The district also hired 50 staff members this summer after about 10% left the district, which superintendent John Kuhn said was the most turnover hed seen in his career. A passing score on the AP exam is a 3, 4 or 5. Gervetz continued expressing her frustrations with the countys school board and saying she was heartbroken for students, teachers, and the community. A graduate is considered college ready in Reading or Math if he or she has met or exceeded the college-ready criteria on the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) test, the SAT or the ACT test. Board Member Jason Wilson, left, Superintendent Chris Galloway and Board President Kyle Dooley have a discussion Monday, April 18, 2022, during a DeKalb Independent School District board meeting. In Mineral Wells, there are optional instructional Fridays for elementary students, with 55 students signed up so far. The board made the vote. Sauce served as principal of Chamblee High School within DCSD, and as an elementary principal within Fulton County Schools. Instead of opting for reconstruction, the board decided to lump Druid Hills with several other schools in line to get repairs. Heres what a state committee found. Your support keeps our content free for everyone. The Information Technology department comprises of customer service-oriented professionals dedicated to the integration and implementation of technology across Dekalb County School District. Were excited about those days, because were going to be able to target some students that possibly need some extra help that in a normal setting they might not even be able to get, Brannen said. The move came during a virtually-called meeting Tuesday. The entire debacle transpired in under a month. Residents in the DeKalb County School District on Monday voiced complaints about teachers being ordered back into . Texas assigns ratings to districts and campuses that designate their performance in relation to the state's accountability system. Board members voted to name Dr. Vasanne Tinsley as the interim superintendent. He cited his April 25 letter, saying he previously called on their team to empower the former superintendent to take immediate action. Here's a timeline of events so far. Watson-Harris, who took reins in 2020, added that she was not invited to be a part of the executive session meeting after the student appeal discussion and was released from the virtual meeting without notice. Photo by Dean Hesse. Visit our Active Searches page for more information. Example video title will go here for this video. So you had basically six times the amount of actual work time as you had for your prep time.. Cheryl Watson-Harris spoke exclusively with Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne on Thursday, just two days after the board of education voted to remove her as superintendent. DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. DeKalb County's fired school superintendent says she is a woman of integrity and has not been told why she was terminated. Financial support Because we couldnt fill it, we had one pre-K classroom with 35 students last year, superintendent Chris Galloway says. The chronic absenteeism rate for students during the 2019-2020 school year. 20.8% of students were considered at risk of dropping out of school. Parents who arent working or can be off on Fridays are spending additional time doing things for their kids, they enjoy that, Sims said. The district added they had confidence that Tinsley could step in without any problems. To follow us, visit:https://post.news/decaturish. Heres the full list. Last school year, the DeKalb Independent School District in East Texas struggled to recruit enough educators to teach its 800 students. But going with the four-day school week would take some doing. "I think, overall, it's a good deal," Galloway said. So as we were experimenting with it the first year, March of that year is when all schools closed, said Nick West, who was superintendent at the time. "I will not recommend DeKalb County Schools facilities plan for State Board of Education approval while these fundamental issues and concerns remain," Woods said. DeKalb, New Boston, Malta and Hubbard have mulled shortening the school week for months. Druid Hill High School was on the priority list for renovations in 2022, but the school board voted to take it off in February. If you appreciate our work on this story, pleasebecome a paying supporter. Everman ISD has put in place incentives for new and existing employees that include competitive starting salaries and retention bonuses. Youve got more class time. Two years later, the district admitted defeat, switching back to a five-day week. Board of education fires DeKalb County Schools superintendent. In 2016, Olfen ISD in West Texas became the first school district in the state to make the switch to a four-day school week. I keep pondering what it will be like if I continue to serve on a Board where progress is stifled, adult egos prevail and students are forgotten, Gervetz wrote. its about the entire school system and whats really best for the beautiful and brilliant, over 94,000 scholars, Watson-Harris said. It wasnt feasible for our families in our district.. With the plan, DeKalb ISD is looking to add 30 minutes to the end of the school day, with dismissal at approximately 4 p.m. Students would be off on Friday except on weeks with a Monday holiday, and teachers would work every other Friday for planning, grading and similar work. One of the early adopters, Dimebox Independent School District in Central Texas, switched to the shorter schedule in 2019. I do not feel that theres any grounds for me to be terminated and I feel I have been a good superintendent and supported our staff, family and students. Its bad. Watson-Harris acknowledged that about three weeks ago, conservative projections at McNair High School were for a graduation rate under 50%, but she said she got personally involved and worked closely with the principal. Our 2A District proudly serves three campuses and approximately 875 students, grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12th. Union says DeKalb schools should tear up new contract containing vague performance factors The head of the Georgia Federation of Teachers, Verdaillia Turner, told Channel 2's Richard Belcher that the school district needs to start over. The head of the Georgia Federation of Teachers, Verdaillia Turner, told Channel 2's Richard Belcher that the school district needs to start over. There is a shortage of qualified candidates, and those with senior-level experience have multiple leadership opportunities from which to choose. The Board Member Handbook was approved by the DeKalb Board of Education . We have some teachers that say before they were struggling to get the curriculum covered, Francis said. They would have to get stakeholder input. Before COVID, Hull-Daisetta had an average 95% attendance rate, then it dropped to 92% for elementary students and 89% for junior high and high school. And DeKalb parents can get $60 a month child care on Fridays offered by First United Methodist Church. Allow us to assess your instructional needs and provide solutions that will meet the expectations of your community and taxpayers. It