Como and Green Hill Elementary undergo restructuring during first NP School Board meeting of year

By Ashley Crutcher
North Panola School Board of Trustees heard from Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Wilner Bolden III, regarding the restructuring of Como Elementary and Green Hill Elementary.
Both schools currently serve students kindergarten through fifth grade.
“Right now we’re just working to stay afloat, but we are leaving grades K-2 behind. We’re so worried about third grade proficient tests. Over 50 percent of third graders are not on a third grade reading level,” said Dr. Bolden.
The restructuring would allow Como Elementary to serve grades kindergarten through second and Green Hill Elementary would become Green Hill Intermediate to serve grades three through five.
“Kindergarten through second grades we’re learning to read. Three trough five grades we read to learn,” said Dr. Bolden.
The MCAT test determines a child’s readiness for school. However, currently skill scores are approximately 66 points below the required 530 score at the beginning school.
Transportation Director, Michael Britt, advised the board of possible changes to the current bus route schedules.
“We will need at least one additional route to transport children who currently attend Green Hill Elementary to Como Elementary. We will begin registration in February so that we can determine the number of incoming students, which is vitally important,” said Britt.
The restructuring was approved 4-0 to allow Como Elementary to serve grades K-2 and Green Hill Intermediate to serve grades 3-5.
Board Officers
Other items on the agenda included the swearing in of board members, Darrick Ellis for District 3 and Patricia Lamar for District 4, who were sworn in on January 18 by Judge Jimmy McClure.
President Verna Hunter was re-elected to serve as Board President 4-0. Patricia Lamar was also re-elected for her seat as Vice President which passed 4-0. President Hunter nominated Deborah Armstrong-Tucker as Board Secretary, which also passed 4-0.
School Improvement Grant
North Panola Superintendent reported to the board regarding the School Improvement Grant (SIG) stating the district is “on time in the budget.”
Jamone Edwards provided the board with an update on the North Panola Achievement Academy.
“All kids who have stayed with us have obtained a diploma,” said Edwards.
The number of students finding success within the academy is steadily increasing as the program assisted 34 students in 2015, 38 in 2016 and 42 in 2017.
“Nine hundred and five of our students graduate or return to High School, nine percent move and one percent are removed due to attendance and behavioral problems. This program allows students to improve their grade rate and provides them with an opportunity to obtain a secondary eduction,” said Edwards.
The program can accommodate 22 students without increasing the program’s funding. The program currently serves 13 students in the district.
“What are they doing different in this program from what we are doing,” asked Lamar. “Our students are able to speak with a counselor twice a week and we work on conflict resolution, which makes them ask themselves ‘Am I making good decisions’” said Edwards.
The board approved a trip to the Memphis Children’s Museum in Memphis for Green Hill Elementary first grade students on February 16. Other trips approved include a trip to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis for fourth and fifth grade students of Greee Hill Elementary on February 15. The 3-5 grades of Crenshaw Elementary were approved to attend the National Civil Rights Museum on February 23.
The board also accepted a $552 donation from Panola Partnership Inc. of Batesville to the North Panola Career and Technical Center.
Business Manager Levette Upshaw went over the fincancial reports with the board and advised the district is still on target for expenditures. The board approved all financial reports including the Statement of Fund Balances, Reconciliation of District Bank Statements, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, Budget Status Report, and Cash Flow Report.
The meeting saw the approval for several trips to be taken by district officials including Green Hill teacher K’Tawna Nelson to travel to Kansas City, Mo. to attend the Schools to Learn Conference February 5-7, Upshaw to attend the Southeastern Association of School Business Officials Annual Conference in Memphis, and Edwards to participate in the 2017-18 MSBA Prospective Superintendent Leadership Academy.
The board also approved revisions to board policy and Ombudsman Program Alternative Education Services Agreement.
Board members approved the request to advertise for bids for the E-Rate program. Further approvals include employment retirements and resignations for Ollie Jackson Jr., William B. Hayden, Lacey Stribling, Jonathan Xavier Parker, and Lawanda Webster.
Employment recommendations were approved for Catie Denham, Tyler Johnson, Antoinette Rudd, Dolphes McGee, Jessica Hayward, Dana Finimore, Kayla Williams, Maurica Sims, DeAndre Walker, Marc Cobb, Joyce Ann Gassion, Albert Blackburn, Andrea Ferguson, Geraldine Greer, Randy Mangrum, Melodie Coleman, Andrea Hudson, Derrick Mack and Earmie Wright.
The board discussed the suspension of EPSTD services contracted with North Sunflower Rural Health Clinic as Medicare is no longer paying the costs.
The board went into executive session for an hour and a half to discuss the evaluation of Superintendent Cedric Richardson. The board agreed to renew Richardson’s contract to June 30, 2021.
President of the Panola County NAACP, Julius Harris spoke to the board expressing his concerns regarding the lack of representation for Dr. Martin Luther King on the national holiday to celebrate Dr. King’s work.
“I went to every school in the North Panola School District and did not see anywhere any program or items on display for Dr. King. You go to school during Halloween and they got decorations everywhere, but nothing in honor of Dr. King,” said Harris. “These kids going to the Civil Rights Museum, but you’re not offering them any information on the subject.”
Just as Mr. Harris got fired up on the topic, his three minutes were up and without further comments from the public the meeting was adjourned.