By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Lula Ball

East Marion Primary third grade teacher Lula Ball sat on a bench at the school playground today supervising the children for one of the last times.

Ball and 15 other local teachers are retiring at the end of the school year after putting in decades of service educating children. Twelve teachers are retiring from the Marion County School District, three from the Columbia School District and one from Columbia Academy.

“I’m just excited about being at home and not working,” said Ball, who has been a teacher 32 years. However there will be things Ball will miss, like watching children learn to read or seeing a math concept “click” in a student’s mind.

“I haven’t closed the door to teaching,” said Ball, adding that she may do some tutoring.

Ruth Robbins

Sandy Buckley

The key to being a good teacher is giving the students “everything you’ve got,” she said. “Where would society be without teachers?”

As for the state of Mississippi always being ridiculed as having the worst education, Ball retorted, “I think that’s a sad and unfair thing to say about us. I think we’ve really come a long ways.”

Ruth Robbins has taught for over 33 years and is currently the librarian at West Marion Elementary. “I’m ready to go home,” said Robbins, with a laugh. However, she also hopes to continue educating children by opening a Bible-based home school. “I’m not through with kids,” she said. “My whole life is involved with children.”

Looking back on her career, Robbins said, “It’s just been a great ride. I’m ready to start a new era in my life. Teachers are “people who willingly give of their time to improve a student’s education, intelligence

Cheryl Pounds

Sherry Buckley

and attitude toward the world,” said Robbins.

West Marion High School world history teacher Cheryl Pounds, who has taught 30 years, said her goal was to make the subject come alive for her students. She still has former students approach her who say they remember things she taught them. Some of her fellow teachers in the school district used to be her students.

Through the years, education has changed and now there is a lot of emphasis placed on state testing, Pounds said. Parent involvement in the schools is not as strong as it used to be either, she added. In her retirement Pounds plans to take a European cruise to many of the places she taught her students about like Rome, Athens, Turkey and France.

West Marion High School health teacher Topeneka Bridges has taught more than 26 years,

Topeneka Bridges

Gus Maily

and she says her legacy will continue to live on. “To be a teacher is to touch a life forever,” she said. “No matter what you do in life, you have to have a teacher. If you don’t have an education, you’re not going to succeed.” 

Seeing her former students succeed in life is her favorite part about being a teacher, said Bridges, who will continue driving a school bus in the district.

Teaching for the past 33 years has been a “wonderful journey,” said Deborah Jones, who is also an East Marion Primary teacher. She has enjoyed inspiring the children over the years and watching them develop successful lives. “You just have to have a heart for it,” Jones said of the teaching profession.

Deborah Jones

Carolyn Lott

Teachers must look at children individually and find out what makes their unique personalities tick, Jones added.

Another East Marion Primary teacher, Angela Ball, is also retiring after 30 years, and she will miss challenging the children and encouraging them to set goals. She loved teaching children to read and “see the light bulb come on” in their heads. Ball said her career has been “very enjoyable” but she is ready to garden, take canoe rides and ride four-wheelers.

East Marion Middle school teacher Lydia Echols said the Lord told her it was time to retire after 32 years. Echols teaches special education, which she says has allowed her to get close to her students through the years. Teachers must have patience, follow through and stick with the students though the tough times, she said. “You can’t sweat the small things,” she said. Now that she is retiring Echols plans to care for her 93-year-old mother and clean house.

Angela Ball

Dyan Martin

Sherry Buckley, a special education teacher at Jefferson Middle School who is retiring after 28 years, looks forward to new challenges and spending time with grandchildren. Buckley feels she has touched the lives of many children and said the Columbia School District has been very supportive of special needs students. Looking back on her career, she said, “I would not have wanted to do anything else.”

Columbia Academy sixth grade teacher Carolyn Lott is retiring after more than 38 years in education. She has worked in school districts across Marion County, including Improve Academy. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher,” she said, adding that she is motivated by making a difference in a child’s life. “I think God gives us all a gift, and I think that’s what he gave me (the ability to teach). I don’t think I could have done anything else.”

Lydia Echols

If there was only one student each year that benefitted from her teaching that was enough to make it all worthwhile for Columbia High School English teacher Dyan Martin. Martin, who is retiring after a 29-year career, recalls one of her students who was autistic and had a breakthrough in class one day and talked. Now that she is retiring, Martin plans to stay busy writing a children’s book with her grandchildren, praying, learning Spanish and sculpting.

