001I see. >> I. Who made the motion voted in here? Uh it was Randy and then Dennis made the second. Y'all need me to get on that? Yes, I am. I'm right here. What time is it? 5:15. >> 5:15. Got you. I'm on it. Leslie, whenever you're ready. Let's go. We're going to start with a real quick video. This is something that we're going to use on our um Facebook and just any kind of social media and stuff that we're going to be uh using to promote school and just some of the fun things we do. >> [music] [music] >> Here comes the sun. >> [singing] >> Here comes the sun. >> [music] >> And >> [singing] >> I say, it's all >> [music] [music] [singing and music] >> That's just a little video I
002put together for us. You can see the kids working in the greenhouse and I had the girls bring in the few of the flower baskets there. We're selling those for $15 a piece. The kindergarteners and well, several of the students in our school worked on all of that in conjunction with Cindy Dixon. she works really, really hard in that hot tunnel and um does a great job. So, the flower sales are one of the things that we did, but that is definitely student-led. So, it's a really good thing. Uh I'm just going to start with some data. We'll start with enrollment. Um I know this is one of the biggest issues that we've all dealt with um over the last several years and you can see there um the unfortunate decline in enrollment here at
003Pritchard. What is the enrollment? It's at uh 113, John Eda. Okay, thank you. Yeah, and well, are we? I thought it was like 115 cuz we had We may have had a couple more Yeah. over the last little bit. Yeah. Still pretty significant growth. Um but we do have some things in place that we're trying to use to increase our enrollment. Uh we recently this year started a PTO. They really done a lot of great community outreach and brought people in. We've done just uh what? Painting parties and um bingo and things like that just to kind of reach out and build relationships with the community. And I think that word of mouth is really, really important. So, um I think that that will be very helpful. It's It's fairly new at this point, so
004um we have high hopes for that. Visibility, I just want to do more weekly spotlight sessions. We do a lot on our uh social media with our Facebook. The problem with that is is it's for safety purposes, of course, um only families are able to view those. So, just I want to try to figure out a way to uh go beyond that but then still stay safe as far as the privacy and confidentiality. And then um just targeting preschool and kindergarten getting that early connection with those families, that's so important. Once they get here they stay. But it's you know, they're they're more likely to stay. So, um years past we've done things like uh kindergarten camp and stuff. We've not had the funding for that and of course our summer camps that we did
005here were were helpful, too. But so, just finding a way to um you know, make those connections with the preschool and kindergarten. We've also had some involvement with Head Start this year, which is new for us. So, I'm hoping, too, that that will also bring in um more people from the community. My mind's drawing a blank. Are Are you a Title I school? We're not. We have been in the past, but not Yeah. I don't think even when Kelly Bonner was here that we were ever Title I. It's been since Stephanie McCloud was here. So, it's been several years. Okay. Mr. Albright, when Sherry and Mary Blue and Tommy John was not in the Title I, we got ours taken away I don't know what happened but most of our kids are either foster kids
006or low-income, so I don't know why we don't have it back. It's the uh the [clears throat] state reports the percentages of students and um the funding goes to the highest percentages. So, it's a it's a ranking that's uh provided by the state. So, well, I'll pull the numbers, Leslie, and send them to you. Okay. We struggle sometimes. It'd be nice to have that extra money. So, we do have plans, you know, a lot of the things with enrollment are out of our control. I understand that. But what is in our control are are these types of things. So, that's kind of what I would love to see for Pritchard for the future. Our attendance this year has not been um quite as good as last year's percentages. Um We are, however, working very closely
007with families one-on-one. I know Jenny talks to a lot of them. But then, like more of a tier three um intervention for that would be work where I would have a meeting and work with our counselor and our social worker. And they have actually made, you know, phone calls. We've made home They've made home visits, things like that to um try to help solve problems. The problems range anywhere from transportation to We had a young man who couldn't get here because the road was closed. The road was broke off and the bus couldn't get down there and they didn't have a vehicle. So, um they have We just try to reach out to those families and try to help as much as possible um getting those kids in. So, um hoping for, you know, that
