4/9/2009 5:01:00 AM School district phasing out minority student transfer
By LACEY MCLAUGHLIN Staff Reporter
A program that allowed minority students to transfer to schools outside their attendance zones is being phased out now that the Madison County School District has been released from a federal desegregation order.
Students utilizing the Majority to Minority (M-to-M) program are allowed to transfer from majority-black schools to majority white-schools and vice versa.
The program was set up in the 1970's to help further integrate the public school system.
The program also forced school districts to provide transportation for those students.
In 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit upheld a ruling that released the district from a federal desegregation order that had been in place since 1969.
Now school officials are phasing out the M-to-M program, citing transportation costs.
Madison County Superintendent of Education Mike Kent said the district will allow students already utilizing the program to continue, but in some cases parents may have to provide transportation for the child.
"The district has been very cooperative and liberal," Kent said. "It got to be a budget issue because of running five extra buses."
Kent said once the student aged out of his or her feeder school the parent's would have to provide transportation.
Kent gave the example if a M-to-M student was attending Madison Station Elementary and aged out at fifth grade, the student could continue on to Madison Middle School and eventually move on to Madison Central High School, but parents would be responsible for their transportation from sixth through 12th grade.
Kent said that currently there are 66 students in the program who are no longer eligible for transportation.
Kent said that by August 2009, only two students will remain eligible for transportation and the district will incorporate them into already existing bus routes.
Summer school
programs offered
Several voluntary summer school programs will be offered along with regular summer school classes in Madison County.
Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs Dr. Pollia Griffin gave county School Board members an update on the programs Tuesdayy, saying they should help students retain skills and prepare for the next school year.
Additional summer programs include an English language literature camp and a jump start program for elemantary and high school students. Both programs are voluntary and free of charge.
The English language literature program is intended for English as a Second Language students to help with reading and speaking skills. The jump start program is intended to help students retain the skills they have already learned and prepare them for the upcoming school year.
Griffin said that the 37-day jump start program will take place at Luther Branson and Camden Elementary Schools. There will also be a 21 day program at Velma Jackson High School to help incoming freshman acclimate to high school.
"These students have the tendency to loose skills over the summer," Griffin said."The first two weeks are then spent catching up, we are trying to get a jump start."
Griffin said that the program will be funded through title fund incentive funds, and possible stimulus dollars.
District to study energy conservation
The district has agreed to enter into a study with Siemens Corporation to perform an energy analysis that will determine how the district can better conserve energy and lower uliltiy cost.
"This is an analysis of what we are doing and how we can save," Deputy Superintendent of Education Ronnie McGehee said Tuesday. "This is free of charge, all we have to do is invest time but at the end of the day there is no obligation,"
Teachers, students and administrators
recognized
The district recognized several teachers, students and administrators during the school board meeting Tuesday. They include:
• Linda Perez, Librarian at Madison Station Elementary recently received the Kaigler-Lamont Award. This award is given each year to a children's or school librarian for distinguished accomplishments in promoting children's reading in Mississippi schools and public libraries.
• Ridgeland High School Principal Lee Boozer was recognized by the Mississippi Department of Transportation for his efforts in collecting cellphones for soldiers serving overseas.
• Drake Terry and Jerry Lee Ainsworth, students at Rosa Scott won "Overall Best in Show" at the state level of National History Day and will advance to compete on the national level at the University of Maryland in June.
• National Board Certified Teachers; Elizabeth Gober, Jennifer Lovitt, Shannon McKay, Tracey Taylor, Patti Turk, Fran McRae, Sara Beth Clark and Tiffany Turnage.
• District Reading Fair Winners; Richard Smith, Madison Avenue, Reese Boyer, Madison Crossing, Conner McMillin, Madison Avenue, Abbie Hanna, Madison Crossing, Jarrett Horn, East Flora Elementary, Bret Guy, East Flora Elementary, Ethan Callihan, Ridgeland
Lane Boyer & Karlea Winstead, Madison Crossing, Catie Steward, Taylor Regan, Raeleigh Harper and Paulette Vargas, Madison Crossing Middle, Shelby Kinney and Alley Danahar, Career & Technical School, Blake Baldwin, Highland Elementary School