West Marion Elementary fourth grade teacher Shirley McKenzie started teaching in 1971 and has taught children of former students. Throughout the years, new rules and regulations from Jackson and Washington, D.C. have changed the face of education, McKenzie said. All of the governmental laws, have taken control of the classrooms away from the teachers, McKenzie noted.

Shirley McKenzie

McKenzie hopes to continue teaching after retirement by doing homebound education for children with disabilities or behavioral problems. Ever since she was a child she knew she wanted to be teacher as she used to play school, and her mom was an educator.

Columbia Primary School gifted teacher Gus Maily said he originally got into teaching because his mom told him it was a job with three months guaranteed off each summer. Over 31years, the teaching profession has grown into much more for Maily, who said he feels he has learned just as much, if not more, from the students. The moments that stood out to him the most were when his students participated in the annual musical, and he would see shy children express themselves on stage.

East Marion Primary second grade teacher Sandy Buckley said retiring is “bitter sweet,” because she will miss the children, and the faculty is like family.  She will remember the good things like former students who have graduated college.

If it had not been for Achilles tendonitis in her left foot that keeps her from walking well, East Marion Primary special education teacher Mary Cook may have gone another year. But more than 30 years is a strong run, and, “It was very interesting and very rewarding working with the children and seeing their eyes light up. It’s just fun,” she said.

Mary Nell Cook

She recalls one student who would want to sit in her lap for 10 minutes every morning. The child was in kindergarten, which Cook says is a fun age to teach, because the children are still innocent, loving and don’t have an attitude. Cook said being a teacher is a calling because no one would go into it for the money. A love of children is required to be a good teacher, she said, adding she was inspired to go into the field by her home economics teacher.

West Marion High School teacher Rita Armstrong and West Marion Elementary School teacher Beth Newsome are also retiring but could not be reached for comment.

Local students in grades 3-8 take the Mississippi Curriculum Test II this week.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Across Mississippi, students in grades 3-8 began taking their state tests today.

The exam, called the Mississippi Curriculum Test II, gauges student performance in math and language arts. There are two sections to the language arts portion of the test—reading and writing. Students will conclude their state tests on Thursday, but scores won’t be available until this summer.

Cathy Creel, who is the Columbia School District’s director of testing, said measures have been put in place over the past year to improve last year’s scores. For instance, she said 10 weeks of after-school tutoring were offered to primary and elementary school students to help them in deficient areas.

District assessments, which are designed to resemble the state tests, were administered to the students every nine weeks to identify areas where more instruction was needed. “Remediation and enrichment” were offered to students to get their test scores to grade level, Creel said, adding that staff has worked hard to prepare the students for the tests.

Will Russell, director of academic education for the Marion County School District, admitted that student scores in his district fell below the state average in most areas last year. However, this year Russell said, “Our goal is to meet or exceed the state average.”

“We don’t want students to just pass the test,” said Russell, noting that he wants scores in the “proficient and advanced” range.

Several measures have been put in place to improve scores over last year.

Russell anticipates seeing an “across-the-board” improvement in test scores. Several strategies have been put in place to increase scores including before and after school tutoring and “pacing guides” that help students learn test objectives in a certain time frame.

And, like the Columbia School District, the Marion County School District has also administered district assessments to students throughout the year. The pacing guides and district assessments were actually implemented last year, but Russell said that was a “trial and error” period. Teachers now have a better understanding of how to use the methods to improve test scores. Technology integrated into the classroom has also helped the students become more engaged, Russell added.

It was not all bad news for the Marion County School District in state tests last year as East Marion fourth grade students scored above the state average in math.

But West Marion Primary did not meet federal Adequate Yearly Progress requirements on the language arts portion of the Mississippi Curriculum Test II last year. If the school fails to meet the standards again, the state will implement a two-year school improvement plan to improve scores.

West Marion Primary did not make AYP in language arts last year because the school’s economically disadvantaged subgroup brought down scores. In order to meet AYP, a certain percentage of students must score in the proficient or advanced range. The No Child Left Behind Act requires that all students be proficient or advanced by 2014.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

The Marion County School Board tonight accepted the resignation of East Marion High School head football coach Randy Roberts.

Roberts, whose team made the second round of the playoffs last season, will continue to be a teacher in the District. He could not be reached for comment.

In other matters, the board approved a payment of $215,900 to T.L. Wallace Construction of Columbia for the new softball field at East Marion High School. It was mandated that the softball field be built because East Marion was not in compliance with federal Title 9 law, which requires that both genders have equal athletic facilities, said Will Russell, director of academic education.

