Blytheville Public Schools District Superintendent Richard Atwill told the school board during their Monday night meeting that one of the crucial things that the districts need is "families to help our children," explaining that as a district, almost a seventh of the population is in state care and in need of foster families.
Atwill addressed this issue while giving a recap to the board of his recent conversations with State Representative Dave Wallace and U.S. Congressman Rick Crawford about how to address Blytheville's main education concerns.
Caregiver involvement in the education process is crucial, said Atwill, who wants families to get involved with their children, or to help with those children who are in need of care.
To this end, a display of standards for students was highlighted for the board.
A presentation was also given by four Odyssey of the Mind teams going to state competition. The OM program was presented to the board to exemplify the positive parental and teacher involvement that Atwill and other educators are looking for.
Curtis Walker Sr. and Jr. showed their team as an example; members of that team are Ryley Walker, Wills Gullic, Jayla Ransom, McKinley Walker, Whodini Sing, Zoe Hearty & Gatsby Langston Brown.
The students showed how they are learning how to build a better Blytheville in the structure division, where students put on a performance of skills to show innovation in structural engineering and creativity, displaying knowledge about seismology, craftsmanship and entertainment.
The board also discussed methods for strengthening policy on discipline and truancy. The school district is handling truancy issues by the book, and absences are being handled daily by pursuing those parents whose children have missed for no reason.
In regards to discipline and structure of services, Atwill stated that there is internal rearranging going on and the position of Director of Support Service Responsibilities with Emphasis on Discipline has been given to Jean Cole, who will be taking over all Federal and State Discipline Regulations for the district. Cole's previous Title 1 responsibilities will be shifted towards Chris Williams, with an increase of $5,000 in pay for the position change.
The board heard from Cole about her passion for the position and her plans to increase teacher training in these areas, which she says will help address cultural issues.
Cole's concern that special education students have a higher suspension rate, specifically with black males, has led to this position. Cole is bringing in professionals who have had success in working in similar environments of distress, she indicated that she has researched other places and people who have had success in dealing with issues similar to Blytheville, and has recruited Principal Baruti Kafele, a highly sought after educational speaker, to help transform the attitudes of at-risk students.
The Blytheville school district will host Kafele July 25, 2016 at Blytheville High School Auditorium. It is Cole's hope that with leadership conferences such as these, the district can improve with due process issues, disciplining with dignity (especially in regards to children in poverty discipline issues), the ability to address the over-identified who are qualified for special services, and to see what works towards implementation at resolving cultural issues, where opportunities can be interwoven with steadfast follow up.
Board member Erin Carrington kept the board on their toes, asking questions regarding finances, spending and educational standards.
Her first issue of concern was a past sale of property to Word of Truth Ministries. She said the sale was not brought before the board for consideration, and she wanted to know why the building was sold for so much less than the appraised value. Carrington was told that the building was in disrepair due to long standing, that it was being sold as is, under the condition that the church provide meals during the summer to students in summer school, and that they would fix up the building.
Atwill has resolved to ask Pastor Osagie for a proposal agreement in hindsight, but stated that the Pastor does a lot of good for the community and for the students. He said that an agreement would be presented to the board from the Church that these services for the students would in fact be accomplished.
Carrington also brought up the proposed turfing of the football field, and Atwill told her and the board that he was putting the possibility of turfing the Haley Field on the table until a later time, due to some concerns. An athletic project consulting firm had previously given a presentation giving the board logistics where Tim Cowan, of athletic SurfacesPlus, estimated the cost of turfing the field to be around $600,000. Fundraising would have to be done by the district/community in order to offset costs in the form of donations, private sponsorships and by offering corporate sponsorships, where logos and other images would be able to be sewn into the field design.
Atwill addressed the action items of the professional assistance agreement with University of Arkansas -BES/BPS, stating the hard work that had been accomplished and that the district would be shifting gears towards other avenues.
The overarching theme was that the community needed to continue to help change culture, Atwill explained that "it is the thing that trumps everything, you have to bring in instruction with everything else. It affects the learning environment when the behavior is bad" so the board and district is working on target specific areas that effect behavior and learning in an effort to raise standards for the schools.
Kread2@liberty.edu