was getting to the point where it was harder and harder to find quality teachers, said superintendent Melissa Reid. Options exist in making this decision. For one northeast Texas district, it was too much change too fast. District leaders hope it will give them a leg up since theyre unable to offer teachers competitive compensation. Twenty-four percent of the staff said they took the job because of the four-day week, and 53% said its motivated them to continue working at Athens ISD. The average ACT composite score for students graduating in 2019-2020. My office will remain in close communication with the Georgia Department of Education on these issues to determine what further action is needed. And students across the nation are over-scheduled and busy. Arrow Educational Services, Inc. can provide customized financial information and a range of options for board and community considerations. The DeKalb County Board of Education voted to approve a separation agreement with DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris, effective immediately. Explaining how African midwives performed C-sections before it was common in Europe | Expert Interview with Padmini Murthy, M.D., M.P.H. DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. Just one day after DeKalb Schools superintendent said she was "blindsided" by the school board's decision to terminate her tenure, the district swore in an interim superintendent. "We are not asking for too much. The district has received two-dozen applications to replace Watson-Harris. To allow for a shortened week, the 41 school districts in Texas embracing the change lengthen the school day and/or the school year. Home of the 4-Day Instructional Week. Superintendent Janie Sims says its helped the rural district compete with larger districts in Dallas-Fort Worth and Tyler. The district was able to fill all 14 open positions for the upcoming school year before June, much earlier than usual. Four years later, its at the top, 4-day school week helps some rural Texas districts hire teachers. Copyright 2023, Texarkana Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. "I was unaware that my contract or employment would be discussed during todays meeting as I was not notified and it was not identified on the meeting notice," she wrote. The changing environment of school finance presents a set of challenges unique to other governmental entities. Teachers have said that they are able to get their curriculum covered better. Dekalb Academy of Technology & Environment. ), Print Headline: DeKalb ISD votes in favor of four-day school week. The school district posted the update to social media, showing Dr. Vassane Tinsley taking new leadership. Welcome to our newly updated website! Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state Before the CFO left, the superintendent started working on the budget in November and December to put things in place for the new fiscal year, DaCosta said. Tolar Independent School District is located in Hood County, Texas. New Summerfield Independent School District in East Texas, with just over 500 students, is making the change starting Aug. 8. The schedule change isnt always successful. He also supervises and supports the Region IV Micro-Cabinet in their pursuits to facilitate success within Region IV schools and centers. Of 346 parent responses on DeKalb's survey, 66% voted that they would be in favor of the four-day week, while 21% voted no and 13% voted maybe. The switch added more time to each class over 1,800 minutes per class period. Our schools explorer shows the accountability ratings from the 2018-2019 school year when available. School Board Continuing Education According to the district, there are nine vacancies in the superintendents office. 4.5% of students were enrolled in bilingual and English language learning programs. DCSD along with every other school system is vying in a highly competitive job market for talent. Teachers, however, are not the only ones who would benefit from a four-day instructional week, Galloway said. ", According to Woods, schools can use federal COVID-19 relief funds for facilities improvements, particularly clean and safe buildings for students and teachers. Certified by the Texas Education Agency as continuing education providers and with a record ofsuccessful experience in all aspects of school operations, consultants at Arrow Educational Services, Inc. offer a unique combination of positive leadership experiences for a superintendent and board of trustees. We had been getting for several years a lot of brand new teachers, which does impact student learning, because it takes a brand new teacher a few years to get accustomed to everything and get their craft going, Sims said. With three years of the shortened schedule under its belt, Athens Independent School District calls itself Home of the 4-Day Instructional Week. Superintendent Janie Sims says its helped the rural district compete with larger districts in Dallas-Fort Worth and Tyler. Dekalb ISD is a school district in Dekalb, TX. . State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced these distinctions on February 16. Our board would have to approve it. Union says DeKalb schools should tear up new contract containing vague performance factors. Our students and faculty represent a long-standing tradition of excellence in character, academics and athletics. Switching to a four-day week gives teachers more time to plan the curriculum and lessons, says New Boston Independent School District superintendent Brian Bobbitt, helping to combat burnout. DeKalb CUSD 428's mission is to provide an equitable and inclusive education that supports students holistically, providing the tools they need to thrive by partnering with families and supporting staff to meet the needs of each of our students. Sauce served the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) in the positions of Executive Director of Student Support Services and as Executive Director of Elementary Education. As of the 2020-2021 school year, it had 756 students. A student is defined as "economically disadvantaged" if he or she is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch or other public assistance. We also feel like its going to help us with our mental health program for students, Kuhn said. Through making the change just this year, Mineral Wells Independent School District has already been able to enroll 200 more students, from 3,245 to 3,436. ", WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), UGA star charged in connection to crash that killed teammate, staffer, Kirby Smart releases statement on UGA star players charges in deadly crash, Officers, command staff resign after south Georgia police chief arrested by GBI, Clark Atlanta baseball player identified as 20-year-old shot, killed outside Catholic center, Ga. teacher fired, arrested after being caught with student in library closet, sheriffs report says. Arrow Educational Services, Inc. can provide that level of support. A few others said they hoped it would help with student attendance and achievement. Woods said much of that money remains "unspent.". Why were you terminated? Winne asked Watson-Harris. 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