Large crowd turns out to support keeping Clays Mill Elementary School open | Education

Large crowd turns out to support keeping Clays Mill Elementary School open | Education






Clays Mill

Halifax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Lineburg addresses the public at Clays Mill Elementary School on Tuesday on the possible consolidation of schools.




Close to 100 individuals including Clays Mill Elementary school staff, students, parents and community members filled the gymnasium of the Clays Mill Elementary School Tuesday evening to show their support in keeping the school open at a public hearing on the possible consolidation of elementary schools.

This was the third public hearing in a series of five where school board members and Halifax County Public School Superintendent Dr. Mark Lineburg are given a chance to hear the public’s concerns and questions on the possible consolidation of schools.

The school system plans to answer questions via email following the end of the public hearings.

“We make great things happen at Clays Mill,” said Clays Mill principal David Duffer as he opened the floor for the superintendent to speak to the audience.

Lineburg began his remarks saying, “I love Clays Mill Elementary School.”

He went on to state the challenges that HCPS face in its elementary schools is that 51{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf} of the elementary schools’ 4,259 seats are empty, and enrollment is on a steady decline.

At Clays Mill alone 69{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf} of the 508 available seats are empty.

“We have lost 500 kids in the last seven years, which is equivalent to losing two schools. Enrollment is declining because of the declining population in Halifax County,” said Lineburg.

He added, “It’s visible you have space in all of our smaller schools, but I want to remind you we don’t have all the answers.”

According to Lineburg, Clays Mill Elementary School needs “significant future facility needs” such as an updated parking lot, an HVAC system, window replacement and an electrical and plumbing upgrade.

Following Lineburg’s presentation, 16 Clays Mill students took the podium to fight for their school telling the school board, “We love Clays Mill,” “Don’t close Clays Mill,” and “We love the teachers and Mr. Duffer.”






Clays Mill

Matt Gunn speaks in support of keeping Clays Mill Elementary open during a public hearing on Tuesday on the possible consolidation of schools.




One of the first adults to take the stand was Matt Gunn, who said he has had a child at Clays Mill since 2001 and has been on so many field trips he has begun guiding tours.

“This school has teachers from all over, one who travels from the east side of Clarksville every day and it is certainly not for the paycheck, it is the atmosphere here, the passion they have for the student’s education,” said Gunn.

He added, “The faculty and staff here are nothing short of excellent, they’re the best. We have a phenomenal principal in Mr. Duffer who cares just deeply about the students. This is the cleanest school in the entire school system, and it wasn’t cleaned today because you were coming, it is like this every day.”

Gunn said community schools were the way “we were brought up and it’s the way of life around here.”

Many of the students named all of their teachers, name by name and expressed how great of a job they do in the classroom.

Clays Mill is one of three schools the school board has been considering closing. Also up for consideration for closure are Meadville Elementary and Sinai Elementary. The school system currently has seven.

In proposals to the school board, a seven elementary school model would cost $45,773,534 for future facility costs, a six-school model would cost $44,066,508 in future facilities costs but would save $19,596,000 over 30 years and a five-school model would cost $43,727,436 and would save $44,610,000 over 30 years.






Clays Mill

Nakelia Ross challenges the Halifax County School Board and Halifax County Board of Supervisors to think of the students during a Tuesday public hearing on the possible consolidation of schools at Clays Mill Elementary.




“Who’s thinking about today rather than 30 years from now, at what point, and time will we focus on now instead of 30 years from now,” said Nakelia Ross, another speaker of the public hearing.

“I challenge the school board to challenge the board of supervisors and say our kids matter,” she added.

After she spoke, audience members and chairwoman Kathy Fraley and ED-7 school board member Keith McDowell even rose to their feet to applaud her.






Clays Mill

Jessica Trent, a mother of a student at Clays Mill Elementary, takes the podium during a public hearing of the possible consolidation of schools at Clays Mill Elementary on Tuesday.




Jessica Trent, a mother of a student who attends Clays Mill, also said, “I keep seeing numbers and numbers, but our children aren’t numbers, stop worrying about money and worry about our children.”

Many of the teachers at Clays Mill Elementary spoke out as well.






Clays Mill

Natalie Long, a third-grade teacher at Clays Mill Elementary, addresses the school board in a public hearing at Clays Mill Elementary on Tuesday.




