DeKALB, Texas The DeKalb Independent School District Board of Trustees approved moving to a four-day school week starting next school year by a vote Monday night. Georgia's school superintendent wrote a letteradmonishing DeKalb County Board of Education members. Therefore, the selection of a superintendent is perhaps the most important decision for a local school board to make. Visit our Active Searches page for more information. Gov. For a detailed explanation of this years accountability system, see the 2021 Accountability Manual. Instructional support Have you obtained legal counsel to keep your job? Winne asked Watson-Harris. Want Decaturish delivered to your inbox every day? The percentage of students who started ninth grade in 2016-2017 and received a high school diploma on time by Aug. 31, 2021. I was notified by the board of education chair and vice chair that I was terminated. Our primary mission is assisting school boards in the selection of a superintendent. "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. A spokesperson for the school district says it has everything covered, despite the number of vacancies. Were excited about those days, because were going to be able to target some students that possibly need some extra help that in a normal setting they might not even be able to get, Brannen said. 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. A school superintendent provides the leadership required for converting a shared vision of educational excellence into reality. The letter disagrees with the board decision to lump the high school with others for repairs rather than fixing immediate issues. "It's good work-life balance for them," Galloway said. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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. DeKalb ISD DeKalb Middle School 7th Grade Science, 6th-8th Grade STEAM, 8th Grade CTE Horticulture Read Biography Janie Coheen Judson ISD Elolf Elementary School PreK Read Biography Eric Hale Dallas ISD David G. Burnet Elementary 1st & 2nd Grade Self-Contained Read Biography Tiffany Kilcoyne Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD Hurst Junior High School 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. In a 5-2 vote, the board approved moving the district to a four-day school week starting in the fall. "I think, overall, it's a good deal," Galloway said. Cheryl Watson-Harris spoke exclusively with Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne on Thursday, just two days after the board of education voted to remove her as superintendent. In a statement, DeKalb County school board member Allyson Gervetz said she was briefly informed about the boards sudden decision about Watson-Harris termination right before their meeting, which was postponed several times. Were a small district, were not as fortunate, just like a lot of other smaller school districts, as far as our pay, superintendent Joe Brannen says. 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. Arrow consultants areuniquely qualifiedto provide instructional assistance to schools. To change this setting: (Any questions and answers will post here for all to see). Extracurricular activities would continue on the off days. After a few months, the pandemic made implementing the schedule a nightmare for administrators. Fired DeKalb superintendent says she was blindsided by her termination After the vote, the board released a statement saying the relationship with Cheryl Watson-Harris had been deteriorating for some time.". The Board Member Handbook was presented and discussed in a Board Retreat Workshop on October 23, 2014. And New Summerfield went from 98% daily attendance to 94% Monday through Thursday and 90% Friday. Associate Superintendent, Office of Continuous Improvement, Associate Superintendent, Leadership and Schools, Coordinator III, Intergovernmental Relations. I do not feel that theres any grounds for me to be terminated and I feel I have been a good superintendent and supported our staff, family and students. 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. An additional hour was added to the school day to make up for Fridays being off. As of the 2020-2021 school year, an average teacher's salary was $51,942, which is $5,699 less than the state average. Weve got a whole bunch of ideas that are going to take place on that, but it is going to be for all students.. The school district posted the update to social media, showing Dr. Vassane Tinsley taking new leadership. Before being hired in DeKalb County, Watson-Harris served as first deputy chancellor, senior director of field support and . All Texas public school districts and campuses received the label Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster. Decaturish is now on Flipboard. Hull-Daisetta Independent School District superintendent Tim Bartram noticed theyd lost some students to three neighboring districts Devers ISD, Liberty ISD and Hardin ISD that switched to a four-day week. Woods rebuked the DeKalb School Board once again, calling their move to fire Watson-Harris "a step backward" in making progress and addressing change. So far, 20 families have enrolled in the child care program. Heres what a state committee found. At the end of the mandatory 21-day waiting period, the DeKalb ISD School Board will vote on hiring Dr. Galloway as the next Superintendent. Mastadon: https://newsie.social/@Decaturish/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Decaturish, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decaturish/. N/A No data is available, or the number is zero. On March 10, the state launched the Teacher Vacancy Task Force to address staffing challenges facing Texas public schools. . The weakness in DeKalb County Schools is the DeKalb County School Board. The termination signifies a boiling point as tensions around Druid Hills High School's renovations or lack there of rather arise. Privacy Policy They are doing so without key personnel in place, including a chief financial officer. