By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—Meeting in regular session Monday evening, the Paris Special Schools District (PSSD) board approved a new policy that gives the Director of Schools more authority over student promotions and retentions.
Director Dr. Norma Gerrell said the policy “is completely new” and said it “is a very good updated policy for us and gives us a lot ore authority and leeway”.
The new policy sets out six factors used to identify students for retention: student’s ability to perform at the current grade level; the results of local and state assessments, if applicable; overall academic achievement of the student; the student’s chance for success with more difficult material is promoted to the next grade; attendance and social and emotional maturity.
Dr. Gerrell noted that ‘social and emotional maturity’ was not part of the past policy.
School principals “are doing a good job of staying on top of this”, she said, and keep parents updated and work with parents on plans for students who are in danger of retention.
The percentage of retention “looks like it will be shrinking this year and that’s what we want each year,” she said.
Jimmy Henson of Henson Construction in Jackson provided a progress report on the ongoing Rhea School construction project. He noted that the weather has obviously caused some days to be lost. “We wanted to do the trusses today, but we had rain and then some snow,” he said, “but we’ll make good use of the time” when the schools are closed for spring break next week.
Board Chairman Richard Edwards said the board received “a lot of positive comments, a lot of good feedback” about last week’s school safety workshop.
Photos: Director Dr. Norma Gerrell, left in top photo, presents the new promotion and retention policy; and Board President Richard Edwards (in grey) presents information to the board. (Shannon McFarlin photos).
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