Separately, Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry said he still does not have a clear idea on whether there will be any teacher layoffs in the School District. Fortenberry said he also does not know how many positions will be left vacant. He hopes to have a better idea at the next board meeting in two weeks in terms of what staffing cutbacks will be made.

The neighboring Columbia School District recently announced that 25 assistant teachers will be laid off, but Fortenberry has said he does not expect anything that dramatic in Marion County Schools.

In other matters, local high school students took their state tests last week, and school officials are hoping for improvement over last year’s scores. Test results will not be available until later this summer. Last year, high school students improved their performance on all areas of the state tests but still fell below the state average in most areas.

Last year, East Marion High School did not meet federal testing standards in math, and West Marion fell short in math and language arts. It marked the second year in a row that East Marion did not meet the federal testing goal, and therefore the school is now under a state-mandated improvement plan to raise scores.

High School students take the Subject Area Tests, which test students in algebra, U.S. history, biology and English. Students in grades 3-8 take their state tests, called the Mississippi Curriculum Test II, next week.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Marion County Schools Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry said he does not anticipate massive layoffs like the employee cuts announced last week within the Columbia School District.

“I don’t think we’ll have anything as drastic as Columbia,” Fortenberry told the Marion County Informer.

In fact, Fortenberry said the Marion County School District could avoid having anymore layoffs. The School District has already announced the layoff of East Marion Primary Principal Cheryl Gonzales.

Instead of layoffs, the Marion County School District may handle employee cuts through attrition. Several teachers are resigning or retiring, and those positions may be left vacant. Employees could also be furloughed.

Last week, Columbia School District Superintendent Dr. Marietta James announced that 25 assistant teachers would be laid ff as well as two school nurses because of state budget cuts.

Fortenberry said he hopes to have a clearer picture in the next several days as to how budget cuts will affect his School District. “Next week will be a telling time,” Fortenberry stated. “We’re still working on the budget.”

Columbia School District Superintendent Dr. Marietta James

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Twenty-seven Columbia School District employees, including assistant teachers and nurses, will be laid off because of state budget cuts, Superintendent Dr. Marietta James told the Marion County Informer this morning.

Of the layoffs, 25 will be teacher assistants, and the other two are school nurses.

“This has really been hard for everyone,” James said. “We’ve all shed tears.”

The layoffs will save the School District approximately $1 million, James said. Another $200,000 to $400,000 will be cut through furloughs and other budget reductions, she added.

James said all of the certified teacher positions in the District will be preserved.

This is the first round of budget reductions, and eventually every School District employee will be affected, James said. However, she does not anticipate any more layoffs. Other employees could be furloughed, but the details on how that would work are still unclear.

The layoffs will affect every school in the District. There are 30 assistant teachers at the Primary School, and 21 will be laid off while nine will keep their jobs. It will be left up to Primary School Principal Loren Monk which assistant teachers keep their jobs. That decision is expected to be made in the next couple of weeks, said James.

“We want to let people know as soon as they can so they can find other employment,” said James.

There will be no layoffs at Jefferson Middle School, but the eighth grade gifted program will be eliminated. The teacher of that program will be moved into another teacher vacancy.

At Columbia Elementary three teacher assistants will be laid off. And at Columbia High School there will be a reduction of three teachers, but that will be done through attrition by not filling positions vacated by retirements and resignations. At the High School, there will also be a reduction of three coaching staff through attrition, and a clerical position will be left unfilled.  One assistant teacher will be laid off at the High School.

Two school nurses serve the District, and they will be laid off, leaving no nurses in the entire District.

Personnel makes up 85 percent of the School District’s budget, leaving few other areas where cuts could be made. The employee layoffs take effect when the new fiscal year begins July 1.

James said she and the Columbia School Board have been working on the cuts since January. The Board provided “input, guidance and direction on this,” James noted.

In the 35 years James has worked in education this is the biggest employee cut she has seen. The employees who are being laid off were outstanding educators and are only losing their jobs because of the massive economic decline the country has experienced, she said.

This year the School District has experienced state budget cuts between 8.4 and 10 percent, and next year it is expected to be between 12-15 percent.

In addition, the School District will have to pay an additional $149,000 into the Public Employee Retirement System and $81,000 in employee raises. James said she does not receive a raise.

With the massive layoffs of employees in the District, James said she and the School Board have “tried to preserve the integrity of the classroom and serve the children.”

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Students with discipline problems who are not fit for the regular classroom will soon have a remodeled alternative school to attend.

