Teachers typically teach six or seven hours a day, with about a 45-minute conference period, Bobbitt says. Sauce served as principal of Chamblee High School within DCSD, and as an elementary principal within Fulton County Schools. Texas assigns ratings to districts and campuses that designate their performance in relation to the state's accountability system. We didnt want to put that additional burden on them.. Previously, Dr. Its just hard for us to stay on the same pace as them.. Gervetz continued expressing her frustrations with the countys school board and saying she was heartbroken for students, teachers, and the community. We are so confident of our success that we offer an unmatched guarantee -- if you are not satisfied with our work, DON'T PAY US. For as little as $6 a month, you can help us keep you in the loop about your community. As Executive Director of Elementary Education, Dr. The weakness in DeKalb County Schools is the DeKalb County School Board. 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. Board members voted to name Dr. Vasanne Tinsley as the interim superintendent. The percentage of test-taking students in grades 11 and 12 who passed at least one AP or IB exam in the 2019-2020 school year. Privacy Policy I was not given any reason for termination, Watson-Harris said. In February, Clarksville Independent School District superintendent Kermit Ward pitched the idea to the school board to help with recruitment, and they voted against it. View a more comprehensive breakdown of the higher ed outcomes in Region 08. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. The district was able to fill all 14 open positions for the upcoming school year before June, much earlier than usual. Amid statewide teacher shortages, four-day school weeks are gaining popularity among small, rural school districts in Texas. The move came during a virtually-called meeting Tuesday. Were going to provide them with some instruction thats not exactly the same as they get on a daily basis, Bartram said. We also had a chemistry position open half the year and ended up going through three different substitutes. So he decided to follow suit starting this school year by adding 40 minutes to each day. 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. Druid Hills High School is one of the highest needs, Watson-Harris said. We might do more hands-on that day, it may be team teaching where a couple of teachers are team teaching a small group. When asked about the vacancies, DaCosta said they have been caused by an abundance of things., There has been a nationwide shortage in teachers and staff in the field of education, so its an abundance of things, he said. Close. According to the district, there are nine vacancies in the superintendents office. ", According to Woods, schools can use federal COVID-19 relief funds for facilities improvements, particularly clean and safe buildings for students and teachers. 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.. District leaders hope it will give them a leg up since theyre unable to offer teachers competitive compensation. 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. Safe Return to In-person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan Survey Results- Hubbard ISD - February 2022; Family Survey English & Spanish/Espanol; Federal Report Card 2022 019913; Federal Report Card Letter Hubbard ISD 2022. Arrow Educational Services, Inc. can provide customized financial information and a range of options for board and community considerations. I have been the seventh superintendent in I believe the last 10 or 11 years. . In Mineral Wells, there are optional instructional Fridays for elementary students, with 55 students signed up so far. Stone Mountain, GA 30083 | P: 678.676.1200. Prior to the change, the district conducted a survey and found that 75% of students, 78% of parents and 100% of teachers were interested in the four-day week. RELATED: Vote to make repairs at Druid Hills High School still comes with opposition. Everything thats happening, it isnt just about me. That was after a bill passed by the 84th Texas Legislature amended the Texas Education Code, no longer requiring 180 days of instruction. Watson-Harris was named superintendent for DeKalb Schools in June 2020. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Christophor Galloway; chris.galloway@dekalbisd.net (903) 667-2566; Higher Ed Outcomes. 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. Honestly, we go into it cautiously optimistic, says superintendent Ray Keith. 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. 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. We have lots of needs in our facilities across the county lots of needs. In a 5-2 vote, the board approved moving the district to a four-day school week starting in the fall. for the 2020-2021 school year. To follow us, visit:https://newsie.social/@Decaturish/. Watson-Harris started in the position in July 2020. Our working families, they would have to find childcare, she said. A passing score on the AP exam is a 3, 4 or 5. Before returning to DCSD, Dr. Teacher retention is important, according to Russell. Allow us to assess your instructional needs and provide solutions that will meet the expectations of your community and taxpayers. As of Thursday, the projection is slightly over 61% and tracking toward the state threshold of 67%. There is a shortage of qualified candidates, and those with senior-level experience have multiple leadership opportunities from which to choose. For a detailed explanation of this years accountability system, see the 2021 Accountability Manual. Say if we did Monday through Thursday, they would have to find childcare for Friday. And students across the nation are over-scheduled and busy. Instead of opting for reconstruction, the board decided to lump Druid Hills with several other schools in line to get repairs. The Board Member Handbook was presented and discussed in a Board Retreat Workshop on October 23, 2014. "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. . Decaturish is now on Mastadon. Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 15_4_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/15.4 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1. Galloway said the arrangement will ensure lessons are better planned and allow teachers and students to be better rested and prepared. Dr. Norman C. Sauce III began serving the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) as Region IV Superintendent in November 2022. Students in Dekalb ISD are part of the Texas Education Agencys Region 08. All Texas public school districts and campuses received the label Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster. The school received an accountability rating of B for the 2018-2019 school year. Click to Subscribe. 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. 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. "I also see the positive impact this could have on student achievement.". 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. They carry a pretty heavy load right now. Extracurricular activities would continue on the off days. These figures are expressed as a percentage of the total teacher full-time equivalent. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. In a statement, Georgia's governor accuses the school board of choosing politics over students. A lot of our kids work. An additional hour was added to the school day to make up for Fridays being off. Superintendent. I want to welcome you to The New Boston Independent School District's website. In a recent DeKalb ISD survey, 97.2% of staff members voted in favor of the four-day option. Because we couldnt fill it, we had one pre-K classroom with 35 students last year, superintendent Chris Galloway says. In a statement to 11Alive, Watson-Harris wrote she was "blindsided" by the Board of Education's action. They made a passionate case in the now viral video, asserting the conditions are not suitable for young minds to learn. Dekalb Academy of Technology & Environment. View Event. Woods rebuked the DeKalb School Board once again, calling their move to fire Watson-Harris "a step backward" in making progress and addressing change. 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. I have. The Board Member Handbook was approved by the DeKalb Board of Education . But going with the four-day school week would take some doing. 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. The only requirement now is that districts operate for a minimum of 75,600 minutes. How can Texas keep more teachers in classrooms? ), Print Headline: DeKalb ISD votes in favor of four-day school week. The firing follows weeks of reports on the bad conditions at Druid Hills High School, where her own child attends. Sauce is the proud husband and father to his wife and twin boys. Woods said much of that money remains "unspent.". "I will not recommend DeKalb County Schools facilities plan for State Board of Education approval while these fundamental issues and concerns remain," Woods said. They have been able to get the curriculum covered and then be able to go back in for review because weve increased the length of each class, so youre not wasting as much time in passing periods. 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. Realizing the state superintendent has said in a letter, how would you characterize Druid Hills High School? The DeKalb County Board of Education voted to approve a separation agreement with DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris, effective immediately. Brian Bobbitt, Superintendent. We ask only for our expenses. That was the main driving force of why were not going to a four-day week, said district Chief of Communications and Marketing Nikita Russell. They would have to get stakeholder input. Copyright 1999 2023 GoDaddy Operating Company, LLC. its about the entire school system and whats really best for the beautiful and brilliant, over 94,000 scholars, Watson-Harris said. 2023. The Board Member Handbook outlines the practices that build and sustain a positive Board/Superintendent relationship and define a culture of quality, equity, and respect. 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. Some board members have expressed support for keeping Tinsley. 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. "It's good work-life balance for them," Galloway 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. Fired DeKalb superintendent defends her work with the district. 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. And DeKalb parents can get $60 a month child care on Fridays offered by First United Methodist Church. Yet the board still rejected a proposed plan to modernize, which would have fixed many of the issues students said plagued the nearly century-old building. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. New Boston ISD is expected to vote on the same topic Thursday, April 21. They claim the nearly 100-year-old building is falling apart, showing mold, dirty and nonfunctioning bathrooms, sewage leaks, extensive water damage, and electrical issues. Interim Superintendent, DeKalb County School District Dr. Vasanne S. Tinsley serves as interim superintendent of the DeKalb County School District, managing the day-to-day operations of a diverse educational system with more than 94,000 students, 14,500 employees and a budget of $2.6 billion. Yes. 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. Access from your Country was disabled by the administrator. Your support keeps our content free for everyone. To support us, click here. But are they the answer? No one will work harder for you than Arrow Educational Services, Inc. Make sure the box for "Press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage" is, Notice Of Public Hearing Regarding Reapportionment Of DeKalb ISD Single Member Trustee Districts, Notice of DeKalb ISD School Board Election, Leave Request Form -Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave, Application for Service/Support Personnel, 2022 DeKalb ISD Fall Community Publication, Chromebook Insurance Information for Parents, Proposed District of Innovation Plan Renewal, Required Informational Postings 2022-2023. Arrow consultants areuniquely qualifiedto provide instructional assistance to schools. While most districts hope the change helps them hire and retain teachers, some Texas districts said they were motivated by increasing student enrollment. 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. In April, the Pewitt Consolidated Independent School District board unanimously voted to transition to a four-day week starting the upcoming school year. waived accountability ratings The board made the vote. 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. Instructional support The termination signifies a boiling point as tensions around Druid Hills High School's renovations or lack there of rather arise. We are asking for the things we need to succeed in life. The schedule change isnt always successful. Mastadon: https://newsie.social/@Decaturish/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Decaturish, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decaturish/. 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. Union says DeKalb schools should tear up new contract containing vague performance factors. #iLoveDCSD To learn more about Dr. Tinsley: https://t.co/Hu7HAcBlEn pic.twitter.com/lMz8ydMSen. Right after the district announced that it had a new four-day schedule in April, applications started rolling in. Kemp adds that he'll be working closely with Georgia's Department of Education to determine the extent of his involvement. DeKalb superintendent criticized over district's handling of COVID-19. 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. I know that both as the superintendent and also as a mother my son is a tenth grader at Druid Hills.. Associate Superintendent, Office of Continuous Improvement, Associate Superintendent, Leadership and Schools, Coordinator III, Intergovernmental Relations. 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. Wanting to apply for a position? Superintendent Chris Galloway said moving to the shorter week would promote teacher retention. DeKalb County, GA DeKalb County Schools officials are crafting a budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins on July 1. And New Summerfield went from 98% daily attendance to 94% Monday through Thursday and 90% Friday. After implementing a 4% raise, Ward was still able to hire enough teachers for the school year. Teachers, however, are not the only ones who would benefit from a four-day instructional week, Galloway said. Out of the student vote, 74% voted in favor of the shorter week. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. It has 10 schools and 5,648 students. 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. 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. Our students and faculty represent a long-standing tradition of excellence in character, academics and athletics. The CFO would play a key role in crafting any budget. Why were you terminated? Winne asked Watson-Harris. 4.5% of students were enrolled in bilingual and English language learning programs. Thats why the superintendent is reviewing the issues that may have caused any of the vacancies.. Heres the full list. The school is hiring a dean, developing courses and working to get licensed. To follow us, visit:https://post.news/decaturish. Roughly 80 people attended and 13 spoke all of whom were in favor of moving to a four-day week. Regional nursing schools turned away 30,000 qualified applicants the past two years for lack of space. Theres some bigger schools around our area here that have increased their pay scale. These figures are for students graduating in 2019-2020. Students who started eighth grade in 2008 in this region had a college graduation rate of 23.6 percent. ", 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. That was after a bill passed by the Board decided to lump Druid Hills several! 'S Department of Education went from 98 % daily attendance to 94 % through! 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