By Tim Alsobrooks
Paris, Tenn.- At Tuesday night’s Paris Special School District Board of Education meeting, the board approved the hiring of two additional educational assistants for the special needs classrooms at Rhea Elementary.
Special Education Supervisor and Federal Programs Director Sherry Wagner said the influx of special needs students has been building in the system of the last few years. To try to alleviate that they moved staff around and split the special needs room into two sections.
Wagner said initially there was one teacher and three assistants, but the state cut funding and now there is one teacher and one assistant per classroom. There are six to seven students that are non-verbal. Wagner said we added a half position in the afternoon to help and one teacher is returning, all of which will help.
The system is looking to add a sensory room to help and occupational therapists can use it as well. With the new additions at Rhea, there is space to put the sensory rooms. Adding the assistants would give Rhea a teacher and two assistants per classroom for special needs, which is what the system has at Paris Elementary and Inman. Wagner said this will lessen the load on the teaching staff and be a tremendous help.
The board received an attendance update: Curriculum, Instruction, and Attendance Supervisor Joey Brush reviewed numbers of accountability for the district. To date, 1627 are enrolled and there is about 6.1% chronic absenteeism. Brush said they want to stay below ten percent on the chronic absenteeism. As the number of days in school increase, the district hopes those numbers go down.
He said after three absences a letter is sent home and after five a meeting is set up between parents, students, and administration. Brush said there is a big effort to reduce tardiness as well. Brush said they are trying to drive these numbers lower but it is a definite chore and they work with the county as often as possible.
Superintendent Dr. Norma Gerrell reported on the Tailgate and 100 year celebration and all retired teachers, former students, etc. are welcome to attend. There will be recognition on the field at halftime. Dr. Gerrell said Parent Teacher Conferences will be held this Friday Sept. 20th.
Photo: Joey Brush reports on attendance. Tim Alsobrooks photo.
Wagner said initially there was one teacher and three assistants, but the state cut funding and now there is one teacher and one assistant per classroom. There are six to seven students that are non-verbal. Wagner said we added a half position in the afternoon to help and one teacher is returning, all of which will help.
The system is looking to add a sensory room to help and occupational therapists can use it as well. With the new additions at Rhea, there is space to put the sensory rooms. Adding the assistants would give Rhea a teacher and two assistants per classroom for special needs, which is what the system has at Paris Elementary and Inman. Wagner said this will lessen the load on the teaching staff and be a tremendous help.
The board received an attendance update: Curriculum, Instruction, and Attendance Supervisor Joey Brush reviewed numbers of accountability for the district. To date, 1627 are enrolled and there is about 6.1% chronic absenteeism. Brush said they want to stay below ten percent on the chronic absenteeism. As the number of days in school increase, the district hopes those numbers go down.
He said after three absences a letter is sent home and after five a meeting is set up between parents, students, and administration. Brush said there is a big effort to reduce tardiness as well. Brush said they are trying to drive these numbers lower but it is a definite chore and they work with the county as often as possible.
Superintendent Dr. Norma Gerrell reported on the Tailgate and 100 year celebration and all retired teachers, former students, etc. are welcome to attend. There will be recognition on the field at halftime. Dr. Gerrell said Parent Teacher Conferences will be held this Friday Sept. 20th.
Photo: Joey Brush reports on attendance. Tim Alsobrooks photo.