At the Monday night Marion County School Board meeting, a bid of $181,000 was accepted to renovate an old industrial arts shop on the West Marion campus into the new alternative school. The current alternative school is in an old house at West Marion and is no longer suitable for learning, Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry said. The building does not meet codes, is cold in the winter, hot in the summer and is “not conducive to learning.”

New ceilings, floor tiles and bathrooms will be installed as part of the project. The building that will be transformed into the alternative school is currently an open shop area but will be portioned into classrooms and a computer lab. Students will also be able to obtain their GEDs in the facility. The project is being paid for with revenue from 16^th section land, which is property the School District leases for hunting, fishing and residential uses. Low bidder Nobles Construction of Hattiesburg will do the work on the project.

In other matters, the School Board advertised for bids to do renovations to East and West Marion K-12 schools. Federal stimulus funds will pay for this project, which will include fixing sagging ceilings and replacing asbestos flooring.

In other business, the board gave Fortenberry the go-ahead to apply for a federal School Improvement grant, which could provide the School District with between $50,000 and $2 million a year for three years. The purpose of the grant is to improve student performance on state tests by implementing certain strategies. A team of outside education professionals would also be brought in to assess the situation and recommend improvement measures. The grant is part of the federal stimulus package.

In other matters, the board heard a proposal from a company that wants to provide free dental care for students in the Marion County School District. Under the program, low-income students could receive dental care through the company, Barnes Family Dentistry of Hattiesburg. The company would collect payment from Medicaid and CHIP, said Chris Martin with the company. If a child has no insurance, the company would provide the services for no payment at all, the goal being to get children the dental care they need.

Marion County School District Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry shares a laugh with Teacher of the Year Leanne Bilbo after presenting her with a certificate.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Leanne Bilbo, who has been named the Marion County School District teacher of the year, said she works in education “to make a difference.”

“I hope to make the students feel better about themselves and do better in life,” Bilbo told the Marion County Informer after she was presented with the award tonight at the School Board meeting.

Bilbo said she loves teaching kindergarten at East Marion Primary. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” she said, adding she has worked there six years. Being named teacher of the year is “exciting,’ she said. “I was shocked and overwhelmed.”

Bilbo earned a degree in elementary education from USM and is now working on her master’s at William Carey. She is a hard worker, always eager to help and very conscientious, East

Renee Harper, left, was named parent of year. Standing beside her is East Marion Primary School Principal Cheryl Gonzales.

Jennifer Ponzo is assistant teacher of the year.

Marion Primary Principal Cheryl Gonzales said in her presentation at the School Board meeting. Bilbo was presented with a gift and a certificate, and she will be given a plaque.

Gonzales also announced the parent of the year and assistant teacher of the year. The assistant teacher of the year is Jennifer Ponzo, who has worked in the kindergarten at East Marion Primary for four years.

And the parent of the year award went to Renee and Harold Harper, whose grandson, Drake Spiers, is an East Marion Primary student. East Marion has been a big part of Renee Harper’s life for many years, with her mother being a teacher there for 38 years. “I love everyone at East Marion,” said Renee Harper.

“She has really been an inspiration to all of us,” Gonzales said of Harper.

Harper is always eager to help the children as well as plan parties and class activities. School Board President Bernard Nelson praised all the teachers and parents, saying, “Thanks to all our heroes for all you do.”

West Marion seventh grade English teacher Rita Armstrong is retiring at the end of the year, and she may not be replaced due to state budget cuts.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Student enrollment within the Marion County School District is not likely to change much next year, but there is expected to be fewer teachers.

Some of the teachers who are retiring and resigning within the Marion County School District this year will not be replaced because of budget woes, said Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry.

The Marion County Informer reported on Thursday that the Columbia School District may also not replace some of its teachers that are leaving.

As to whether the quality of education will decrease with fewer teachers, Fortenberry said, “Hopefully not; we have to balance academics with the budget. We’ve got to live within a budget and keep test scores up.”

Fortenberry anticipates that there will be fewer teachers at each school in the District next year. It is unclear how many teachers are leaving at the end of the year. It is better to leave a position unfilled rather than have to lay someone off, Fortenberry added.

It is normal for the School District to make adjustments in the number of teachers based on enrollment, but Fortenberry said enrollment is not expected to change.

In the next month, Fortenberry expects to have a better idea of what the budget situation is going to be and how many teacher positions will be left vacant.