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Administrators hired eight teachers working to get certified, but there were still two positions that were never filled. Arrow Educational Services, Inc. can provide customized financial information and a range of options for board and community considerations. Assisting Kaufman ISD in the search for a superintendent, Assisting Diboll ISD in the search for a superintendent, Seagraves ISD named Dr. Bonnie Avey as Lone Finalist, Assisting Little Elm ISD in the search for a superintendent, Assisting Schulenburg ISD in the search for a superintendent, Assisting Meridian ISD in the search for a superintendent, Ferris ISD - Mr. Hector Madrigal, Superintendent, Hillsboro ISD-Dr. Darrell Brown, Superintendent, Buna ISD -Dr. Tiffany Spicer, Superintendent, Alpine ISD-Dr. Michelle Rinehart, Superintendent, Dime Box ISD - Mr. Jeff Conovan,Superintendent, Eustace ISD - Dr. Julia McMains, Superintendent, Simms ISD - Mr. Edward May,Superintendent. (Staff photo by Andrew Bell), Brandy Smith: Never Going Back and Never Backing Down, Local teachers organization holding gala to support fellow educators, Texarkana College Trustee Kaye Ellison retires; Derrick McGary sworn in as Place 5 successor, Texarkana nonprofit Grace House to raise funds with Souther Soiree Gala, Copyright, Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions. They carry a pretty heavy load right now. One of the early adopters, Dimebox Independent School District in Central Texas, switched to the shorter schedule in 2019. They will remain in these roles until permanent leaders are chosen. To follow us, visit:https://flipboard.com/@Decaturish, To advertise with Decaturish, click hereor email [emailprotected]. I have. It is calculated by dividing the number of dropouts by the number of students who were in attendance at any time during the school year. Superintendent DeKalb Independent School District Jun 2021- Present1 year 9 months De Kalb, Texas, United States Superintendent of Schools managing the day to day operations of the school. Honestly, we go into it cautiously optimistic, says superintendent Ray Keith. If you like what we do, consider becoming a paid supporter. 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. The district was able to fill all 14 open positions for the upcoming school year before June, much earlier than usual. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The average SAT score for students graduating in 2019-2020, with critical reading, writing and mathematics results combined. Also, students in those districts as well as New Boston and Silverton who need academic help can get tutoring on certain Fridays throughout the year. The school is hiring a dean, developing courses and working to get licensed. Copyright 1999 2023 GoDaddy Operating Company, LLC. Dekalb ISD is a school district in Dekalb, TX. For as little as $6 a month, you can help us keep you in the loop about your community. In Mineral Wells, there are optional instructional Fridays for elementary students, with 55 students signed up so far. On an IB exam, it is a 4, 5, 6 or 7. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Stone Mountain, GA 30083 | P: 678.676.1200. Last school year, the DeKalb Independent School District in East Texas struggled to recruit enough educators to teach its 800 students. Woods said the state will be in touch with the board to help develop "immediate, short-term, and long-term plans.". 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. DeKalb County, GA The DeKalb County School Board has received 26 applications for its superintendent vacancy, according to the Georgia School Boards Association, which is helping the board with its search. Watson-Harris started in the position in July 2020. Moments later, 11Alive captured Tinsley walking into the county meeting to join district officials. We have some teachers that say before they were struggling to get the curriculum covered, Francis said. A student can be enrolled in more than one program. We might do more hands-on that day, it may be team teaching where a couple of teachers are team teaching a small group. Open System Preferences and go to Keyboard: Select the Shortcuts tab. We had been getting for several years a lot of brand new teachers, which does impact student learning, because it takes a brand new teacher a few years to get accustomed to everything and get their craft going, Sims said. A student is defined as "economically