System Has New App

SchoolCast for Me is an app that is afforded to us by High Ground Solutions, the company which conducts our automated calling system.  This will give the public quick and easy access to school and system information.  Be the first to download the new app on your Apple or Android device, go to High Ground Solutions, select SchoolCast for Me and install.  Once it is located on your device, select Crenshaw County.  The site is under construction but will be fully operational in the near future.  

Career Coach Coming Soon

Crenshaw County, Opp City and Andalusia City have been awarded a Career Coach of which to share.  Crenshaw County is the fiscal agent. Qualifications and duties will be shared at the Board's Work Session on July 8.   

Revision to Testing Program and Testing Dates

1. The number of days (window) needed for testing ACT Aspire, which is replacing the ARMT+, has been extended to four weeks.
2. The ALSDE is reverting back to the original name for the Alabama Science Assessment (ASA) administered in Grades 5 and 7.  This is not a new science assessment, but is a change in name.
3. The ACT will be administered to all 11^th graders in 2013-2014.  However, writing will not be a part of the assessment as originally announced.
4. Implementations of some Quality Core End-of-the-Course assessments have been delayed.  Only English 10 and Algebra I will be administered in 2013-2014.

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse (HB301)

This bill clarifies existing law and emphasizes the fact that school employees, teachers, and officials at both public and private K-12 schools are required to report suspectof child abuse.  The law also establishes that if any public or private employer disciplines or penalizes an employee for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and may receive a maximum jail time of up to three months.

The Alabama Accountability Act (AAA)

More than 70 schools were noted as “persistently low-performing” (failing schools- though after looking at the data, I refuse to use this term (i.e. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School: percent Level 3 and 4 in 2007- 53% and 2012- 87%)).  Poverty is a common thread and most are middle schools.

Statewide, it is doubtful that there will be a large number of students who will transfer, in part, due to the following:

• A qualifying private school must afford scholarships based on definitions as established by the Department of Revenue.
• Tax credits for transferring students will be afforded in 2014, not 2013.
• In the least, transferring students must participate in either the state testing system or some comparable assessment.  The cohort of transferring students’ test data must be reported to the Alabama Department of Revenue.

The cost impact of this law on the Education Trust Fund (ETF) is still undetermined though the FY 14 budget withholds $28 million for tax credits and $25 million for scholarships.

State Receives Waiver

Recently, Alabama's request for a waiver from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was granted.  The waived components (no longer apply) of No Child Left Behind Act are:

• 100% proficiency in English Language Arts and mathematics by 2013-2014.
• AYP
• Schools and systems identified for improvement, corrective action and restructuring, except 116 (b) (13).
• Note:  Section 1116 (b)(13), which requires a school to permit a child who has transferred to remain in the choice school through the highest grade in the school, was not waived.
• 20% set asides for school choice and SES
• 10% reserved for professional development

Plan 2020 is our new accountability plan.  In the near future, a list of priority schools (~50 schools) and focus schools (~100 schools) will be finalized and released.  This may or may not include schools identified by the AAA as persistently low performing (criteria differs). For more information, click here.

WAKA Reports on Security Efforts

WAKA news recently visited Crenshaw County to report on our addition of 105 security cameras and rekeying project.  Here is the link to the article: Security Improvements.

Thanks to WAKA News and reporter Catalina Trevino for the positive news.

One small correction:  There will be no cameras added to the elementary classrooms.

LHS Mallory Jones Win DYW

Congratulations to Mallory Jones of Luverne School.  She was named  the 2014 Distinguished Young Woman for  Crenshaw County this past Saturday night. 

FFA Correction

After scores were posted and after the convention ended, a calculation error was found which impacted all 42 students and 11 teams who competed in the state FFA livestock judging competition.  All “oral reasons” scores had been recorded, but not calculated in the overall scores.  When this error was corrected, it changed placings.  Brantley FFA placed third which means they will not attend nationals this year.  We applaud the students' response to this error and know that they have laid the groundwork for future success.  Know that there was only a 5 point spread among the top 3 teams with a 49 point drop between 3^rd and 4^th place.  Below are the final, corrected standings.  

Team (11 teams total)

Hartselle             1489

Holly Pond         1488

Brantley              1484

JB Pennington    1435

Individual (42 competitors)

Cassidy Catrett                  4^th Overall

Cameron Catrett                6^th Overall

Brian Compton                 14^th Overall

Matthew Hudson had the highest score of all of our team members on the written test with 44/50.

Graduation Rate Among the State's Best

PRESS RELEASE

Date:   June 17, 2013

To:       Citizens of Crenshaw County

cc:        Members of the Crenshaw County Board Of Education

From:   William R. Wilkes, Superintendent

Re:       Crenshaw County School’s Graduation Rate

On behalf of the Crenshaw County Board of Education, I would like to congratulate the system for achieving a high rate of graduation.  Alabama’s new graduation rate is based on the percentage of first-time entries into the 9^th grade that finished high school with a diploma within a 4-year period.  This year’s graduation rate is based on those students who exited our system in May of 2012.  Listed below is each school’s, the system’s and the state’s graduation rate.

·      Brantley School-                    93%

·      Highland Home School-        80%

·      Luverne School-                    95%

·      Crenshaw County-                 90%

o   State Rank: Tied for 8^th Best Score

o   State Rank: Top 13%

o   State Rank: 2^nd Highest Ranking County School System

·      State of Alabama-                  75%

Superintendent Wilkes attributes the aforementioned success to, but does not limit it to, the following:

·      Students’ desire to learn

·      Supportive parents

·      Caring teachers, administrators and supervisors who seek various means to actively engage students in the learning process

·      Skillful tutors

·      Effective counselors

·      Helpful Board

·      Knowledgeable past and present leadership

·      Creative and diverse scheduling

·      Implementation of a productive drop out prevention programs such as Jobs for Alabama Graduates (JAG)

·      Utilization of State funds such as Children's First, At-Risk, and High Hopes

All of the aforementioned components must work cooperatively and collaboratively and best practices must implemented appropriately and timely to ensure that all students are prepared for life.  Crenshaw County Schools will not be content until every student graduates.

Graduation Rate By System-  Top 13 %
Crenshaw County	90%
Oxford City	90%
Geneva City	91%
Homewood City	91%
Hoover City	91%
Madison City	91%
Roanoke City	91%
Fort Payne City	92%
Arab City	93%
Cullman City	93%
Trussville City	93%
Coffee County	94%
Boaz City	94%
Muscle Shoals City	94%
Piedmont City	94%
Oneonta City	96%
Vestavia Hills City	97%
Mountain Brook City	98%