Welcome AdvancED External Review Team

Crenshaw County Schools proudly welcomes members of the AdvancED External Review Team.  Members are:

• Dr. Rozalyne Wright- Naples, FL
• Dr. James Jeffers-  Tallassee, AL
• Dr. Lakesha Brackins- Elba, AL
• Dr. Elvirita Finley- Birmingham, AL
• Ms. Kristen Bilkey- Kokomo, IN

Please make them feel at home.

New System Poster

LHS's Amanda Fang Wins State HOSA Design Competition

Congratulations to Amanda Fang of LHS!  She recently was acknowledged by the state for her HOSA pin design! Amanda's pin will be sold at the conference as the official Alabama HOSA pin. The pin will also be traded at the national conference in June. HOSA members often exchange state pins, therefore, her design will be worn all over the United States.

Amanda told us that this year’s theme was “Build A Better You!”   She used the concept of a bear similar to that of “Build A Bear.” Note that the bear is wearing a HOSA t-shirt to and stethoscope.  Amanda stated that the logo for the bear is “Where Best Friends are Made,” which is reflective of the health care industry, as that “while you are helping others, you are making friends, as well.”  

HOSA Takes State Award

It has been announced that Crenshaw County HOSA has been named the Healthy Vitals Project Winner for 2012-2013.  Based on our Kidcheck+ project, Mrs. Becky Cornelius, HOSA sponsor, submitted an application, pictures, system blog information, and Facebook posts to the State.  HOSA is to be awarded a plaque and $100 during the closing ceremony this February.  Mrs. Cornelius will take 23 students to the February 7-8 event where students will compete in other events.  Kudos to Ms. Becky and her students!

Homeless Information Updated

Crenshaw County is in the process of revising its Homeless Plan and information.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact me at rwilkes@crenshaw-schools.org.

The following have been attached to the system's website:

Homeless Plan

Homeless Parent Poster

Homeless School-Age Poster

McKinney-Vento Act

Homeless Crenshaw County Flyer

Crenshaw County Board Policy S-27

Homeless Characteristics

Team Tiger Week of January 14-18, 2013

Congratulations to the following Team Tiger members:  Jordan Burnette, Ashley Tate, Anna Morgan, Callie Armstrong, Sydney Malone, Lillie Higgins, and Troy Pate.

BHS SWAG

Mr. Richard Jones of Montgomery came to speak to grades 5-8 on having the proper SWAG! S-self identification W-work ethic A-appearance G-game plan for life!  Thanks to Mr. Blakely for setting it up!

It Has Been 100 Days Already?

Yes, according to Brantley Elementary School we have less than 80 days remaining (though there is at least 500 days between now and Spring Break :).  Here are some celebratory pics (looks like our 100 year old teachers did not make the pics this year).

Student iLearn Survey Results

Recently, students in grades 7-12 responded to a technology survey that reflected that 76% have internet access in their homes and that 69% have wireless access.  This is remarkable for a county that is rural as ours.  The response rate was over 90% of the total 7-12 population.  Thanks to all for the feedback.

Teacher Survey Says...

Thanks to all who participated in the Teacher iLearn Survey.  The information gathered will assist us in the development of our 1:1 initiative.  Notable findings were:

• 97% of those who participated stated if the student 1:1 initiative comes to fruition and all teachers receive a similar device, they could continue to use their current computer for iNow purposes,
• 94% of those who participated stated that they would attend 1:1 professional development,
• 83%  of those who participated stated that they prefer and Apple product, and
• 76% of those who participated stated that they had a working projector.

Details of the survey are below:

BHS Football Team Recognized

The Crenshaw County Board of Education unanimously accepted the recommendation to approve a Board Resolution Honoring the 2012 Brantley School Football Team.  The adopted resolution reads as follows:

Coach Lowery, Players, Board and Yours Truly

Team Tiger for the Week of January 11, 2013

Congratulations to the following students who are Team Tiger recipients for the week of Jan. 11^th (left to right): Courtney Wright, Christian Garmon, Trent Kuhn, Sarah Pennington, Abbie McManigle, Dakota Watkins, and Adison Lewis.

State Poetry Contest Winners!

Congratulations to Chris Hudgens and Dylan McCardle of Highland Home School!  These 11th graders placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the National Career Development Association’s (NCDA) 47th Annual Poetry and Poster Contest.  Both poems will now enter national competition.  To celebrate its 100th anniversary of NCDA, the students addressed this year's theme: "Inspiring Careers: Honoring History."  Kudos to all who participated and teacher, Ms. Rebecca Sims.