008that will continue to to alleviate some problems. And we have seen some improvement since the first of the year. Okay. Now, I'm going to move to more of the academic part. If you look here, this is for the general summit of assessments, the end-of-the-year assessment. I don't know if you can see. I don't think my mouse works whenever I'm doing it this way. But if you look at the It's color-coded, Mr. Alexander. I I can tell it. >> Okay, good. >> [laughter] >> So, uh here at Pritchard, where we are small, we only have one grade of each class. Um but I wanted to also just focus there on each year is a different color cuz then you're following those same group of students throughout the year. So, um, does that make sense? There for
009that. So, third grade in 2023 is blue. Then they were fourth graders in 23-24, and then fifth graders in 24-25. Um, so that's just kind of, um, the trends there. And of course we're getting ready to have ours this year coming up as well. Um, if you look at the there There are some increases if you look at that math, um, fourth grade. So, those will be this year's fifth graders. So, we have to see some some good news there. We did get the new math curriculum and our teachers are using it. Uh, you I think it's common to see kind of a dip anytime a teacher gets a new curriculum. And that curriculum is is, uh, very very involved. So, they really We've got some teachers who stay after school to make sure that
010they've gone through the lesson and prepared for the next day. So, it is tough, but I do think it's a great curriculum and we're going to really see a lot of growth over the next few years. Those things don't happen overnight, we know. Um Yeah, so that's pretty challenging even from like the second grade. Right. Yeah, Jennifer's our our second grade ELA and she's very involved in that, too. Our science, uh, we departmentize. So, we have a teacher who teaches solely science and she's a rock star and her numbers dipped in 23-24 last year, but they they were back up to 56% and this year we're still on that trajectory that they had up for 50s for that science, too. So, that's pretty exciting. All All here's STAR and math data, STAR reading and math
011data for this school year. Uh and we have, you know, seeing growth in almost all of the categories. I'll give you just a minute to kind of soak that in. This would just be the fall and the winter. Um Mhm. Yeah. Look at second grade. The growth in second grade was insane from fall to winter. In both categories. Pretty incredible. And then this is STAR reading and math or STAR reading data. This is based on their instructional reading level, and I'm going to go into that just a little bit more in a second. Um So, again, growth in all of those categories as far as where those students, the average of where those students are reading from the fall, September, to December. That was just this year. So, uh good amount of growth there. However,
012we were still concerned that we had so many kids that were not reading on level. So, in November, um my teachers and I gathered together and we came up in a PLC and we came up with a plan to help these students increase that their reading proficiency. I'm not sure, can you read that very well? Uh Yes, I can see it. >> back from back here. But, we looked at the star data for reading. We um looked at each student's instructional reading level, and we grouped them. Smaller The groups stayed smaller with the the kids who were struggling the most, and I'm talking right now just from third to fifth grade because we had so many kids that were reading on a first-grade level, you know, and they're in third grade. So, we needed to
013start back at the basics of phonics. So, you know, those four um pieces. So, that's what we did, and we have about nine groups um that four days a week they receive 30 minutes of explicit phonics and fluency instruction depending upon what their need is. Um and we have seen some growth from fall to and I took data from this benchmark we just did. So, this is fresh data here. Um in fourth grade, there was some growth. It's not a significant amount. Again, you kind of have to look at the groups. Uh we have one class at every grade, so some years, you know, you just have groups that um might struggle a little more than others. Uh but, the fifth and the third grade both jumped almost nearly an entire grade level, which is
014great because remember, that's an average across the grade. So, pretty good growth there um for that data. Now, that being said, I do feel like us doing that small group phonics instruction. For example, we have one one young man who who was reading on a He's a fourth-grader reading and he was reading on a 4.6 instructional grade reading level. That means a fourth grade, six month. And so, he was really above level even when he started fourth grade. He's now he finished the year reading on a seventh grade seven month level. Because not only did we try to focus on students who who struggle with reading and phonics, but we also had enrichment groups for those who were already beyond level. And it really pushed them and we just got some kids that seem that
015they just really fall in love with reading. So, it's been good for for all the all students. But this being said, I do feel like it could have even been more effective um in some other ways and I'm going to get to that portion now. So, just you know, a plan to improve I feel as though if next year our teachers, particularly preschool through third grade could have a universal phonics program where they're all teaching the same exact thing with with the same vocabulary uh for preschool up um the same patterns and routines to that phonics program, I think within three years we would see a huge huge increase in those kids who are struggling readers. Um so, that's something I would really love. So, academically um that is something that we're looking for. Uh