Fortenberry does not foresee any more District employees being laid off like East Marion Primary School Principal Cheryl Gonzales. Gonzales’ position was eliminated earlier this year when the School District decided to do away with the Primary School and just have a K-6 elementary. Gonzales will complete the term of her contract through May.

Fortenberry said anytime an employee of the School District quits or retires, whether it is a janitor, cafeteria worker or secretary, those positions may be left vacant to save money.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

The Columbia School District may have six fewer teachers next year because of Mississippi’s poor economic condition.

At the end of this school year, two teachers in the Columbia School District are retiring and four are resigning, and those positions may be left vacant. Fewer teachers would save the School District money, but could result in a higher student-teacher ratio.

“Anytime you reduce the teaching staff, you consider the quality of service to children,” said Columbia School District Superintendent Dr. Marietta James.

The School District is waiting to see how the Legislature funds education, James said. “Everything is on hold right now until we know what the Legislature is going to appropriate,” James said.

It is up to the Columbia School Board to decide whether to fill the positions. The School District’s new fiscal year begins July 1, and James hopes to know whether the positions will be filled by the middle of May.

Two of the teachers leaving are from Columbia High School, two are from Jefferson Middle School, one is from Columbia Elementary and one is from the Primary School.

Marion County School District Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry could not be reached for comment on this story.

Two old school buses will be converted into "rolling libraries" for the Books on the Bus program.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 The Marion County School Board tonight voted to advertise for bids to convert two old school buses into “rolling libraries” for the new Books on the Bus program.

Under the program, the buses, equipped with Interent, books and tutors, will go into communities this summer, offering mobile learning labs for children in grades K-12. Students falling short in school will be targeted in the program, which is funded with federal stimulus funds.

Director of Academic Education for the School District Will Russell said it is unclear at this time how much the program will cost. There will be two buses, one for the east side of the county and one for the west side.

The buses will park in areas such as church parking lots to deliver the services. Russell said he plans to meet with various community leaders such as pastors to find out where the buses should be stationed.

At this point it is uncertain what the buses’ schedule will be, but Russell said he would like to work cooperatively with Pearl River Valley Opportunity feeding programs this summer. Each bus will have hired staff, and the children who use the services will have their success tracked to make sure they are improving.

CHS student Ariel Ware tries to walk a straight line as she wears goggles that simulate intoxication. Marion Couty Sheriff's Office Deputy Hunter Forbes watches.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

In an effort to cut back on drinking and driving among local youth, the Columbia Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Office presented a program at Columbia High School this morning in which students participated in a simulated drunk driving experience.

Columbia High School senior Shayne Patterson admitted that he drinks about “every other weekend” but said he does not drink and drive. “That’s stupid,” said Patterson. “Don’t drink and drive. Sit somewhere.”

Patterson’s girlfriend Kourtney Johnson agreed that “everybody” drinks and that there are “most definitely” students at Columbia High School who drink and drive.

CHS senior Mario Warren said “95 percent” of the senior class drinks.

Student Ashley Creel drives the golf cart wearing the goggles. Deputy Lon Ward rides with her.

In the impairment simulations, students put on special goggles that when looked through give the feeling of intoxication. The students put on the goggles and drove a golf cart around an obstacle course in the school parking lot, crashing into cones. In another exercise students wore the goggles and tried to walk a straight line, and were unable to do so.

Columbia Police Chief Jim Kinslow said drinking a driving among high school students is a big problem nationwide. The exercise the students participated in today is valuable because it gives the children a feeling of what impairment is like in a safe environment, Kinslow added.

Moreover, the exercise is an opportunity for law enforcement to interact with the students and break down barriers and “get through to them,” the chief said.

Columbia Police Officer Justin McKenzie speaks to the students about the dangers of drinking and driving.

With prom coming soon, this was an ideal time to get students’ attention regarding the dangers of drinking and driving, Kinslow noted.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 The Columbia School Board last night expelled a student and transferred the student to the alternative school.

The School Board was in closed session for about an hour and a half before re-opening the meeting to the public and voting to expel the student.

Superintendent Dr. Marietta James would not release any information on the student such as the gender or which school the student attended. She also would not say what the student did to get expelled.

columbia School District teachers of the year from left, Christine Expose, Sophia Bickham, Frances Robertson and Angela Johnson.

In other matters, the School Board approved a positive incentive program in which students in the district are taken to New Orleans Saints games as a reward for good grades, attendance and behavior. About 40 students are taken by charter bus to almost every Saints home game, James said. No taxpayer money is spent on the program, as the money comes from donations and fund raising, said James.