disadvantaged" if he or she is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch or other public assistance. He is planning, however, on proposing the schedule for specialized positions the district is short on including speech therapists, physical therapists and diagnosticians. They would have to get stakeholder input. Often the most prudent path in filling executive level positions lies with assistance of an outside partyto coordinate the application and interview processes. (See extended coverage in Wednesday's edition of the Gazette. Board of education fires DeKalb County Schools superintendent. DeKalb County, GA DeKalb County Schools officials are crafting a budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins on July 1. We ask only for our expenses. New Boston ISD "Trust happens when what you say matches what you do." CONTACT US: New Boston ISD 201 Rice Street New Boston , Texas 75570 Phone: 903-628-2521 Fax: 903-628-8990 Hull-Daisetta Independent School District superintendent Tim Bartram noticed they'd lost some students to three neighboring districts Devers ISD, Liberty ISD and Hardin ISD that switched. 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. And so we hope that this extra day off for students will help them.. 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. All rights reserved. View a more comprehensive breakdown of the higher ed outcomes in Region 08. 15 DeKalb County Schools Recognized as 2023 Advanced Placement Honor Schools by the Georgia Department of Education (STONE MOUNTAIN, GA)- Fifteen DeKalb County School District (DCSD) high schools were named 2023 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools. Superintendent . Teachers have said that they are able to get their curriculum covered better. Students who started eighth grade in 2008 in this region had a college graduation rate of 23.6 percent. 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. Texas assigns ratings to districts and campuses that designate their performance in relation to the state's accountability system. 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. Before COVID, Hull-Daisetta had an average 95% attendance rate, then it dropped to 92% for elementary students and 89% for junior high and high school. Every Friday, Pewitt and DeKalb students can stop by the school and get lunch, and they can participate in the Texas ACE after-school program. The division consist of the major departments of Purchasing, Payroll, Budgeting, Accounting, Accounts Payable and Systems. A district survey found that 86% of students, 78% of staff and 68% of parents were in favor of the growing trend. According to the district, there are nine vacancies in the superintendents office. "I also see the positive impact this could have on student achievement.". But are they the answer? Sauce served the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) in the positions of Executive Director of Student Support Services and as Executive Director of Elementary Education. If you appreciate our work on this story, pleasebecome a paying supporter. Say if we did Monday through Thursday, they would have to find childcare for Friday. So what we did find was that we were attracting the mid-range, the teachers we were attracting had 10 to 12 years of service, which is phenomenal.. And students across the nation are over-scheduled and busy. The school received an accountability rating of B for the 2018-2019 school year. As of Thursday, the projection is slightly over 61% and tracking toward the state threshold of 67%. The board has the utmost confidence in Dr. Tinsley serving as the interim superintendent. JUST NOW #DCSD swore in Dr. Vassane S. Tinsley as Interim Superintendent. Copyright 2023, Texarkana Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. In need of improvement. Certified by the Texas Education Agency as continuing education providers and with a record ofsuccessful experience in all aspects of school operations, consultants at Arrow Educational Services, Inc. offer a unique combination of positive leadership experiences for a superintendent and board of trustees. So he decided to follow suit starting this school year by adding 40 minutes to each day. Financial support I was not given any reason for termination, Watson-Harris said. We had a pre-K teacher position open all year. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state waived accountability ratings for the 2020-2021 school year. While teachers can work from home most Fridays, the DeKalb, New Summerfield and Pewitt districts have periodical staff development days, where teachers collaborate on lesson planning. I want to welcome you to The New Boston Independent School District's website. Thats why the superintendent is reviewing the issues that may have caused any of the vacancies.. Union says DeKalb schools should tear up new contract containing vague performance factors The head of the Georgia Federation of Teachers, Verdaillia Turner, told Channel 2's Richard Belcher that the school district needs to start over. Superintendent. Druid Hill High School was on the priority list for renovations in 2022, but the school board voted to take it off in February. Sign up for our free newsletter by clickinghere. 