The percentage of students in grades 11 and 12 taking at least one Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam in any subject Why is there "Secrecy" in selecting a superintendent? The school district is also undertaking two in-depth audits. The State Board of Education stepped in, sending an inspector to investigate the claims of "unsafe" and "unsanitary" conditions. The Board Member Handbook was presented and discussed in a Board Retreat Workshop on October 23, 2014. Heres what a state committee found. Its just hard for us to stay on the same pace as them.. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Everman ISD has put in place incentives for new and existing employees that include competitive starting salaries and retention bonuses. Nearly 43,000 Texas teachers left their job in the last school year, according to a July report from the Texas American Federation of Teachers. Thats why the superintendent is reviewing the issues that may have caused any of the vacancies.. We have some teachers that say before they were struggling to get the curriculum covered, Francis said. 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. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. The changing environment of school finance presents a set of challenges unique to other governmental entities. Our primary mission is assisting school boards in the selection of a superintendent. This figure for the 2020-2021 school year refers to tenure the number of years a teacher has been employed in any district, whether or not there was an interruption in service. 02 Mar. 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. In the meantime, each cabinet vacancy is competently filled with temporarily reassigned professionals carrying out the essential functions of DCSD. And DeKalb parents can get $60 a month child care on Fridays offered by First United Methodist Church. Two years later, the district admitted defeat, switching back to a five-day week. Regional nursing schools turned away 30,000 qualified applicants the past two years for lack of space. Out of the student vote, 74% voted in favor of the shorter week. Tolar Independent School District is located in Hood County, Texas. Brian Bobbitt, Superintendent. 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. Roughly 80 people attended and 13 spoke all of whom were in favor of moving to a four-day week. The board remains fully committed to an open and transparent process and supporting the students of DCSD., In a news release, the district did not give a reason as to why the board decided to fire Watson-Harris but said their relationship with her had been deteriorating for some time to the point the association became irreconcilable.. Galloway said the arrangement will ensure lessons are better planned and allow teachers and students to be better rested and prepared. The former CFO, Masana Mailliard, worked for the district for 12 years before starting a new job withGwinnett County Public Schools in January. The average SAT score for students graduating in 2019-2020, with critical reading, writing and mathematics results combined. Before the meeting started, students and parents stood outside with signs urging school officials to take action. Watson-Harris said she was blindsided by her firing. Website . Pleasant, TX | 75456 Shipping: 4845 US HWY 271 N. | Pittsburg, TX | 75686 DK District 2021-22. Last school year, the DeKalb Independent School District in East Texas struggled to recruit enough educators to teach its 800 students. waived accountability ratings To become a supporter, clickhere. Arrow Educational Services, Inc. can provide customized financial information and a range of options for board and community considerations. It was getting to the point where it was harder and harder to find quality teachers, said superintendent Melissa Reid. The average ACT composite score for students graduating in 2019-2020. For one northeast Texas district, it was too much change too fast. Here's a timeline of events so far. At its Dec. 12 meeting, the school board awarded a $761,000 contract to Plante Moran, PLLC to audit how the district is spending special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) money. School days are slightly longer from 7:45 a.m.-3:42 p.m. to 7:35 a.m.-4 p.m. Because some parents of elementary students are concerned that their children wont be able to handle the longer days, the district will be monitoring student engagement and performance. To follow us, visit:https://post.news/decaturish. Our schools explorer shows the accountability ratings from the 2018-2019 school year when available. At least three staff members with over 20 years of experience came to DeKalb from other districts, mainly due to the four-day week. Because we couldnt fill it, we had one pre-K classroom with 35 students last year, superintendent Chris Galloway says. As smaller, rural districts in the area struggle with the ongoing teacher shortage, the new schedule format is meant to reduce teacher stress and become a key tool in the recruitment of teachers. Youve got more class time. Terms of Service Superintendent DeKalb ISD Jul 2012 - Present10 years 2 months West Texas Superintendent Responsive Education Solutions Feb 2010 - Aug 20111 year 7 months Adjunct Professor Wayland Baptist. I have. I am highly concerned that these serious issues in DeKalb County could be a result of a school system choosing politics over students, families, and educators, and as Governor of the State of Georgia, I take very seriously my job to advocate for all Georgia citizens especially our most valuable resource, our students. For a detailed explanation of this years accountability system, see the 2021 Accountability Manual. