Superintendent Tim Tarvin updated the board on ending a contract with New Tech Network during the Shelby Board of Education’s recent meeting. He also awarded exiting board members with commendations. And Assistant Superintendent/Curriculum Director Paul Walker updated the board on progress with Race to the Top.
Tarvin addressed the board with a non-agenda item regarding the contract with New Tech Network.
“During the 2011-2012 school year the Shelby City School District, after being awarded a $750,000 Race to the Top Innovative Grant, entered into a three year contract with the New Tech Network with an option to extend the contract for a fourth year. The administration of the Shelby City Schools, as well as Shelby High School, has decided not to extend this agreement with New Tech,” said Tarvin.
“Consequently, the contract between the Shelby City Schools and New Tech will be terminated at the end of this current school year. The Race to the Top Innovative Grant has given our school district some very unique and powerful tools, such as one-to-one computer access and a learning management system that have provided our staff, students and parents access to valuable data and information,” said Tarvin.
However, Tarvin revealed that Shelby City Schools were under some restrictions with the New Tech system.
“Therefore, beginning in the second semester of the current school year, teachers will be given the flexibility to incorporate lessons, curricular activities and assessments consistent with the high academic standards that have long been a part of the Shelby City School District with less emphasis on the project-based lessons associated with New Tech,” said Tarvin.
In other board activity, the Shelby Rotary donated $580 for a Special Education Christmas Party and the Auburn PTO donated $1,398 for equipment at Auburn Elementary School. Tarvin expressed gratitude for the donations on behalf of the board.
“We have received thousands and thousands of dollars from people who really care about Shelby City Schools and that is great to see,” added board memeber Bruce Biggs.
Biggs is one of the outgoing board members. Tarvin presented exiting board members JoAnn Nelson, Steve McLaughlin, and Briggs with commendations and plaques for their service to the Shelby Board of Education.
“JoAnn and Bruce have spent eight years and Steve has spent the last four. We wanted to share a few thoughts with them and thank them for their service to the community. We are very appreciative to the service that has been given which is a total of 20 years between the three of you,” said Tarvin.
“It has been an honor and a pleasure,” said a tearful Nelson.
McLaughlin added, “I believe in service to others. It has been a real pleasure to serve our community and it has also been a real blessing to serve with such great people.”
Briggs stated, “It has been quite an honor to serve. There are days where it is challenging and there are days that it is very rewarding. I like to, at times like this, to go back and reflect on some of the successes and challenges. We push forward and we do things and then we are onto the next.
“A lot of times we don’t stop to look back and see what we have accomplished. I think it is important to look at those accomplishments because the challenges will keep coming at you,” added Briggs.
Returning board member Lorie White added, “I have been with JoAnn and Bruce for six years and Steve for four and I would like to thank you guys for what you have taught me in six years. I appreciate what I have learned and thank you for your service,” said White.
White will take over as board president at the beginning of the new year. “This has been an easy board to work with and we get along great. I think we have tried to do our best and I think we have done everything we could possibly do to forward this school in the right direction,” said returning board member Bill Roush.
Walker then shared an update on Race to the Top with results from the Fall 2013 Third Grade Reading OAA. He noted that 70.5 percent of the third grade passes the fall OAA. The state average was 57 percent.
“We are right where we thought we would be and I am very happy with this; 86 out of 122 students passed which means we have 36 kids to provide intense intervention with over the course of the school year because they will take the test again at the end of April,” said Walker.
In old business, the board approved the eighth grade field trip to Washington D.C from May 14-17, 2014.
The Race to the Top Innovative Grant has given our school district some very unique and powerful tools, such as one-to-one computer access and a learning management system that have provided our staff, students and parents access to valuable data and information,” said Superintendent Tarvin.