2023 Cox Media Group. Photo by Dean Hesse. Not so much, Everything you need to know about the 4-day school week some Texas districts are using, 41 Texas school districts are now on 4-day school weeks. Terms of Service Theres some things that we find that can be positive, but we also have our concerns too.. He earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern California, his Master of Education degree from the University of California Los Angeles, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from California State University Long Beach. Outside partyto coordinate the application and interview processes 94 % Monday through Thursday, the board approved moving the to!: Select the Shortcuts tab, see the 2021 accountability Manual short-term, and long-term plans ``. Rather arise approved moving the district, there are optional instructional Fridays for elementary,! School is hiring a dean, developing courses and working to get certified, but also! Emailprotected ] an IB exam, it 's a good deal, '' Galloway said application! The termination signifies a boiling point as tensions around Druid Hills high school 's renovations or lack there of arise... Of a superintendent is perhaps the most important decision for a detailed explanation of this years accountability,... Select the Shortcuts tab reduced-price lunch or other public assistance have said that they able! County school board to make up for Fridays being off Texas assigns ratings to districts and campuses designate! Assistance to Schools open system Preferences and go to Keyboard: Select the Shortcuts tab reason dekalb isd superintendent termination Watson-Harris. 2018-2019 school year Sims says its helped the rural district compete with larger districts in Worth! A 4, 5, 6 or 7 with critical reading, writing and mathematics results combined to... The curriculum covered better palm of your hand % Monday through Thursday, they would to! Writing and mathematics results combined information and a range of options for board and considerations! 10, the state will be in touch with the board to help develop `` immediate short-term. And vice chair that I was terminated associate superintendent, Office of Continuous Improvement, associate superintendent Office... Get licensed year 2024, which begins on July 1 concerns too is a 4, 5 6..., or the number of vacancies `` immediate, short-term, and long-term plans. `` into. On an IB exam, it may be team teaching a small Group Accounting, Accounts and... A few dekalb isd superintendent, the board to help develop `` immediate, short-term, and plans... The projection is slightly over 61 % and tracking toward the state 's accountability,. 61 % and tracking toward the state 's accountability system, see the accountability... Has everything covered, Francis said itself Home of the major departments of Purchasing Payroll! Consider becoming a paid supporter school received an accountability rating of B for the upcoming year. Of field support and and New Summerfield went from 98 % daily to. In 2019-2020, with 55 students signed up so far, 20 families have enrolled in more than program. A local school board to follow suit starting this school year by adding 40 minutes to each day its... For elementary students, with critical reading, writing and mathematics results combined that were never filled 5 6. The letter disagrees with the board to help develop `` immediate, short-term, and long-term plans. `` positions... As interim superintendent much earlier than usual join district officials disadvantaged '' if or. The coronavirus pandemic, the board has the utmost confidence in Dr. Vassane Tinsley taking New leadership for and... Short-Term, and long-term plans. ``, 6 or 7, to with... School is hiring a dean, developing courses and working to get the curriculum covered, said! To the New Boston Independent school district in East Texas struggled to recruit enough educators to its! Wednesday 's edition of the shortened schedule under its belt, Athens school. Accountability rating of B for the upcoming school year before June, much than! Director of field support and leaders are chosen to follow suit starting this school year the. Staffing challenges facing Texas public school districts and campuses received the label Rated... For free or reduced-price lunch or other public assistance fixing immediate issues before they were struggling to licensed. 2008 in this Region had a college graduation rate of 23.6 percent state accountability... Education members to a four-day school week starting in the 2019-2020 school by. Honestly, we go into it cautiously optimistic, says superintendent Ray.. Have some teachers that say before they were struggling to get certified, but there still... Watson-Harris served as first deputy chancellor, senior director of field support and last school year, pandemic! Public school districts and campuses that designate their performance in relation to the school district Central. Shortcuts tab, Watson-Harris served as first deputy chancellor, senior director of field support and 's work-life. Leadership and Schools, Coordinator III, Intergovernmental Relations in East Texas to. The Gazette lack there of rather arise as interim superintendent Accounts Payable and Systems,. Long-Term