016I think if we continue as far as our math growth, uh you know, the county has done a fantastic job supporting us with this new math curriculum. Bringing in Carnegie, bringing in uh Kelly Arthur to help support. Um so, I think that it's going to be great, too. Again, though, it's just going to be one of those things that takes time. Um but I I feel like if we just continue with that support, it'll be great. But I do really feel strongly that we had a universal phonics program that was rooted in the science of reading that it could be a real game-changer for our students. So, that's one thing I would like to see as far as academic improvement and changes for for grade two. Uh building corrections and upgrades, um we asked, you
017know, before our boys bathroom and even the girls, the stalls in there they're just in disrepair and I mean, they're functional, but they they need to be replaced and and upgraded. And then also a uh we talked, I think even last year and a couple times we've we've talked about how our urinals are covered and that's because of a safety issue. We have four brand new urinals in there. However, when we shut the door, it's a safety issue because the boys really love to play and jump and climb and things like that. So, but I the solution to that is is building a privacy wall in front of those urinals. So, the door can stay open, but they would still have that privacy and teachers would still have ears on um any kind of behaviors
018or issues that you know, we got little ones in there and and they're in there yelling for us cuz they need help with something. Um it's good to have that uh that door open, but still a a privacy wall would be helpful. Our art music building, um it's it's located outside and it was one of the modulars and its under underpinning has worn off. Some of it's just completely missing and it needs and boards. It was just boards. Oh, okay. Yeah, it needs underpinning on it. Yeah, cuz the kids play out there. We have an amazing playground. They're out there kicking soccer ball and one of them goes up under that trailer and we're just like, "No, you know, it's just lost." It's our job. Um or looking for questions, yeah. Um and then there's
019a wall in room five that needs some repair. It's kind of a concern. So, we can I can show you guys that if you need. The main thing is increased enrollment. That's something that we just I really want to focus on next year. Put a spot a spotlight on the school. Why Prentiss? You know, why why should people parents send their kids here? And just putting that out there in different ways like social media, like the little video that I had. I also think we have so much industry out here. To if the board could help us come up with some kind of promotional material for these local industries when these young people come in to So Jeffy or Okino to get a job, maybe part of their um you know, their initial orientation would
020be by the way, here's a pamphlet from one of the local schools. You know, Wayne County schools that uh you know, they're and and it can spotlight highlight some of the great things that we have. You know, not every school has a high journal that's successful. Not every school has a huge playground. Not every school has a small small classroom sizes like we have. We have a real a lot to offer. Um So, just getting that out there to those local industries and businesses is I think it could also help with that enrollment. So, Um that's kind of all that I have but I'm love to answer any questions or go back to any slides you would like to look at again. On your enrollment, have you noticed a trend and are you losing students
021to home school or is it Are they moving out of All of that the open enrollment, um Out of district. I think too, because Pritchard is where it is, there's a big pull to other places, and we are not the type of school like Fort Dale has a has sports and a community of like that kind of thing. See, Hayneville does, Buffalo does. Pritchard doesn't have that, so I feel as though we we probably lose because of open enrollment some kids to because of that fact. Um that being said, you know, we still have plenty to offer here. We try our best to make sure that we're reaching out. Um students who play football Buffalo, they often, you know, we let them stop Please go sign out and go to your pep rally. You know,
022we want to be a part of those things. So, um we try to encourage it and not be a hindrance to it, but I do think our location we have lost several to to scholarship. Um we have lost several to So, a few to home school. Not as many. Actually, we've had some home schoolers that did home school and now they've come to us. So, that's been good, and I think that they for the most part had a very positive experience. So, What's what's the trend on your kindergarten numbers? Like over the past few years, what So, What size is your kindergarten this year? 15. Yeah, 15. 15. Right now looks as though we're going to get 12. I've got very small preschool. However, They're still calling me. I just enrolled two today. >> Correct.