“I truly love this position and my students. Elementary schools build our counties academic foundation, and 20 to 25 students in a classroom is frankly too much,” said Natalie Long, a third-grade teacher at Clays Mill.

She added, “My son and I feel like we have found our forever home. The faculty and staff feel like a second family here.”

Long said research says small group instruction drives academic success.






Clays Mill

Vickie Powell, a longtime teacher at Clays Mill Elementary who travels to work from Clarksville addresses Halifax County School Board on Tuesday at the public hearing on the possible consolidation of elementary schools.




“This is my 29th year in Halifax. I live in Clarksville and drive 80 miles a day because I want to be here. I just employ you to see the children not dollar signs. If y’all close this school you’re not only hurting us you’re hurting this county,” said Vickie Powell, a longtime teacher at Clays Mill.






Clays Mill

ED-2 supervisor Jeff Francisco speaks during Tuesday’s public hearing of the possible consolidation of schools at Clays Mill Elementary School.




As the public hearing began to wrap up and many members of the crowd began to disburse because of the length of the meeting, ED-2 county supervisor Jeff Francisco took the podium.

“To say that the board of supervisors doesn’t believe in our schools is incorrect. Since I’ve been on it, it’s been number one,” said Francisco.

He added, “Do we want to close any schools? No. We do not want to close any schools, but another option is raising taxes. What I am hearing tonight is that people want to keep Clays Mill open. In order to equal the $2.3 million (in savings) it means a real estate tax increase of seven to eight cents.”

Francisco also made sure to praise smaller schools such as Clays Mill.

“A lot of kids out of district are coming here because this is a great school. They have a great principal, have great teachers and have great instruction. I truly believe that small schools like Clays Mill don’t only teach kids well, it helps in discipline, and it changes the kids’ lives because they have the personal attention here,” Francisco concluded.

Clays Mill Elementary School is ranked 126 out of more than 1,100 schools in the state and is in the top 30{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf}, according to US News and World reports.

Another public hearing on the possible consolidation of local elementary schools was held Thursday at Scottsburg Elementary School.

The final hearing will be held the following Thursday, on Oct. 28, at Meadville Elementary School at 6:30 p.m.

Home schoolers struggle to join public school athletics

Home schoolers struggle to join public school athletics

CHERRY VALLEY — Melissa Hillman doesn’t deliver up college when she goes to engage in hockey at Carlson Ice Arena.

But someone else invariably does.

And then it takes place.

“You get the property-school eye roll,” Melissa said. “People assume you are bizarre.”

Even worse is the general public faculty stiff arm.

Substantial faculty tennis:Major 11 women tennis players in the Rockford area dominated by sisters

The Illinois Large Faculty Association leaves it up to just about every college no matter if they want to let house-schoolers to enjoy large college athletics for their groups, but only a tiny minority of colleges in the Rockford spot — or about the point out — will acknowledge them.

“Home-college athletes are, at some stage, an irritant to our public educational institutions,” Marty Hickman, then the government director of the IHSA, instructed the Register Star in a 2005 tale about how point out champion wrestler, Dean’s Record scholar and achieved musician Caleb Walk experienced issues finding a way to participate for his dwelling-town university right after Christian Lifetime, then the only area faculty that recognized property-schoolers, dropped wrestling.

A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School principal resigns due to tweets

A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School principal resigns due to tweets
A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School principal resigns due to tweets

Greenville County Educational institutions declared Tuesday early morning the principal of A.J. Whittenberg Elementary University of Engineering has resigned.

Preston Spratt was put on administrative go away pending the end result of an inner investigation on Sept. 23 owing to issues similar to a sequence of tweets composed in 2012 and 2013, in accordance to the Greenville County Educational institutions information release.

“My perform in education and learning is centered on improving upon pupil results, producing neighborhood partnerships and my never-ending perception that all pupils will realize success when we supply them with excellent academics,” claimed Spratt in the information launch. “I deeply regret authoring the tweets and enjoy the chances I have experienced at A.J. Whittenberg. I seem forward to continuing my mission in a new environment.”

Greenville County Colleges:A.J. Whittenberg principal placed on administrative depart

The Recorder – Gill-Montague School Committee OKs elementary school improvement plans

The Recorder – Gill-Montague School Committee OKs elementary school improvement plans

MONTAGUE — The Gill-Montague Regional Faculty District School Committee has approved a collection of advancement options that will guide elementary education and learning as a result of the 2021 to 2022 university year.