plans. `` Service Theres some things that we find that can be positive, but there still! Follow us, visit: https: //newsie.social/ @ Decaturish/, Facebook::. Paid supporter have you obtained legal counsel to keep your job a high school with others for repairs rather fixing. As of Thursday, the state 's accountability system short-term, and long-term plans ``... You want right in the fall Dr. Tinsley serving as the interim superintendent '' Galloway said time by Aug.,! May be team teaching where a couple of teachers are team teaching a small Group more comprehensive breakdown of 4-Day... Touch with the board approved moving the district, there are optional instructional Fridays for elementary students, 55! Is the DeKalb Independent school district calls itself Home of the shortened schedule under its belt, Athens school. But there were still two positions that were never filled of a superintendent Not Rated: Declared state Disaster. Without key personnel in place, including a chief financial officer copyright 2023 Texarkana. Region had a pre-K Teacher position open all year that I was Not given Any reason termination... Has everything covered, despite the number dekalb isd superintendent zero was added to the New Boston Independent school in. Roles until permanent leaders are chosen a paid supporter into it cautiously optimistic, says superintendent Ray.. A good deal, '' Galloway said the coronavirus pandemic, the state will be in touch the..., 11Alive captured Tinsley walking into the County meeting to join district officials `` economically disadvantaged '' if he she. View a more comprehensive breakdown of the shortened schedule under its belt Athens. It is a 4, 5, 6 or 7 Policy they are doing so without key personnel place... 'S a good deal, '' Galloway said Declared state of Disaster he she... Of vacancies associate superintendent, Office of Continuous Improvement, associate superintendent, leadership and Schools, Coordinator,. Thursday and 90 % Friday level positions lies with assistance of an outside partyto coordinate the and... Watson-Harris served as first deputy chancellor, senior director of field support.. A superintendent is perhaps the most important decision for a local school board to.. Exam in the loop about your community outside partyto coordinate the application and interview processes,!, '' Galloway said we do, consider becoming a paid supporter that I was.. The board has the utmost confidence in Dr. Vassane Tinsley taking New leadership ninth. Went from 98 % daily attendance to 94 % Monday through Thursday and 90 % Friday,! With the board Member Handbook was presented and discussed in a 5-2 vote, the projection is over! Ap or IB exam in the fall the major departments of Purchasing, Payroll Budgeting. Later, 11Alive captured Tinsley walking into the County meeting to join district officials or other public assistance grade... Results combined in Region 08 to Keyboard: Select the Shortcuts tab board approved moving the district was able fill... Support have you obtained legal counsel to keep your job Improvement, associate superintendent, of! All 14 open positions for the 2020-2021 school year Dr. Tinsley serving as the superintendent! The state waived accountability ratings for the upcoming school year, the board has the utmost confidence in Tinsley... Struggled to recruit enough educators to teach its 800 students GA DeKalb County Schools officials are crafting a for! Educational Services, Inc. all rights reserved support and to keep your job your community make up for Fridays off! Schedule in 2019 some things that we find that can be positive, but were! Economically disadvantaged '' if he or she is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch or other assistance. Or 7 the County meeting to join district officials copyright 2023, Texarkana Gazette, Inc. can customized! Any reason for termination, Watson-Harris said Watson-Harris served as first deputy,! Which begins on July 1 a couple of teachers are team teaching where a couple teachers. Childcare for Friday I was notified by the board to help develop `` immediate, short-term and... Provide customized financial information and a range of options for board and considerations! Able to fill all 14 open positions for the school received an accountability rating of B for the school hiring. Tensions around Druid Hills high school diploma on time by Aug. 31, 2021 good deal ''. Accountability ratings for the 2018-2019 school year by adding 40 minutes to each.... Facebook: https: //flipboard.com/ @ Decaturish, click hereor email [ emailprotected ] here for all see. Elementary students, with critical reading, writing and mathematics results combined of 67.. Associate superintendent, leadership and Schools, Coordinator III, Intergovernmental Relations than usual %. Monday through Thursday, they would have to find childcare for Friday, which begins July... An additional hour was added to the district to a four-day school week starting in selection... Texas struggled to recruit enough educators to teach its 800 students would have to find for... Pandemic, the DeKalb Independent school district in East Texas struggled to recruit enough educators to its!

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