Safety Meeting With Senator Bryan Taylor

On Tuesday of this week, I traveled to the State House to meet with Senator Bryan Taylor and other local superintendents regarding the status and needs of our schools pertinent to safety.  Senator Taylor was gracious to solicit our chief concerns and offer some resolve.  Here is my input based on what I feel are our most immediate needs.

1. Door and/or Door Lock Repair:  We have hired a door specialist to survey all of our campuses and determine our needs.  All doors need be ADA compliant and lock from the inside.  One control key is needed in the system and each school should have one master key that fits all locks.  Change keys (room keys) should be for a sole door and should be changed as teacher location changes.
2. Bells and Intercom Repair:  We are soliciting prices for both bell and intercom installation.  A new system is preferred.
3. Surveillance System:  Cameras should be added in key areas to cover the entire campus.
4. Fencing:  Some fencing (HHS and New Bethel Road) needs repair and height increase.

Other items discussed were: the addition of a School Resource Officer on every campus, preventative services/measures taken for students who demonstrate inappropriate behavior, placement and use of nonlethal devices, and arming personnel.

The conversation was needed and allowed us to understand that our safety issues are similar in nature as are our concerns.

Please know that we are hosting a "Safety Summit" on February 7 and have invited county first responders and other emergency representatives.  

Roundtable Safety Discussion Held at the Alabama State House

Students Talk Safety

On Wednesday of this past week, we had the opportunity to visit with Mr. Martin's Current Events class at Highland Home School and discuss school safety.  These bright seventh graders were "spot on" with their observations and told me their concerns with door locks and ease of campus accessibility.   After I left, the conversation ensued.  Mr. Martin reports that students recommended the following:

• ID cards/chips that can electronically detect when a student is on campus and when someone without a card has entered a building
• metal detectors
• more limited entrance points into the school buildings
• bars on windows and/or bullet proof windows
• classroom doors remaining locked during class
• more safety training for teachers including how to stop an intruder
• increased police/security presence on campus
• giving teachers access to tasers
• trained teachers who can carry firearms

We appreciate the input of our students and will consider their suggestions.

Safety Discussion with Current Events Class

Board Members Appreciated

Appreciation was bestowed upon the members of the Crenshaw County Board of Education this past Monday night as teachers, administrators and students completed the honors.  

Caveat:  All gifts met ethical guidelines. :)

HHS Honor Students Gift Cakes from Mikki's 

LHS Principal Greg Pittman Demonstrates the School's
 Appreciation With Gift Certificates

BHS Principal Dodd Hawthorne Shows Appreciation Per Personalized Pen Set

Mrs. Julie Albritton Receives Grant

Congratulations to Mrs. Julie Albritton.  She is the recipient of the Flex Math Grant valued at over $1,500.   The research-based math program helps students develop math fact fluency. It is adaptive and can be individualized.  Mrs. Albritton attended the professional development and has implemented it with her after-school group.   Kudos to Mrs. Albritton for searching for new innovative means to reach our students.

HHS PTA Awards iPads

On Thursday, January 10, 2013,  the Highland Home Players and PTA awarded 10 ipads to its primary teachers to be used as instructional resource.  Proceeds from the production of The "Wizard of Oz" (Summer 2012) were used to make the purchase. This cause was  $1,500 short in purchasing the minimum of 10 and to purchase cases when the HHS PTA stepped in and made up the difference. HHS placed one iPad in every classroom grades K-2 and one in Mrs. Leigia Free's 4th grade reading classroom as she is piloting content literacy strategies.  

The HHS Players would like the public to know that they are already at work on their next production, "Seussical the Musical." Show dates are set for May 30, 31 and  June 1.

Thanks to the Players, PTA and Staff for their efforts!

Mrs. Jenny Holladay Accepts on Behalf of Grade 1

Mrs. Alicia Beasley Accepts on Kindergarten's Behalf

HHS Enters Poetry Contest

HHS had the following FORTY TWO students (the most, EVER!) accepted for publication in the Fall 2012 “A Celebration of Poets” anthology.  They are as follows: Wesley Allen, Mariah Alexis Andaluz, Cassidy Balkcom, Maitlyn Barton, Sarah Best, Brandy Cauthen, Destiny Clayton, Caleb Davis, Jenna Dorman, Jenice Foster, Anna Maria Garcia, Brenda Givens, Kasi Graham, Dalton Ray Harris, Randale Harris, Kyler Henderson, Chris Hudgens, Brittany Hurley, Morgan Jinright, Madison Lancer, Gabby Lee, Catlyn Mann, Darren McGhee, Jasmine Means, Miranda Nichols, Austin Norris, Johnathan Phillips, Adrienne Pouncey, Latarica Robinson, Jordan Roll, Colby Searight, Jessica Sexton, Jerika Shepherd, Marrisa Shepherd, Abigail Stephenson, Jade Stovall, Mary-Katlin Tarvin, Adam Taylor, Shannon Taylor, Jonah Vitollo, Shutarra Williams, and Sarah Woods.

