Madison County High School students will have a little more time to get to class this upcoming school year. The tardy bell will not ring until 8:20 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, giving students an extra 10 minutes to get to class.
“Research states a later school start for high school students is better, plus this will help with traffic in the morning,” principal Chad Stone said in a letter superintendent Allen McCannon shared with the school board at its July 18 monthly meeting.
On Wednesdays, the school will follow the same schedule as last year, but on those days students will be able to use the time between 7:45 – 9:15 a.m. to make up tests, get extra help with classes and other needs. McCannon said this is something that parents have asked for since so many high school students have trouble making time after school for make up tests and other issues since they are working or involved in extracurricular activities.
School will end at 3:40 p.m. each evening for the high school.
“I think this will make the school day more efficient,” McCannon said.
In another matter, Dr. Sherrie Gibney-Sherman gave the board an overview of the upcoming visit of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) peer review team in October to evaluate the school system.
Sherman explained that a five-member team will visit the school system Oct. 24 – 26 where they will meet with board members, visit schools and classrooms and conduct interviews with parents, students, administrators and community members. The team visit will culminate in a called board meeting on Oct. 26.
The team will be looking at seven standards aligned with research on factors that impact student performance. These standards are: vision and purpose; governance and leadership; teaching and learning; documenting and using results; resources and support systems; stakeholder communication and relationships (community involvement) and commitment to continuous improvement.
The board approved Charles Black Construction as the school system’s construction management at-risk company for the next five years. The company was recommended by McCannon over four other companies that applied for the position. The company will oversee the upcoming SPLOST projects, including the expansion of the high school and Comer Elementary’s renovations and additions. The construction company will also oversee renovations/additions to other existing facilities and certain other projects in the “Capital Improvement Program” that may be identified in the five-year facility plan or SPLOST document.
The board also approved a small increase in adult lunch meal prices for the upcoming school year. Adult lunches will increase from $2.75 to $3, or $2.45 to $2.75 for pre-pay.
