Superintendent’s Monthly Report
Dr. Clint A. Baggett
Haleyville City Schools
Superintendent’s Report
To the Public
BOE Meeting
1/26/10
1. Highlight of the month for “Giving Back” is one of our newest organized student groups, the Middle School Rachel’s Challenge organization called “Chain Links.” Rachel Scott was the first victim of the Columbine School shooting. Last month, we had Craig Scott, Rachel’s brother, present an outstanding program to our middle and high school students as well as a night program for the community. He challenged the students and community to make a difference by “connecting” with each other. In response to the “call for help” from the earthquake in Haiti, Haleyville Middle School students are putting together “Health Kits” in cooperation with UMCOR, the international relief organization of the United Methodist Church. Mr. O’Rear will give more details in his report, but it is great that our students have accepted “Rachel’s Challenge” and are reaching out beyond the boundary of our campus to assist others in need.
2. Another student group to recognize is the DECA students. Mrs. Neina Middleton is our local instructor and she had 22 students to compete “On-Line” against students from the Northern District which includes Birmingham and all schools north. Students competed in Accounting Applications, Apparel Marketing, Sports & Entertainment Marketing, Business Law & Ethics, Hospitality Services Management, Food Marketing, Travel & Tourism Marketing, and Restaurant Management. We are extremely proud that of the 22 students who participated, 19 qualified to move on to the State level of completion which will be held next month in Montgomery. Congratulations to Mrs. Middleton and our 19 State qualifiers!
3. We started the second semester with in climate weather. Due to the forecast and advice of Emergency Management personnel, we dismissed two days of school and these days must be included in the school calendar. The days will be made up in a manner that will hopefully be least intrusive to those who have made plans based on the original school calendar. We will come to school on Friday, February 12 and still have a three day weekend, being out of school on Monday, February 15. This will also allow Valentine deliveries to be made on Friday the 12th at school. The second make up day will be on Wednesday, March 17. This will enable a four day break counting the weekend and being out of school on Monday and Tuesday, the 15th and 16th. Maybe the weather will cooperate and we will not have to use other days built into the school calendar. We have been very fortunate the last few years, but we cannot control Mother Nature.
4. Dr. Dorothy Dolasky of the State Department visited the Middle School earlier this month in conjunction with the nationally acclaimed program, “Making Middle Grades Work.” HMS became a MMGW site last summer when a group of middle school teachers and administrators attended a workshop in Atlanta. Mr. O’Rear and his core teachers are in the process of implementing the rigorous curriculum of this program and Dr. Dolasky was very complimentary of our school facilities, our faculty and our commitment to technology in the classroom. Her recommendations were for HMS to continue personalizing the learning environment, teach all students an academic core that prepares them for success in high school by aligning with standards based curriculum and continue to implement school and classroom practices that motivate students to put forth their best effort. We are very proud of this initiative and I congratulate Mr. O’Rear and the faulty for its undertaking.
5. Another academic initiative will be taking place at the high school next year. Mr. Satcher invited Dr. Mike Hall to visit our campus and advise us as to how we can make the transition from Middle School to High School better. Dr. Hall has suggested we utilize the building that was occupied by the 7th and 8th grades as a “Freshman Academy.” By having core 9th grade classes in this building, it will allow for coordinated planning among the teachers and a more personalized learning environment yielding a greater opportunity of success of our students. Dr. Hall is recognized as a national expert on student transition and success and we are excited about this change to our curriculum. The core freshmen teachers, counselors, and Mr. Satcher have visited Wetumpka High School just out of Montgomery to see a Freshman Academy in action and talked their faculty about this initiative. Once again, this is an example of how our administrators and teachers go the extra mile for our students. Thanks Mr. Satcher and faculty.
6. January is School Board Member Recognition Month. Haleyville is very blessed to have the women and men that give countless hours for the betterment of our system. School board members make policy, set goals, and maintain buildings. They work cooperatively to ensure our children get a first rate education in a safe, caring environment. Words cannot express all that school board members do, but in short, school board members make a world of difference for the lives of students, faculty and staff, parents and the entire Haleyville community. Even though January is your recognition month, please know you are much appreciated throughout the year. Along with a big “thank you” to Sandra Manasco, Beth McAlpine, Larry Burleson, Boo Haughton, and Steve Stott, I am honored to present each of you with a “Certificate of Appreciation” for a job well done!
7. The next Regular Session of the Haleyville City Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday night, February 23, 2010 at 7:00 here in the Board Room at the high school with a Work Session before if needed.
8. Our “Technology Spotlight of the Month” shines on Ms. Emile Gilbreath. She teaches Special Education, Video Productions and history at the high school. Ms. Gilbreath also has become the unofficial high school photographer. Tonight she is going to demonstrate how she uses technology in her classroom, especially using USA Test Prep for Grad Exam practice, purchased with Federal Stimulus funds, excerpts from Video Productions footage and assists the football coaches by breaking down opponents game films. Ms. Gilbreath…
A G E N D A
HALEYVILLE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Session
Haleyville High School Board Room
January 26, 2010 – 7:00 p.m.
A. Call to Order
B. Establish Quorum
C. Approval of Agenda
D. Approval of Minutes Regular Session December 15, 2009
E. Old Business
F. New Business
1. To consider approving Board Expenditures for October 2009 in the amount of $1,327,804.06.
2. To consider approving Board Expenditures for November 2009 in the amount of $1,447,725.46.
3. To consider approving Field Trip Request for DECA club members and Neina Middleton, sponsor, to attend DECA State Career Development Conference in Montgomery Feb. 15-16.
4. To consider approving to award low bid for playground equipment for Haleyville Elementary and Haleyville Middle School to Kidz Zone Play Systems in the amount of $134,882.90
5. To consider approving substitute teacher list.
6. To consider approving weighted grade/grade scale/curriculum and criteria for Valedictorian and Salutatorian selection and class ranking beginning in the 2010-2011 school year.
7. To consider approving Board Member Training Policy. Policy will be sent to personnel components for input.
PERSONNEL ADDENDUM: On next page
G. Any Other Business
To consider approving the following fun-raisers:
1) HHS Band to sell tickets on a gun cabinet January 15 through March 30, 2010.
2) HHS Band to hold their annual school calendar sales March 1, 2010 through May 1, 2010.
3) HHS Baseball to sell advertisement signs on the outfield fence Feb. 1 through March 19, 2010
4) HHS Baseball to sell “Thermolite” foam insulated spirit mugs Feb. 1 through Feb. 19, 2010.
H. Superintendent’s Report
I. Public Relations Report
J. Hearing Public
K. Adjournment
Haleyville Board of Education
Personnel Action
1/26/10
1. Approved Maternity Leave request of Susanne Trallo to begin on or about March 31, 2010.