Kudos to JAG

I received an email from the Department of Human Resources thanking our JAG sponsors and students for their contributions to the food pantry.  According to the e-mail, DHR has more food items now than ever before.  Additionally, the JAG Program  sponsored multiple children for Christmas through Operation Santa Claus. We agree with DHR in that it is imperative that we teach our students the importance of serving others in their community.   

"Teaching the Intangibles" is noted on our newly devised system posters.  This is an area of accomplishment and emphasis that we will expound upon as we present to our External Review Team at the end of this month.  Thank you to all who so willingly give to others!

Mega Title and Synopsis Submitted

We recently submitted our Mega Conference title and synopsis to the ALSDE.  

Ready, Set, Grow……with College and Career Ready Standards!

Is your “iceberg” melting?  Has someone “moved your cheese?"  Are you unsteady about College and Career Ready?  If you answered yes to any of these, it is time for you to come think, pair, and share with the Crenshaw County CCRS Implementation Team as we discuss proven strategies for transitioning faculty, parents, and students from ordinary to extraordinary without losing your mind.  Questions are welcomed and handouts will be provided.

January is Board Member Recognition Month

Please know that we are celebrating Alabama’s 20th annual School Board Member Recognition Month during January. This observance, which also is being celebrated nationally, offers everyone a chance to strengthen their relationship with your school board members. The theme, “Making a World of Difference,” reaffirms the goal we all share: preparing tomorrow’s leaders for productive citizenship. 

Please join us at the Regular Board Meeting on Monday, January 14, 2013.

Best Wishes to Summer Jenkins

Summer Jenkins, Crenshaw County's Distinguished Young Woman 2013, was honored with a send-off given by the faculty on January 10, 2013, at Brantley School. Summer will be leaving Friday afternoon for a week in Montgomery with her host family. The Distinguished Young Women of Alabama program will take place at Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Summer will perform her fitness and self expression routines on January 18^th at 7:30 p.m. The program will continue on January 19^th at 1:00 p.m. where she will perform her talent. The finals will take place on January 19^th at 7:00 p.m. If you would like to send Summer a card, her host home address is Brien and Christy Cornett, 106 Sophia Lane, Pike Road, Alabama 36064.

State Board Passes One Diploma Option

The Board unanimously approved a resolution for the Adoption of the Alabama High School Diploma – This action creates a Single Diploma and Career-Course Requirement which will allow the same requirements and diploma for all students from the state level, including Special Education, with the LEA’s having the option of offering various endorsements. The ultimate goal is for every student to graduate from high school with the necessary knowledge and skill to succeed in post-high school education and the workforce, without the need for remediation.

Click here for information 

CCRS Meetings Posted

Presentations from the January 3, 2013, inservice have been uploaded.  Please choose the link to review:  CCRS K4-5 or  CCRS Grades 6-12

1:1 Roundtable to be Held

Jasper City Schools has recently implemented the following 1:1 initiative.  Please read the following:  iPad Initiative.

In Crenshaw County, a Roundtable Discussion has been established for teachers of grades 7-12 on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, in the Textbook Room of Central Office at 3:45 PM.  All teachers are encouraged to attend.

Congratulations to Mrs. April Hall

Mrs. April Hall was awarded the Alabama Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association's "Elementary Science Teacher Award." She received $100.00 for Science in her classroom.

LHS 5th Graders Build Ginger Bread Houses

Sharing the 5th grade students' gingerbread houses they built and designed yesterday.

