STARKVILLE — Oktibbeha County school officials expect the district”s budget to be sound despite cuts; they also anticipate good test scores.
All board members were present for Monday”s meeting. Superintendent James Covington gave a general budget update near the end of the meeting.
“If all holds true, we”ll be OK,” Covington said of the budget. “We”re not in the best shape because of the budget cuts of last year, (but) we ended with a 5 percent to 6 percent fund balance last year. The state would like us to have 10 percent.”
The district spent a lot of money last year on roof repairs districtwide, and next up is an evaluation of the bus fleet.
“It”s aging, and we drive on rural roads,” Covington said.
The board also discussed state testing preparations and expectations for the annual tests that begin in late April. The district has been administering practice tests and making preparations all year, but the scores on the practice tests are not yet where they would like.
Board member Charles Avant asked what the district is doing to meet the testing goals.
Some seniors at both the district”s high schools have not yet passed the subject area tests, Covington said; passing subject area tests is a graduation requirement. Coaches have been hired to work with the school principals to evaluate lesson plans, ensure teaching and testing has the necessary rigor and to make sure teachers are using best practices in the classroom.
“I get work reports every week, and when something is not right, I follow up,” Covington said. “It was a real eye-opener at first, but now we”re doing what we need to be doing.”
And Covington is confident with the progress teachers and students are making.
“I think it is safe to say we won”t have a failing school,” Covington said. “We may not have all successful schools, but we won”t be failing.”
When accountability results were released this school year, West Oktibbeha High School and West Oktibbeha Elementary School were considered “failing;” the district as a whole was “at risk of failing.”
In other business:
- Covington announced the three goals the board set for the district to meet by 2014: 75-percent proficiency in each area of the Mississippi Curriculum Test and the Subject Area Test program; a graduation rate of 75 percent or better; and maintained fiscal responsibility with a 15 percent fund balance.
- The superintendent will assemble a team to attend the Model Schools Conference in June.
- The Oktibbeha County School District renewed their relationship with the Starkville School District to provide vocational education.
- The board adopted a calendar for 2011 that plots when various reports and data will be collected and reviewed by the board.
- The board approved the 2010-2011 academic calendar, with Aug. 5 being the first day of school and May 19, 2011 being the last day.
Before adjourning, the board went into closed session to discuss personnel recommendations.
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