New Albany Schools to implement 10-point grading scale next year

The New Albany Public School Board voted Monday evening to implement a new 10-point grading scale for the 2009-2010 school year.

The previous grading scale is as follows: A 93-100, B 85-92, C 75-84, D 71-74, and anything below 70 would be an F. The new grading scale will be as follows:  A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79, D 60-69, and F will be below 60.   

New Albany School Superintendent Charles Garrett said, “I personally prefer the 10-point grading scale because it gives those students who are close to failing the opportunity to pass. I think it would help those students who struggle the most, but I will also say that a lot of districts are not adopting the 10-point grading scale. Nationally, the 10-point scale is more typical. Universities are also on a 10-point scale.”

November minutes were approved as well as the bills, allowances and expenditures for manual checks. The board also approved the request for NAHS teacher Ms. Alicia Robinson to host the 2nd New Albany Bulldog Tournament-Forensic competition.

Director of Accounting Services Suzanne Hill, gave the financial report. She said, “Our fuel and utilities are going really well, which should be between 33 and 42% and our total expenditures at this point is 34%. Our October gas bill was $15, 392 and our November bill was $8,171so that leaves us with $162,000 left in our budget for the rest of the school year for diesel fuel.”

New Albany Middle School  8th graders are will be taking the EXPLORE test next semester and The 10th graders will be taking the PLAN test.  Both tests are designed to cover English, Math, Reading and Science - the same as the ACT.  

According to the ACT website, “The EXPLORE program is designed to help 8th and 9th graders explore a broad range of options for their future.  The PLAN program helps 10th graders build a solid foundation for future academic and career success and provides information needed to address school districts’ high-priority issues.”

Garrett said, “We have been working on improving our scores and one thing we have found is that a lot of students need more practice and I think with the EXPLORE in the 8th grade, we can get feedback on how well we have done and get assessments.”

Students will take the ACT test in the spring semester of their junior year.

New Albany School Assistant Superintendent Jackie Ford said, “The idea behind both tests is a predictor for the ACT score; these tests give the student a baseline to start with . The ACT is the only timed test they will have to take and PLAN and EXPLORE are timed too, so the whole idea is to get them better prepared so they are more successful for the ACT.”

The board then approved the request for the New Albany High School Golf Team to attend the National High School Golf Tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC April 9-11, 2009. NAHS Athletic Director Shane Sanderson, said, “I am extremely excited about the tournament.  We got a team this year that we feel can beat anybody.

Golf Coach Robert Garrett said, “The only school in the entire state of Mississippi that goes regularly is Tupelo. About 100 schools compete and Tupelo won 5A state last year and they got 19. We got third in the state two years ago and we came in second last year and we hope that trend will continue and get first this year. We want to see how we will compete nationally. It’s a high school tournament and the kids are fired up. If we can go, we would like to have the chance to compete with the best in the country.”

The board approved the action agenda.

The board offered congratulations to Balinda Denton, Tammy Kirkland, Sarah Marlin, and Donna Kay Sizemore, all of NAES. They attained National Board Certification. There are 21 teachers total in the district that are national board certified in the district.

The board also issued congratulations to New Albany School District Public Relations Melanie Shannon for winning second place for the Web site; honorable mention for the NAHS course handbook;  honorable mention for the excellence in writing award; John Fisher article at the November 2008 Mississippi Schools Public Relations Association Awards Ceremony.

The board approved the information agenda.

According to the personnel agenda, the board approved the following: resignation of Deborah Bryan, bus driver; hire of Sharon Wommack, bus driver, replacing Deborah Bryan; hire of J. J. Harris, receptionist for NAES, replacing Ginger Spencer; hire of Rebecca Wiseman, assistant teacher, NAES, replacing Tonya Chapin; additions to substitute list; resignation of Sammie Merritt, custodian, NAMS, due to retirement. The board approved the personnel agenda.

The board will reconvene Monday, January 12, 2009.