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Dr. Tinsley first joined the DeKalb County School District in 1994. Superintendent Chris Galloway said moving to the shorter week would promote teacher retention. According to the district, there are nine vacancies in the superintendents office. Say if we did Monday through Thursday, they would have to find childcare for Friday. The CFO would play a key role in crafting any budget. Photo by Dean Hesse. The board has the utmost confidence in Dr. Tinsley serving as the interim superintendent. The lack of stability in leadership in the seat of the superintendent and other key leadership roles have resulted in antiquated systems, structures that do not allow for the brilliance of many of our staff members to fully be realized, and what I have been doing for the last 20 months is helping to uncover areas in need of improvement, build strong systems and structures, Watson-Harris said. Associate Superintendent, Office of Continuous Improvement, Associate Superintendent, Leadership and Schools, Coordinator III, Intergovernmental Relations. 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. Amid statewide teacher shortages, four-day school weeks are gaining popularity among small, rural school districts in Texas. Its something that couldnt be done in a year, it would have to be planned out, she added. 2023 Decaturish - Locally sourced news. And New Summerfield went from 98% daily attendance to 94% Monday through Thursday and 90% Friday. The school is hiring a dean, developing courses and working to get licensed. District leaders hope it will give them a leg up since theyre unable to offer teachers competitive compensation. Parents who arent working or can be off on Fridays are spending additional time doing things for their kids, they enjoy that, Sims said. We have lots of needs in our facilities across the county lots of needs. Masked This statistic is hidden because it may make it possible to identify a student. Sauce served as principal of Chamblee High School within DCSD, and as an elementary principal within Fulton County Schools. The Board Member Handbook was approved by the DeKalb Board of Education . To help ease students, teachers and parents into the new schedule, several districts are providing meals, low-cost childcare and academic enrichment on days off. The letter said DeKalb County received over $480 million in ESSER relief funds, and even after taking into account austerity cuts, DeKalb netted more than $440 million. School Board Chair Diijon DaCosta said Tinsley is diligently working to fill the central office vacancies. This Crowley ISD school had the districts lowest rating. The division consist of the major departments of Purchasing, Payroll, Budgeting, Accounting, Accounts Payable and Systems. To follow us, visit:https://flipboard.com/@Decaturish, To advertise with Decaturish, click hereor email [emailprotected]. Druid Hills High School is one of the highest needs, Watson-Harris said. Teachers typically teach six or seven hours a day, with about a 45-minute conference period, Bobbitt says. DeKalb County, GA DeKalb County Schools officials are crafting a budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins on July 1. If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. He also supervises and supports the Region IV Micro-Cabinet in their pursuits to facilitate success within Region IV schools and centers. At the end of the mandatory 21-day waiting period, the DeKalb ISD School Board will vote on hiring Dr. Galloway as the next Superintendent. The school district posted the update to social media, showing Dr. Vassane Tinsley taking new leadership. While most districts hope the change helps them hire and retain teachers, some Texas districts said they were motivated by increasing student enrollment. DCSD continues to broaden its executive search process to locate the right individuals for these essential roles. Superintendent's Cabinet Superintendent's Profile Budget Strategic Plan Cabinet Regional Superintendents Academic Regions (map) MR. ERICK HOFSTETTER Chief Operations Officer Profile, Function, & Departments MS. MONIKA DAVIS Chief Information Officer Profile, Function, & Departments DeKalb County Schools has nine vacancies in superintendent's office Dan Whisenhunt Feb 15, 2023 Interim Superintendent Dr. Vasanne Tinsley remarks during DeKalb County Board of Education's Oath of Office Ceremony at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative & Instructional Complex in Stone Mountain on Friday Jan. 6, 2023. The Board says they are beginning a formal search for a permanent superintendent. Watson-Harris started in the position in July 2020. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. We also feel like its going to help us with our mental health program for students, Kuhn said. An additional hour was added to the school day to make up for Fridays being off. The total number of students divided by the total full-time equivalent count of teachers for 2020-2021. 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. Before returning to DCSD, Dr. Four years later, its at the top, 4-day school week helps some rural Texas districts hire teachers. Texas assigns ratings to districts and campuses that designate their performance in relation to the state's accountability system. Most parents in the district work Monday through Friday, according to Russell. The immediate departure of Mrs. Watson-Harris will have no bearing on the search for the next superintendent. DeKalb County, GA The DeKalb County School Board has received 26 applications for its superintendent vacancy, according to the Georgia School Boards Association, which is helping the board with its search. Its bad. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state waived accountability ratings for the 2020-2021 school year. The board reviewed those applications in an executive session on Thursday, Feb. 9, according to GSBA spokesperson Justin Pauly. 