BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County juniors will take the SAT instead of the ACT this school year after the contract under which the state paid for the ACT expired, Chief Academic Officer Patricia Williams told the Board of Education in a special meeting Oct. 13 at the central office. The BOE also approved the district police policy and procedures handbook and heard updates on upcoming assessment scores, student technology clubs and new grants.
“Most of our kids never take the SAT unless there’s a scholarship that they’re trying to apply for that requires it,” Williams said. “Dr. [Michelle] Harless [Martin County High School principal] has set aside funds to get prep books for the students to help them prepare for that.”
Williams noted that seniors will still have the opportunity to retake the ACT in November, thanks to a grant that Dr. Harless secured.
Board member Steven Gauze asked if not taking the ACT would affect students’ acceptance by colleges.
Williams said it would not.
“Most of the colleges, they will take the SAT scores,” she said. “Dr. Harless and I have already talked. If there is a kid who we know is going to go to college and they need that ACT score, we’re going to try to set aside funding to help those kids. And if they are free and reduced lunch, they can get the ACT paid for additionally anyway. Hopefully, we’ll definitely take care of those kids so that they still get that. It is a big change, though, because everything we’ve done at the high school level has been focused around the ACT.”
Williams said the SAT is just reading and math, but students receive a science score based on the reading passages.
Board Chairman Mickey McCoy asked what steps the school would take to get students ready.
According to Williams, students during their flex time are using Khan Academy, a free SAT prep program. She also said that Dr. Harless is purchasing paper prep books.
In November, Williams, Dr. Harless and counselors are going to a training in Ashland.
“The first training is not offered until then for assessment coordinators,” said Williams. “CJ Rosensteel and some other teachers, we’re going to have them go to some training as well.”
Williams said the SAT will take place during a six-week window from March 2 through April 10.
“I think we can pick any date, from what I’ve read, during that window,” she said.
Police handbook
Superintendent Larry James told board members that the district’s attorney had reviewed the police policy and procedures handbook included in their meeting packets.
“He said everything looks good,” James said. “This is their bible. I recommend we approve it.”
The board voted unanimously to approve the handbook.
Assessments update
Williams also gave an update on assessment scores.
“I just want to give a few updates on where we are with assessment scores and just the changes,” she said. “Our assessment scores are being released later this year. We’re hoping Oct. 23 we as a district will be able to see where we are at all the schools. Then from there it would not be released to the public until sometime in November.
“Right now we still don’t even have our science scores from last year. So hopefully Oct. 23 will be a big day. We will have all of our principals and counselors come here to the board office because they’re all emailed to me. Mr. James and I will meet with each school and go over those.”
Superintendent James asked, “We won’t know what color we are, right?”
“Dr. Fletcher was saying he didn’t know for sure if we would have our color,” said Williams. “I’ve read other things that we will, but I feel like Dr. Fletcher should know if we are or not.”
McCoy commented that he likes the colors green and yellow.
“I do, too,” said Williams. “I love green.”
“Blue—we really want blue,” said James.
Williams also said the accountability system would change within a couple of years.
“Right now we don’t know what that is going to look like,” she said.
Williams added that she and the principals would attend training the following day in Ashland.
“Hopefully we will find out more details and we’ll go from there,” she said. “We have to start the planning process for that.”
Technology clubs
Williams announced that she and district technology coordinator Roscoe Mullins had discussed student technology clubs for the past couple of years.
“Some other districts around us are doing that,” Williams said, adding that Justin Maynard will lead a club at Eden Elementary.
Mullins, also in attendance, said he had not heard anything from the high school, but the middle school has shown interest.
Williams explained that the clubs would compete at the district, regional and possibly state levels.
“We’re hoping this provides a new opportunity for all of our kids,” she added. “So we’re excited about that.”
Grants
Superintendent James announced two recent grants. One is a Rural Impact grant of $100,000 for Martin County High School. Another is the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Elevate grant.
“We used to have it a long time ago,” James said of the GEAR UP grant. “I’ll find out for sure tomorrow evening. I have a ZOOM about it. That’s going to be two positions that they will pay for.”
Lorna Cassady asked if the two positions would be teaching.
“No,” said James. “It’s not teaching. The grant is to help kids transition to college and trade schools. It’s more for 6th and 7th grades. They start students off young and work with them all the way through.”
Financials
In other business, the board approved warrants of $657,582, which includes $287,992 in items paid outside the board. The BOE also approved Orders of the Treasurer for Oct. 13 totaling $988,837.