By Karen Freeman
Enterprise-Journal
LIBERTY — The Amite County School Board is putting a long-simmering problem to rest by contracting with the Mississippi School Boards Association to finish upgrading school district policies.
“We’re out of compliance,” said trustee Dr. Diane Cook, who noted that the board started the policy update process in 2011 and it’s still not done.
Cook has been a frequent critic of the slow progress the district has made in revising policies.
The board on Thursday agreed to let the MSBA finish the policy revisions. Sections A through E are done, and five more need to be revised.
“There are only five sections left. If we do this, we’ll be in full compliance,” said board attorney Nate Armistad.
But he cautioned that “the policies need to fit what we do.”
Armistad said the MSBA takes into account all school-related legislation before revising policies for districts that contract with them. School boards have learned that keeping up with such legislation and making sure the districts are up to date on policies by reviewing codes can be an arduous task. Still, the responsibility of making sure schools are in compliance falls on school trustees
Working on them, however, has become a task that few boards choose to take on themselves. After years of trying to take on the job themselves, Amite trustees were ready to put the matter behind them.
“We’re going to put this dog to bed,” said board president Jimmy Burns. “I’m sick of hearing about these policies.”
Armistad said the revised policies will be ready in time to make sure the district handbooks are updated for the next school year.
In other matters, the board:
• Heard a brief presentation by members of the Junior Beta Club concerning activities since getting its charter at the elementary school.
• Agreed to budget money to buy four band instruments — two saxophones for $6,253 each and two baritones, for $1,704 — next year.
“These are vital instruments to the band,” said trustee James Copeland. “If we have the money, let’s do it.”
Business manager Lyndsey Thornton said the district doesn’t have money budgeted now for the expense, but it will be budgeted next year.
• Discussed the April 3 public hearing at the courthouse in Liberty concerning the permit process for a landfill in the county.
Because the district’s 16th Section land is nearby, Armistad advised the board to speak to the secretary of state’s office and to submit a comment on behalf of the district about the matter after speaking to the nearest 16th Section leaseholders.
Burns said his “phone hasn’t quit ringing,” and Copeland said he’s had his share of calls and visits from concerned citizens.
• Discussed what they saw in a walk-through of school buildings that are undergoing renovations.
“The auditorium looks awesome,” Copeland said. “I’ll be terribly disappointed if our folks don’t keep it like it is.”
Trustees said they were impressed by the progress they saw not only with the auditorium, but in the elementary school and vo-tech interiors.
• Heard a report from Superintendent Scotty Whittington, who noted that in the past 13-day reporting period, 6.1 percent of high school teachers and 10.2 percent of elementary teachers were absent. Student absences were 5.5 percent at the high school and 5.3 percent at the elementary school. Whittington said the district shoots for a 3 percent or lower absentee rate.
Whittington also talked about several areas of professional development at the elementary and high schools that are designed to bring the district’s school ratings up. All the programs are aligned with test standards. Cost for the programs, additional technology and Title I and Title II programs is around $302,000.
The superintendent also announced Saturday tutoring for elementary students who scored in the top 25 percent, but who still need to show growth. A basketball camp will be held during this time, and district officials hope kids will come for the camp and stay for tutoring on April 1, 8, 22 and 29 and on May 6.
Whittington’s report included updates from high school principal Celdric McDowell and assistant principal Marcus Flippin and elementary principal LeTina Guice about what they are doing to bring the district out of failing status and up to a better anking.
McDowell said he expects the high school to score a high C when accountability and growth measurements are released later this year.
Guice, asked by Burns what she foresees in scores, told the board that the school has been “working extremely hard” and she doesn’t have F or D in her vocabulary.
After the reports, Copeland told parents in the audience that they hold the keys to their children’s futures.
“Parents have the responsibility,” he said. “Whether you like it or not, the ball is in your court. You’ve got a tremendous responsibility to raise them. We can’t make them learn, but you as parents can. That’s where the buck stops.”
Flippin echoed the need for parental involvement in making sure students are in school and getting help they need with homework and test preparation.
“We can only do so much,” he said.
Burns said trustees are tasked with a big responsibility.
“These are our students,” he said. “If they fail, it’s because we failed. We are responsible, starting with me. We’ve got to step up and be accountable for these students.
“We have quit walking in hear, looking at the agenda, paying bills and walking out,” Burns said. “That starts tonight.”
