Blytheville Public Schools are getting ready to move into a new era of education that will better prepare students for what is next after high school, be that college or the work force.
Following approval from the school board Monday night, Blytheville is set to become one of only 10 other districts in Arkansas to convert to the New Tech Network. New Tech is a non-profit organization designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in whatever the student choses to do after high school. New Tech schools, which have a 97 percent graduation rate, are taught to re-imagine the fundamentals of teaching and learning through project-based learning, innovative use of new technologies and building and maintaining a culture that promotes trust, respect and responsibility.
Teryn Spears, district parental involvement facilitator, and Sally Cooke, curriculum coordinator, told the board that because of many of the things the district has been doing in recent years, such as the Freshman Academy and common-core learning, Blytheville schools are "more than ready" to see this kind of change in education.
Approval from the board allows Spears and Cooke to begin the year-long process to get BHS ready to start working with the New Tech Network in the fall of 2013.
Cooke also reported that as of this year, Blytheville Kindergarten Center, Primary School and Central Elementary School no longer fall under the state-directed school improvement classification.
"Because of the things we've been doing over the past few years, these schools were able to move out of the school improvement phase, which is a great achievement," Cooke said.
Cooke said that out of the two "focus" schools in the district, BHS and BMS, the middle school is very close to being able to test out of the "focus" classification, giving the district three schools no longer considered to need the state-directed improvement program.
The board also recognized those who worked to organized the Back-to-School Bash, held Aug. 19. Teachers, administrators and other staff members worked the bash, giving out 1,008 backpacks with school supplies, feeding more than 1,400 people, painting faces, giving out treats and spending time with the community. The annual event is designed to give parents and students a chance to meet district employees before school starts.
cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com