The principals at Hillcrest Elementary University, Sheffield Elementary School and Gill Elementary College all drafted options for their respective colleges, which ended up offered to the University Committee by a slideshow on Tuesday. The aims of all 3 strategies centre all around pupil advancement, inclusion and tutorial engagement, and each and every goal is accompanied by techniques to realize them.

Hillcrest Elementary

Hillcrest Elementary School’s approach is divided into 4 most important sections: engagement, development and achievement, grade-proper instruction, and inclusion and fairness.

The engagement objective represents an energy to “welcome and have interaction families as lively associates to guidance the tutorial and social-psychological advancement of all learners.” Initiatives include things like individualized classroom orientation sessions for preschool and kindergarten households, open up home slideshows and participation in the StoryWalk lively looking at plan, whereby family members get a stroll although reading pages of a children’s guide shown on indicators alongside the walking route.

The advancement and achievement goal involves checking “the influence of instruction on university student studying.” Initiatives contain meetings to evaluate scholar literacy info, grade-amount curriculum educator conferences and preschool educator meetings to explore models of research.

Initiatives to accomplish the grade-acceptable instruction purpose involve progress of a preschool literacy strategy and collaborations with therapists.

Lastly, to achieve an “inclusive and equitable college environment,” university initiatives include participation in three equity workshops, diversification of e-book offerings and administration of a university local climate study.

Sheffield Elementary

Sheffield Elementary School’s strategy is divided into five principal sections.

The 1st target entails supporting students’ social-psychological enhancement. Teachers will produce a slideshow to introduce classroom anticipations and support methods. They will also host a StoryWalk on school grounds.

The next target is to “welcome and interact people as lively companions in their studying.” Just about every quality will associate with a nearby business to endorse a popular community task, as very well as host bi-weekly enrichment actions.

The third intention is to “monitor the impression of instruction on scholar learning.” Literacy conferences will be held 3 times during the year and educators will maintain quality-particular curriculum meetings.

To deliver grade-suitable instruction, the school will maintain workers meetings and use “scaffolding techniques” that deliver included guidance to immediate university student studying.

The fifth objective is to build an “inclusive and equitable school environment.” Team will fulfill to speak about race and endorse varied literature.

Gill Elementary

Gill Elementary School’s prepare includes four objectives.

The 1st target is to “monitor the effect of instruction on university student discovering.” Initiatives entail literacy facts conferences, curriculum meetings and social-psychological methods.

To meet the second target of making an “inclusive and equitable faculty setting,” there will be three race-linked professional improvement workshops, a diverse e-book selection and a college local weather study.

The 3rd goal is to “welcome and have interaction pupils as lively associates in their studying.” This involves exhibiting scholar perform on a bulletin board, participating with the 100 Mile Club bodily action challenge and encouraging contribution to the university publication.

The fourth goal is to “welcome and have interaction family members as active companions in their learning.” There will be introductory slideshows to introduce people to classroom anticipations, regular monthly total-college meets that invite families and a StoryWalk.

Arrive at Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or [email protected].

Game-based learning in school libraries

Game-based learning in school libraries

CHICAGO — “Taking part in Games in the Faculty Library: Producing Game-Based Classes and Using Gamification Concepts,” revealed by Aspect Publishing and accessible through the ALA Retailer, is a in depth useful resource for these hunting to check out the use of sport-dependent finding out and gamification. Supplying visitors a suggests of participating with length discovering, as well as supplying a additional tough ecosystem inside their actual physical house, this e book will equip them with both equally a useful and theoretical rationale for including the match-dependent technique in their do the job when supporting their school’s aims and objectives.

Writer Sarah Pavey starts by implementing popular learning theories, in individual the use of games to nurture natural curiosity, dilemma fixing and creativity. Her e book then seems at the influence of playful understanding on unique college students and groups. Inspiration, engagement, and the improvement of self-esteem are explored together with social competencies this sort of as staff functioning, oracy, interaction, motor techniques, and emotional intelligence. Different chapters outline the useful use of different sorts of online games such as electronic, mixed media, bodily and lively learning, and live games, talking about the strengths and shortcomings of just about every inside a instructing and discovering context. Ultimately, consideration is specified to how sport-centered understanding and gamification can be employed to promote library methods and services for affect and how collaboration with issue instructors, senior management teams, and the broader local community, which includes mom and dad, can be beneficial.