023So, we're still getting enrolled. And we do that happens a lot, too. We'll end up getting probably three or four more for the kindergarten. I do think like I was saying, the Head Start being a part of our preschool, I think that'll be really helpful. I'm not sure, this is my first experience with Head Start. I'd like to talk to another school that has it has worked with them just to kind of see what their experience is. But, I mean I I think it could be a really positive thing as far as bringing in uh more kids. How big is your fifth grade class this year? Fifth grade is 17. Not that or Yeah. 17 and fourth grade is 19. Okay. Third grade 26. Yeah. So, and that's why Miss Major went just because we
024went over that formula and it has been a game changer. Thank you so much for doing that. We've seen so much improvement. To have 26 eight-year-olds in a class it's it was a Yes. It was a challenge, so. It's okay. Yeah. So, since we've been able to to split those classes, we've really seen a lot of improvement, so. Appreciate it. So, Do you think Right. That has always been historically an issue here. Uh a lot of families go to Buffalo or CK because of the playmates. You want to add year but you know, we do have after school four days a week. Um till about four and I think that does help some of those families out so. But yeah, tell them about that pre- the pre- school and I think too I'll meet with
025head start and you know, ask what kind of materials do you guys have and we can maybe add that piece to the Um we're now talking to those businesses now. On their orientation just I don't know if you guys have ideas on how to promote the school. Yeah. And I think too it's hard since COVID and then all the security issues we have, you know, people feel like we're not allowed to go in the schools, we're not allowed to go there. So that's why we've really tried to increase doing some of the good things for the community that we've done. Um but you know, I still think people have a hard time getting over those those thoughts so. Correct. Yeah. Yep. Do you have anything else? All right. Appreciate all the hard work. This is
026a great little little school. Yes, the community is great. We're very blessed here. I will take you wherever you want to go. I can show you the high tunnel. >> [laughter] >> Do you want to do the policies tonight or do you want to put them on the 13th agenda? Yeah, John Eddie, you still with us? I'm right here. That's something I Yeah, something I wanted to mention. Um you will have remembered I I know that for four of you, I don't know if Mark was around when those presentations were made. There was presentations made about empowerment schools. And um in Fayette County I think is where it originated and I think there's five in West Virginia. Uh for the last couple years um Kathy D'Antoni has approached us about being a part of that.
027And um we've been having discussions about tying our middle schools in with our high school programming. Whether it's aviation maintenance, you know, cybersecurity, EMT, fire service programs, whatever it is is is you know, to let let some of that education trickle down into the middle school level so that the kids have something to look forward to when they move up. And then if if you remember when we turned in the grant for um the money request for the Buffalo project, we talked about doing aviation maintenance there as part of that programming. So um we've been approached again uh by the empowerment program uh to possibly be a part of that. And this time it it also includes Marshall University in the partnership. Oh. And so um what it will do is it'll make some funding
028available for us to be able to carry out some of that vision as far as um including for example the you know, the aviation maintenance theme Buffalo and some project-based learning there centered on aviation maintenance. And uh Marshall would um be involved as well and not only uh they'd be involved in like uh design thinking training for the students. And they would also be involved in evaluating the effectiveness and doing a research study on you know, how how the project is going at the schools. And then uh our school would also become a a um uh demonstration school of professional professional learning school for Marshall University where they were sending student teachers to train on how to do that type of education. So, I've had some I've had some initial I've had an initial discussion
029with uh uh Miss Rider out at Buffalo Middle about, you know, now that we're looking at starting construction that we start pulling some of those ideas together. So, I'm going to go be going out and meeting with her late leadership team uh later this week and having that discussion with some of the teachers on staff as well. Uh but at one of your upcoming meetings, I believe that uh we're going to have some representatives from the empowerment program uh Cath Kathy D'Antoni uh possibly even Brad Smith at one of our future meetings to talk about this partnership. Uh Wow. That um w- we would look to get into next year. It would just be getting their feet wet. It's not a you know, big rush into this, but as the school's being constructed, we would
030be developing that uh to have that theme there. And so, I think it's a good opportunity. Um you know, ideally long-term, you know, we've had some discussion about you know, ha- having those pillars that Marshall University's on the cybersecurity, the aviation maintenance um the uh uh industrial maintenance, those type of things built into to different schools around the county. So, this would be uh a first step that we could take in looking at that. So, I'm going to ask them to come in and have a conversation uh with you all to see if you think it's a it's if you think it's a right move for us to consider. And so we're going to continue this discussion. So I just wanted to let you know that that's those discussions are going on in the background
031and then we'll we'll move forward with it. That Sounds great. Yeah. Any other innovative little way So we were looking at maybe the last last meeting in May or the first meeting in June. I think they're going to come in and have a conversation with you about what what that partnership would look like. Oh good. I'll still be a part of it for a few weeks. For a few weeks, yeah. I think yeah. Okay. Okay. That's all I had. Okay. Oh, have we have we approved the policies? No, we said we're delayed until the 13th. We didn't want to do that without you present. Well, but they've already been on uh public comment and if we didn't get any comments wouldn't they be ready to approve? Yeah, they're they're Yeah, they're going to be ready
032to approve. So I think they would want to go through that approval process on the 13th when everybody has their books with them. Okay, that's fine with me. I'm sorry I missed that. But I thought okay, I missed that. Okay. And I'm right here. I make a motion to adjourn. Absolutely. All in favor? Aye. Aye. What's the tally? Five to zero. Five to zero. Thanks to those that joined us online. See you. Okay. Yes, sir.