TARBORO —
Test scores were a topic of discussion at Monday night’s Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS) board meeting.
Janet Morris, ECPS director of accountability, shared the 2011-2012 ABC’s of Public Education report card with the board. As previously reported. eight of the county’s 15 schools met expected growth and five met all of their annual measurable objectives (AMOs).
“We’re very concerned with making sure all children are performing on grade level,” said Dr. Renee Franklin, assistant superintendent of educational program services. Currently, many Edgecombe County students are not performing on their grade level.
“We’re going to make significant growth. It’s going to take time, but we’re going to get there,” said ECPS Supt. John Farrelly. “We’ve got to raise the bar and our expectations.”
Farrelly said he and the board would make decisions in the best interest of Edgecombe County students, with the goal of raising the standards of learning.
“We have 7,000 kids who need our best every day,” he told the board.
Clearly communicating expectations to teachers and monitoring those expectations is one of the school system’s next steps in improving student test scores, said Franklin. Other steps are pacing guide development for core subjects (math and language arts) and the creation of a comprehensive professional development calendar for teachers.
Edgecombe County teachers and administrators will have a new professional development tool this year – PD 360, Professional Development On Demand. On Monday, the board approved a one-year, $90,935 contract with PD 360.
“This is a fantastic resource,” said Farrelly. He said the web-based program offers more than 6,000 “research-based, highly-effective” videos on a wide range of topics, such as classroom management.
In an effort to improve student performance, board chair Ann Kent said she would like to encourage parents to get more involved with their children on the school level.
“I think the community needs to see that we’re all on the same page,” Franklin said.
Joining together to improve the education of students is the goal of a leadership academy this week at Pattillo Elementary. The leadership academy brings together parents and educators in the community to create a strategic plan and a new vision for ECPS.
Local News
Farrelly: ‘We’ve got to raise the bar’
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Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers. -
Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday
Want a leg up in a medical terminology course? Anatomy? Physical science? Take a look at Latin, perhaps the best grounding for all education.
Not convinced? Just ask Stephen Herring, instructor of religion, geography, and developmental studies at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). He will teach an Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday. The class will meet at Fleming 218 on the Tarboro campus. -
NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.
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Measles cases have state health officials concerned
Twenty-three cases of the measles have been reported in North Carolina in a recent outbreak and has state health officials concerned.
“It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. -
County still looking for bids on 41 properties
While county commissioners have accepted bids on seven foreclosure properties, a total of 41 others remain available for interested parties to submit bids.
County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid. -
Scouts honor ‘Buddy’ Hooks
Try as he might, master of ceremonies Dave Sharpe was unable to talk someone into telling an unexpected story on Ellis “Buddy” Hooks as Hooks was recognized as the 2013 Edgecombe County Distinguished Citizen Award recipient by the Boy Scouts of America.
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Sheriff's Department to host junior academy
The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department will be hosting a junior academy for students ages 13-18 years old. Sheriff James Knight believes that this is the most important times of a juvenile's life and wants them to learn about the criminal justice system.
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Andrews assumes new position at ECPS Central Services
John Farrelly, Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS), announced this week that Shawna Andrews has been named the Director of Middle Schools and Title I in the Educational Program Services Office at Central Services.
Andrews, who most recently served as the Director of Elementary Schools and Title I, began her tenure with ECPS in 1995 as a math and science teacher at C.B. Martin Middle School. Following her completion of a Master’s in School Administration, she served as an administrative intern at G.W. Bulluck Elementary, SouthWest Edgecombe High School and Tarboro High School before being named an assistant principal at Tarboro High School in 2003. -
Big ‘Happening’ set for Tarboro Saturday
At no time of the year is Tarboro’s Town Common more bustling with activity than the second Saturday in May. It’s that time of year again and the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common is set for 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.
“I think we’ve got a good day coming up,” said Carol Banks, event coordinator for the Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council. “We’ve got record-breaking (number of) vendors. So far we’re up to 56.” -
Pinetops 300 kicks into gear this weekend
One of the biggest community events in the southern part of Edgecombe County – the Pinetops 300 – is set for Friday and Saturday at its usual spot – 309 School St. at the ballpark in Pinetops. The truck and tractor pull, South Edgecombe Rural Fire Department’s fundraiser of the year, is a longstanding tradition.
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