Fiscal Cliff Synopsis

What’s IN the Fiscal Cliff Deal

• The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill increases the deficit by $3.97 trillion over ten years, compared to current baseline.
• Income Tax Rates: Makes permanent the Bush income tax rates for individuals earning less than $400k (families earning less than $450k). For households above these thresholds, the top rate will rise from 35% to 39.6%.
• Sequester: The bill delays the onset of the sequester’s automatic, across-the-board cuts by 2 months. The two months of cuts are replaced by $12 billion in new revenue and $12 billion in spending cuts.
• The $12 billion in discretionary cuts is split evenly between defense and non-defense spending ($6 billion each). The cut lowers the current discretionary cap for FY13 ($2 billion each) and FY14 ($4 billion each).
• Capital Gains/Dividend Tax Rates: Capital gains and dividend tax rates will increase from 15% to 20%.
• Alternative Minimum Tax: The AMT was levied to ensure the wealthiest Americans paid their fair share of taxes. It was not indexed for inflation but has historically been patched to ensure a growing portion of middle-class families aren’t caught in its net. This fiscal deal makes the AMT permanently indexed to inflation.
• Limits Tax Breaks for High-income Households: Limits how much individuals making $250k (couples making $300k) may take in itemized deductions and personal exemptions.
• Tax Breaks for Working Families: Five year extension of the American Opportunity Tax Credit (claimed for college-related expenses); the Child Tax Credit; and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Business Tax Incentives: The bill extends a handful of tax breaks for business for two years, including the production tax credit for wind project developers, research/development tax credit, and a measure allowing for bonus depreciation.
• Unemployment: Continues a federal extension of unemployment benefits for one year.
• Medicare Doc Fix: Prevents a scheduled cut in Medicare reimbursement.
• Farm Bill: Congress was unable to pass the farm bill, which was set to expire. The fiscal cliff bill includes a 9-month extension for certain portions of the farm bill.
• Estate Tax: The estate tax will rise from 35% to 40% (with the first $5 million in assets exempted).
• Congressional Pay Freeze: Members of Congress will NOT see a pay increase (President Obama had recently authorized a congressional pay raise).

Education-Related Tax Provisions in the Fiscal Cliff Deal

• Permanently extends expanded Coverdell Education Savings Accounts
• Permanently extends the expanded exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance
• Permanently extends the expanded student loan interest deduction
• Permanently extends the exclusion from income of amounts received under certain scholarship programs.  
• Permanently extends the arbitrage rebate exception for school construction bonds
• Permanently extends tax-exempt private activity bonds for qualified education facilities
• Temporarily extends the American Opportunity Tax Credit  (Five years)
• Temporarily extends the deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers. (2 years: 2012 and 2013)
• Temporarily extends the above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition related expenses. (2 years: 2012 and 2013)
• Temporarily extends the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs) allocation of bond limitation. The provision extends the QZAB program for 2012 and 2013 providing $400 million in bond volume per year. 
• Temporarily extends the tax credit for research and experimentation expenses.  (2 years: 2012 and 2013)

What’s NOT in the Fiscal Cliff Deal

• Debt Ceiling. The debt ceiling debate from 2011 is what triggered the process that brought us to sequestration now. The debt ceiling was raised then, but our nation has already reached that higher cap. Treasury Secretary Geithner announced on Monday (12/31) that the nation reached the debt ceiling. The treasury has enough flexibility to cover about two months worth of borrowing, but that means we should brace ourselves for another equally rough conversation about raising the debt ceiling in late February/early March.
• Sequester: The bill delays the cuts of the sequester by two months (to March 1).  The House and Senate create a new deadline over spending cuts that coincides with the above mentioned debt ceiling discussion.
• Tax Code and Mandatory Entitlement Spending: The fiscal cliff deal didn’t address any of the nation’s long-term fiscal issues, including tax code and mandatory program reform.
• Annual Appropriations Process: Congress has yet to conclude its annual work for federal funding in FY13, which started October 1 (Not that its any comfort, but Congress very rarely finishes its appropriations work on time, instead relying on continuing resolutions). The current CR for FY13 expires March 27, meaning Congress will have to pass another CR (or finish the appropriations bills!) to avoid a federal government shutdown.
• Keep in mind, Congress will technically start their work on FY14 (starting Oct 1, 2013) in February, when President Obama releases his budget proposal.

Take Home Pay to Decrease

While the tax package that Congress passed New Year’s Day will protect 99 percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of them will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.

The reason being is that the legislation did nothing to prevent a temporary reduction in the Social Security payroll tax from expiring. In 2012, that 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax was worth about $1,000 to a worker making $50,000 a year.

The Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan Washington research group, estimates that 77 percent of American households will face higher federal taxes in 2013 under the agreement negotiated between President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans. High-income families will feel the biggest tax increases, but many middle- and low-income families will pay higher taxes too.

Households making between $40,000 and $50,000 will face an average tax increase of $579 in 2013, according to the Tax Policy Center’s analysis. Households making between $50,000 and $75,000 will face an average tax increase of $822.

Crenshaw County Public School employees can expect an additional 2% in social security to be withheld in January.