![[Daily Dunklin Democrat]](http://www.dddnews.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (2)
 Superintendent Jeff Bullock responds to curriculum director Pam Lowe's report on changes in the elementary academic program. Staff photo by George Anderson [Click to enlarge] |
According to Pam Lowe, curriculum director for Holcomb schools, the elementary curriculum guide is about 10 years behind the state level.
In an effort to bring their curriculum up to par, Holcomb will be borrowing the curriculum guide from Perryville, Mo.
"We're going to change the way we deliver instruction," said Lowe.
"It takes a long time, years, to write a good curriculum, so this will give a quicker way to get a good curriculum and get in line with what [the state] wants us to do.
"Because of the changes we are going to make, I think you can't help but have some positive changes. I can't guarantee that we will absolutely meet [the state standard] but I know that everybody is willing to work hard and make sure that happens," Lowe added.
Jeff Bullock, Holcomb superintendent, informed the board that several of the school's staff will soon be meeting with members of the Southeast Missouri State University Regional Professional Development Committee (RPDC) team.
"Their going to aid us in setting up our school improvement plan to combat the goals. That way we can submit to the state the process we're going to take to raise and increase these scores," said Bullock.
"We haven't fallen into the black hole of education. Lucky for us, we've got the staff that all we have to do is give them the materials they need. That is where we've probably fell short over the last five or six years.
"What we will go through for the first eight to 12 weeks is an adjustment period because the teaching strategies that are going on are different than what we've done in the past. There is an adjustment [period] these kids are going to have to go through. There will be a short dip but eventually what I believe we'll see is an increase across the board," continued Bullock.
Club trips were also discussed with the board voting unanimously to change the way non-academic trips are paid for.
According to the new policy, the school will pay for all academic related trips, including state contests, however all clubs and organizations will have to fund their own trips due to high fuel costs.
In other topics, according to reports from high school principal Ashley McMillian and elementary principal Jason Skelton, student enrollment numbers are up.
First day enrollment at the high school increased to 265 students this year compared to approximately 250 last year.
Elementary enrollment is at 359 compared to approximately 340 last year.
"Every grade has at least 50 students with 66 in the sixth grade," said McMillian.
The board also approved moving faculty up on the pay schedule.
Now that dhowe has put a stamp of approval on the Holcomb schools, they can just tell Perryville to keep the curriculum.
On the other hand, he/she does point out that some of the teachers have bad attitudes and I think the district should get rid of them.
These two comments point out one of the real issues facing public schools. I am betting dhowe knows nothing in terms of how to run a school district and educate children in a public school. On the one hand.....she/he has a happy succussful child and everything is great about the school.
On the other.....I am betting this person has either experienced something negative with some of the teachers or heard rumors to make them think negatively so automatically there are some who have bad attitudes.
In either case.....it is an example of someone who knows nothing about what they are talking about but it carries some weight.
Holcomb may or may not be doing a good job. Test scores and happy or unhappy parents will not give us that answer. Yet, that is the measuring stick.
What is the answer.....paying enough to get dedicated and quality people to teach and run the schools is the start. Not necessarily looking at where they end up in terms of assessment.....but looking at how much they improve.......making sure they are working hard and using proven teaching methods.......making sure they are teaching the right stuff and teaching the right way.
Test scores.....just one small part. Parent surveys....just one small part.
.....kids who have parents (a Mom and a Dad), living in a good stable home environment, are supportive of the schools in terms of academics and discipline.....are more important than anything else educator's or politicians can do to assure success in education. Isn't it ironic that that this is totally out of the hands of educator's yet is most important to their success?
MY SON HAS BEEN ATTENDING HOLCOMB SCHOOL SINCE PRESCHOOL. BY FAR HOLCOMB IS ONE OF THE BETTER SCHOOLS IN THIS RURAL AREA. I MUST SAY I AM VERY SURPISED ABOUT THE LOW MAP SCORES. I GUESS BECAUSE MY SON ALWAYS SCORED MUCH HIGHER THAN IS GRADE LEVEL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT MAYBE HE SCORED HIGHER THAN OTHER CHILDREN, IS BECAUSE I ALWAYS CHECKED HIS HOMEWORK AND MADE SURE IT WAS DONE AND DONE RIGHT. ALOT OF CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE PARENTS THAT CARE, LET ALONE KNOW HOW TO DO MOST OF THE WORK THERE CHILDREN BRING HOME THESE DAYS. I WANT TO SAY I HOLD HOLCOMB SCHOOL IN HIGH REGARDS AND ALL THE TEACHERS AND MEMBERS OF THE STAFF. THERE ARE OF COURSE A FEW THAT SHOULD NOT BE TEACHING, BECAUSE THERE ATTUIDE IS VERY NEGATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE STUDENTS.BUT THIS IS IN EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM. BUT FOR THE MOST THE TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS AT HOLCOMB ARE WONDERFUL...THANK YOU