With a new school year’s beginning just days away, McComb School District Superintendent Therese Palmertree said she’s looking forward to pivotal growth in all schools in the district.
When the school board met on July 17, Palmertree thanked trustees for their vision and support of the administration.
“We see when school boards micromanage, the district goes back,” Palmertree told trustees. “Thank you for your vision and for allowing us to run the district within the parameters and questions you have. ... These are grave times for public education, and we’re all accountable.”
Palmertree called on parents to do their part. “Make sure kids are here and on time. This will be a major focus this year.”
Maintaining discipline also is key, and this month, trustees approved a revised corporal punishment policy.
Under the policy, a principal or assistant principal may paddle a student at school — as long as there is parental or guardian approval and a certified school employee witnesses the punishment.
School principals at the meeting said they investigate every incident of fighting. All said they take into account whether or not students in fights are only defending themselves, so students aren’t sent home unnecessarily.
Palmertree said she wants to make certain that if parents change their minds concerning corporal punishment, the school has those decisions on record.
Otken Elementary School principal Camita Nobles said some in the community were concerned that the McComb School District “spared the rod, so to speak,” and had put together a petition for the district to use corporal punishment if necessary. Nobles said a group of pastors and others behind the petition wanted to know why punishment was not an option. “They wanted their voices to be heard.”
Palmertree said corporal punishment was never taken away as a policy in the district, which backs positive behavior support and intervention.
“We’ll try this this year,” she said. “We want to keep children in school. ... We’ll monitor behavior and stay on top of it.”
In another policy change, the district is changing its stance on the use of cell phones on the McComb High School campus.
In a nod to the reality that most students have cell phones and bring them to school, the district is allowing students to use phones on campus. Students can use phones at school up until 7:45 a.m. and after school, beginning at 3:45 p.m. No phones or electronic devices are to be used during the school day.
Violators will get a $15 fine or have the item held for 10 days. Second-time violations carry a $25 fine or a 20-day hold on the item. And the third violation carries a $35 fine or 30-day hold. Students who violate the rule a fourth time will lose their phone for the remainder of the school year.
Palmertree said the district recognizes the importance of technology in student learning, and she said the use of phones is a “privilege at the high school.”
She said the transition will be done in a way that students are held responsible.
In another matter, the board approved changes to the attendance policy to note that MHS students are allowed three excused absences per semester. Any absences beyond that must be exemptions granted by the principal or school attendance committee. The changes are being made as the high school moves to a block schedule for the new year.
