The McComb School District received mostly good marks in its recent five-year accreditation review.
A team from Cognia, formerly known as AdvancED, visited McComb for five days in September and judged the district’s leadership, education efforts and use of resources.
The district received an “improving” rating in 22 of 33 categories. Seven other categories received the top rating of having a positive impact, while the remaining four categories needed improvement.
The four categories targeted for improvement were:
• A formal structure to make sure students develop positive relationships with adults or peers who will support their education.
• Providing programs and services for students’ educational futures and career plans.
• Processes to identify and address specific needs of students.
• Continual assessment of its programs.
“They think we’re moving in the right direction,” superintendent Dr. Cederick Ellis said after the school board accepted Cognia’s report Tuesday.
Cognia’s report said, “The team’s review of evidence and interviews of several stakeholders revealed significant progress in the district’s initiative to rethink its focus.”
The report praised McComb’s ongoing effort to use data-driven decisions to guide its conversion to a “student-centered learning culture.” But it said the district needs more formal procedures to ensure consistency, and also needs long-range planning that includes financial projections, enrollment projections and facility planning.
In another matter, the board approved an agreement with William Carey University to provide teacher certification classes.
The program begins in the spring semester and will run for three years. It’s aimed at helping teachers who got into education through a non-traditional route earn a five-year certification from the Mississippi Department of Education.
McComb will pay up to six semester hours of tuition costs of teachers who sign up for the program. In return, the teachers must agree to stay with the school district for three years.
Also, monthly financial statements said the district’s Nov. 30 cash on hand was $7.768 million. Revenue for the month totalled $1.060 million, including $933,000 from the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and $76,000 in local property tax payments. Expenses were $1.402 million, including $1.158 million for payroll and benefits, and $243,000 for goods and services.