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. Georgia's school superintendent wrote a letteradmonishing DeKalb County Board of Education members. Arrow consultants areuniquely qualifiedto provide instructional assistance to schools. 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. DaCosta said the district has received numerous inquiries for its vacancies, including the office of superintendent. The termination signifies a boiling point as tensions around Druid Hills High School's renovations or lack there of rather arise. He is planning, however, on proposing the schedule for specialized positions the district is short on including speech therapists, physical therapists and diagnosticians. In the scathing message, state school superintendent Richard Woods scolded the county board members for not taking swift action to improve conditions at the school. And a whopping 66% of educators throughout Texas said they have recently considered leaving their jobs. Theyve been able to keep experienced teachers and hire more. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state After students publiclycalled out Druid Hills Highand put renovations back on the agenda, the DeKalb County School Board voted not to make changesto the building. 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. A lot of our kids work. As Executive Director of Student Support Services, he supervised and supported GSCS Departments of Student Services, Exceptional Students (Special Education), Mental Health and Positive Student Supports, and Counseling Program. July report from the Texas American Federation of Teachers, bill passed by the 84th Texas Legislature, UNT Health Science Center to open nursing school to address national shortage, Racist and insensitive messages spray-painted at two Eagle Mountain-Saginaw schools, We have the best right here. Grapevine-Colleyville names lone finalist for superintendent, Former Colleyville Heritage principal files lawsuit against district, board member, Police identify Crowley ISD teacher charged with assault, improper student relationship. Our goal is to expand the walls of the classroom by providing access to information and programs anytime, anywhere for anyone in a 21st century learning environment. They made a passionate case in the now viral video, asserting the conditions are not suitable for young minds to learn. How would you characterize in a word, or a sentence if you need it, the state of the DeKalb County School System? Winne asked Watson-Harris. The firing follows weeks of reports on the bad conditions at Druid Hills High School, where her own child attends. Decaturish is now on Mastadon. Executive Support View a more comprehensive breakdown of the higher ed outcomes in Region 08. Everything thats happening, it isnt just about me. Four-day school weeks are gaining popularity among small, rural school districts in Texas. Visit our Active Searches page for more information. The weakness in DeKalb County Schools is the DeKalb County School Board. The school board is also looking for a new superintendent to replace Cheryl Watson-Harris, nearly a year after firing her and appointing Interim Superintendent Dr. Vasanne Tinsley. But going with the four-day school week would take some doing. It is calculated by dividing the number of dropouts by the number of students who were in attendance at any time during the school year. "I will not recommend DeKalb County Schools facilities plan for State Board of Education approval while these fundamental issues and concerns remain," Woods said. On March 10, the state launched the Teacher Vacancy Task Force to address staffing challenges facing Texas public schools. Why were you terminated? Winne asked Watson-Harris. Fired DeKalb superintendent defends her work with the district. In a recent DeKalb ISD survey, 97.2% of staff members voted in favor of the four-day option. Sauce is the proud husband and father to his wife and twin boys. New Boston ISD is expected to vote on the same topic Thursday, April 21. It has 10 schools and 5,648 students. The districts said they will be watching the rate closely this year to see if the shorter week improves attendance. The letter disagrees with the board decision to lump the high school with others for repairs rather than fixing immediate issues. 2023. The school received an accountability rating of B for the 2018-2019 school year. RELATED: Vote to make repairs at Druid Hills High School still comes with opposition. A student is defined as "economically disadvantaged" if he or she is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch or other public assistance. #iLoveDCSD To learn more about Dr. Tinsley: https://t.co/Hu7HAcBlEn pic.twitter.com/lMz8ydMSen. The Information Technology department comprises of customer service-oriented professionals dedicated to the integration and implementation of technology across Dekalb County School District. Often the most prudent path in filling executive level positions lies with assistance of an outside partyto coordinate the application and interview processes. Superintendent . Make sure the box for "Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls" is, Select the Advanced tab. In need of improvement. 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. If you appreciate our work on this story, pleasebecome a paying supporter. New Summerfield Independent School District in East Texas, with just over 500 students, is making the change starting Aug. 8. In a statement, DeKalb County school board member Allyson Gervetz said she was briefly informed about the boards sudden decision about Watson-Harris termination right before their meeting, which was postponed several times.

American Advisors Group Class Action Lawsuit, Miami Police Starting Salary, Articles D