Anson County Schools will continue receiving funds under an interim budget until a full 2012-2013 budget is approved by the North Carolina General Assembly.
The school board approved funding at 50 percent of 2011-2012 levels until that time at its June 28 meeting.
The board reviewed unofficial results from testing. At Anson Middle School, 82 percent of seventh-graders demonstrated proficiency in Algebra and 28 percent did in eighth grade. Scores in both grades were down.
At Anson High School, 58.8 percent of students were proficient while 97.2 percent were at Anson Early College. New Tech students demonstrated 71.8 percent proficiency and overall, 48.3 percent of Anson students were proficient. Scores at these schools were all up except for New Tech, which was level with the previous year.
“We have to achieve 70 percent by the end of 2014,” Superintendent Greg Firn said.
Results were short of 70 percent in the other categories reviewed by the board, like English 1, science, math and reading. One exception was the English 1 scores at Anson Early College, where 95.8 percent of students are proficient. Scores were down in end-of-grade testing, with 55 percent proficient.
Board member Rob Rollins asked how peer groups, or cohorts as they are referred to in testing, were performing. A sixth grade student last year could be compared to a seventh grade student this year. Firn said those results will be available in August.
The board also reviewed an organizational assessment. It included identified threats to the education students receive in Anson.
The assessment concluded there is a lack of equity in the educational experiences of students, especially at the high school level. “It’s not about treating everyone the same,” Firn said. Rather, the goal is to provide equal access to materials as well as similar expectations and rigor in curriculum. There is a lack of clarity in staff roles. Finally, there are too few established partnerships between the district and the community.
The board renewed its contract with Michael Flake as board attorney. The new contract is in effect from July 1 to June 30, 2013. Flake will receive $3,500 upon execution of the contract as well as $3,500 on Jan. 1, 2013. He will also be paid $150 per hour for service to the board. Board member Daniel Wilson recused himself from the vote, citing personal reasons.
Executive Director of Individual and Organizational Accountability Michael McLeod was presented with a plaque in honor of his 33 years of service in Anson County Schools by Firn. He is leaving the school system to seek other opportunities.
“Thank you for the ride, I enjoyed it,” he said.
The meeting was also the last for Rollins. He has been given a new assignment outside of Anson as a pastor and is moving soon.
The school board’s next meeting will be July 30.
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