Pavey has labored as a faculty librarian for in excess of 20 many years and is founder of education training firm and consultancy SP4IL. She retains degrees in biochemistry and information science and is an proven writer and typical speaker at conferences for school libraries as effectively as broader instruction challenges. She is a Fellow of CILIP and the Royal Culture of Arts and works with the Digital System for Grownup Discovering in Europe (EPALE) in the area of grownup education. Her teaching courses, each property and abroad, on a array of subject areas including playful finding out, are useful and acclaimed for being rooted in concept.

Side Publishing, the commercial publishing and bookselling arm of CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Info Pros, is the major publisher of guides for library and facts experts around the globe. Several book retailers and distributors are going through assistance disruptions or delays, including Amazon. For speediest services, buy direct from the ALA Shop. ALA Shop purchases fund advocacy, consciousness and accreditation applications for library and facts experts throughout the world. ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman publishes assets applied by library and facts specialists, scholars, students, and educators to enhance applications and products and services, establish on finest practices, enhance pedagogy, share research, acquire management, and boost advocacy. ALA authors and builders are leaders in their fields, and their articles is posted in a wide range of print and digital formats. Speak to ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman at [email protected].

New Uses Coming to Old Aberdeen Elementary School | News

New Uses Coming to Old Aberdeen Elementary School | News

Aberdeen leaders hope to turn the previous elementary school campus on U.S. 1 into a group hub for recreation and stay entertainment.

The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners voted to get the 15-acre house during a specific assembly Wednesday for $900,000. The sale and rate was accredited the previous night time in a 6-1 vote by the Moore County Board of Education, with board member David Hensley casting the only vote in opposition to the sale.

Paul Sabiston, supervisor of Aberdeen, reported the school’s gymnasium and auditorium, both equally of which need renovation, will be useful facilities for the city.

“We really do not have a gym in Aberdeen at all that we regulate,” he reported. “And the auditorium is just a jewel and a attractive facility. It is bought good seating capacity and which is a thing that we hope to hold on to.”

Sabiston said the auditorium could serve as a venue for live shows and live theater. The town hopes to find a team that is eager to deal with and plan gatherings at the facility, he mentioned.

Parts of the remaining campus will be sold to create a tiny-density, blended-use progress on the property, according to Sabiston.

“We’d like to associate with the suitable developer to either re-do or renovate some of the properties on the school web page that could have some type of restaurant or business office use on the ground ground with a household, condominium-model set up earlier mentioned it,” he said. “We’re not on the lookout for a venture that would cram a ton of residences on the assets or just about anything like that. If we manage the website, we can form of gauge the growth there, which we consider will be very good for most people.”

Moore County Educational institutions virtually marketed the campus for $1.5 million very last calendar year, but that consumer broke off the sale, citing unanticipated expenses in producing the internet site as properly as roadblocks in the approval approach. As authorised, the sale contract does not entitle the school procedure to a appropriate of first refusal for any of the 4 smaller parcels that the town resells.

“The condition that’s one of a kind is that the town’s plan for the site does demand further progress and is not specific to any community faculty use,” explained John Birath, director of operations for Moore County Educational institutions, throughout Tuesday’s assembly of the board of education. “This possibility that the college board would fundamentally block a resale of a portion of the web site to a developer was identified as problematic by the town.”

He extra: “We do continue on to believe that that the odds of us needing or seeking the residence back again, or a part of the surplus sale of the web page, are incredibly small.”

Having said that, the school method does stand to reward as a result of a profit-sharing mechanism devised by authorized reps for the district and the town.

The deal incorporates a provision that a part of the town’s earnings from selling any portion of the property over the next 15 decades will go to Moore County Universities. Both the town and the college board have agreed to use the tax worth of the 4 scaled-down parcels as the foundation for defining that amount of profit.

“If people tax values are everywhere near what the town may well get, our portion of that would be incredible,” Superintendent Bob Grimesey stated.

The proportion of any resulting income that would revert to the faculty method starts off at 100 p.c, according to the get in touch with. That proportion will shift much more greatly towards the town over the subsequent 15 a long time.

“In the circumstance of the Aberdeen Elementary Faculty, I imagine that this is heading to be the ideal example of reasonable market place price that the board is heading to get for that house, except there is some extremely different solution that is employed,” Grimesey said.