two-week study helped 20 Madison students in reading and math.

Danielle Dixon coordinated Super Camp with teachers Heather Chaffin, Kescha Lamb, Jill Bledsoe, Natalie Smoak, Adrian Wells and Wendy Pharo. They split sessions between reading and math fundamentals.

A parent told the board that her daughter “loved this camp. She needed it. She gave up another camp to go there. She wants to get her teachers happy.”

After camp, teachers sent packets home for each student’s individual needs for home reinforcement, principal Dr. Lydia Davenport said. “If a child isn’t reading on grade level by third grade, the child will struggle” throughout school, federal programs coordinator Jeana Ross.

To allow further negotiation, the board rejected AB Stephens’ sole bid of $14,400 for pianos at James Clemens High School.

Student families are welcoming the “Get Fired Up for School” initiative. Principals and teachers are visiting and grilling hot dogs at Madison apartment complexes and Triana Boys & Girls Club. Anthony Graham is coordinator.

Board member Ranae Bartlett said this outreach “underscores the importance of communicating at different levels in different ways.”

Board member Connie Spears said families appreciate seeing their principal on their home turf. Spears expressed concern about homes without WiFi or Internet access. “We need a mechanism to get info in parents’ hands.”

Board member Dr. Terri Johnson asked about the status of data recovery for the system’s computer servers. Chief school finance officer Mike Weaver said he is “rather confident” that the finance committee could meet on Aug. 20. The committee hasn’t had access to data to hold meetings since May.

Davenport was recognized as this year’s president of the Alabama Association of Elementary Administrators. Personnel coordinator John Jones will serve as president of the Alabama Association of School Personnel Administrators.

After its regular meeting, the board opened a work session to discuss the district’s strategic plan and superintendent and district goals for the 2012-2013 school year.