In other matters, the School Board recognized the teachers of the year for the district. Angela Johnson, a science teacher at Columbia Elementary, is the overall School District teacher of the year; while Christine Expose, first grade teacher, is the Columbia Primary School teacher of the year; Sophia Bickham, an eighth grade science teacher, is the Jefferson Middle School teacher of the year; and Frances Robertson, a 9-12 comprehensive health teacher, is the Columbia High School teacher of the year. Please click the following link to read a previous Informer story on Johnson being named District teacher of the year: http://bit.ly/9EKi2c

Parent of the Year Allison Foxworth

Allison Foxworth was named parent of the year. Foxworth is the PTA president at Columbia Primary School and the PTA vice president at Columbia Elementary School.

“I try to help the teachers as much as I can,” said Foxworth. “I really don’t deserve this.”

Columbia High School Principal Sheila Burbridge was named administrator of the year.

The teachers of the year for the individual schools are selected by their peers, while the overall district teacher of the year is selected by a three-member panel of community residents. The administrator of the year is chosen by other administrators in the district, and the parent of the year is picked by the

Administrator of the Year Sheila Burbridge

administrators.

James said there are excellent teachers, administrators and students throughout the district.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

East Marion High School Principal John Taylor looks over the school improvement plan.

East Marion High School has been placed under a school improvement plan for failing to meet federal testing standards last year.

The 19-page plan was approved by the Marion County School Board on Monday. East Marion High School Principal John Taylor said he is confident that the plan will improve scores on the Subject Area test.

“I think the plan is very comprehensive,” said Taylor. “Everything in the plan is researched based. We’re not shooting from the hip.”

Last year, was the second year in a row that East Marion did not make Adequate Yearly Progress on state tests. To meet AYP, schools must test 95 percent of the students, and a certain percentage of the scores must be in the proficient or advanced range.

If a school fails to make AYP two years in a row like East Marion it is placed on an “Improvement Year 1” status under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Under the plan, several measures are being implemented including a new scheduling system that gives students more time in the classroom. Students are now in English and algebra 96 minutes a day all year.Prior to the scheduling change, students were in those classes for 48 minutes a day all year or 96 minutes a day for one semester.

In addition, there are now three algebra teachers whereas there was just one. Now that there are three algebra teachers they can collaborate with one another to see which teaching methods are working best for the students, Taylor said. Also, when there is more than one algebra teacher, a sense of competition is instilled in the teachers to see who can get the best test scores from their students, Taylor noted.

The school improvement plan also calls for the hiring of an implementation specialist who will oversee the plan. Taylor said the implementation specialist will help decrease the dropout rate by monitoring attendance and academic success. Taylor expects the implementation specialist to be hired this summer. Click to continue »

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Cheryl Gonzales

Due to state budget cuts, the Marion County School Board has decided not to renew the contract for East Marion Primary School Principal Cheryl Gonzales.

Gonzales will complete the term of her contract, which runs through June.

The Marion County School Board on Monday voted to reconfigure East Marion schools, so that there will only be K-6 elementary and 7-12 high school.

Doing away with the K-3 primary school will save money on administrative costs, Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry told the Marion County Informer after the meeting.

Fortenberry does not know of any other staff cuts that are going to take place at this time. He added that it is always tough to cut personnel but noted that the school district’s budget has been slashed by $1.1 million this year and bigger cuts are expected next year.

He explained that Gonzales was cut because she was the last principal hired.

Cutting out the primary school makes sense because there are only 944 students that attend East Marion Primary, Middle School and High School, said Fortenberry. With the Primary school eliminated there will still be less than 500 students per school.

West Marion Primary has 560 students, said Fortenberry.

Gonzales, who was just hired last year, is very upset about the decision to eliminate the Primary School. She said when she was hired the administration gave her the impression that it was going to be a long-term position.

“I am very disappointed in the way this was handled with no regard to my livelihood,” she said. Click to continue »

Lexi Markins won first place at the Region 4 Reading Fair in Hattiesburg.

Columbia Primary School students participated in the Region 4 Reading Fair at Lake Terrace
Convention Center in Hattiesburg on Feb. 17.  Those students participating were
Anabella Sinclair, Gabi Rayborn, Ethan Bond and Lexi Markins.  Lexi Markins, a third
grader from CPS, won 1st place and will advance to the state competition to be held May
21.   She is the first winner to advance to the state level of competition since CPS has
been participating in the reading fair.  Lexi is the daughter of April and John Markins.

Ethan Bond sits next to his project.

Anabella Sinclair visits with the judges.