Polk School Board Chair talks numbers
Dear Editor:
I would like to respond to the article printed in last week's paper pertaining to teacher retention, hiring procedures, and graduating rates. But first, let me openly commend anyone who has the desire to make our school system a better place for our teachers as well as our students. Our goal as an elected official (in my opinion) is to create an environment that is conducive to the children who are preparing to be the leaders of tomorrow. If we fail (as I have said many times in our monthly board meetings) to support our teachers, then we have failed our children!
We must continue to recognize the promotion of education by understanding "IF WE TEACH TODAY'S STUDENTS AS WE TAUGHT YESTERDAY'S, WE ROB THEM OF TOMORROW." The goal of all concerned parents, teachers, staff or board members must be to insure the best education we can provide to the next generation. I know we have many who use social media as a tool for information sharing, which is great, IF THE INFORMATION SHARED IS CORRECT! I'm not one to use social media for any form of CORRECT information, I feel the facts/data can be obtained through the administration offices of our school system to anyone who desires correct information.
In the past 4 years, this board has been actively working to improve the school system in Polk County (with no reflection on any past administrations) to improve the quality of life for all the employees of Polk School system by:
1) Working to stay within the budget received from federal, state, and local funds 2) Staffing efficiencies 3) Fund balance account above recommendation of GSBA
4) Renovation of many of our school faciliites through SPLOST monies, so that no classes are held in mobile units
5) REDUCTION OF SCHOOL MILIAGE RATE some $538,000 the past 3 YEARS (continually keeping in mind the tax payers of Polk County) and those on a fixed income
6) Encouraging hiring of local residents without our system who are qualified in their field
7) Reinitiated all teacher furlough days, before state alloted money for those days
8) Recognition from state office of auditors for exemplary audit practices with no audit exceptions. Polk County was 1 of 35 districts to receive this distinction.
Addressing the article previously mentioned (Construction of College & Career on campus, CHS & renovation of C&CA classrooms at RHS through SPLOST money), not from the lack of factual information, but documented data:
1) Teacher Retention Rates:
Fy 16
POLK COUNTY ..... 87
BARTOW COUNTY .... 90
PAULDING COUNTY .... 83
HARALSON COUNTY .... 83
FLOYD COUNTY .... NO INFORMATION
ROME CITY .... NO INFORMATION
Claims of grad rates being inflated due to retest:
Grad rates have gone up due to the following
1) Increase in partners in education, remediation programs like: Directed Studies (if unsure what this means ask a school staffer), Credit recovery, Online learning, Dual enrollment opportunities, 1=1 I-pads initiatives which allows for personalized learning, Fewer discipline issues at high school level, Lower suspension rate, Modification in code of conduct with dress code and cell phone use, Fewer tribunals for major disciplinary infractions, Improved attendance in all schools, Increased reading scores, broadening of CTAE offerings, Building College and Career Academy (which I understand some are opposed to this spending) 95% if all students who complete a pathway from high school.
In today's workplace, many employers will not hire anyone without at least a high school education. There are no benefits, vacation time, retirement plan or other benefits that come with an educational background. So this leaves a turnover rate of some 40% for companies attempting to hire qualified employees in the workplace, driving up the cost of any product due to increase training of new employees. So you ASK why the Polk School System is determined to insure ALL the students receive a chance for a improved quality of life after leaving high school?
Finally to address the hiring of personnel within our system, one only needs to research practices of past admin/board of education in hiring procedures to understand the bounds of how others, as well as current employees were selected. In closing, I am proud of having the opportunity to serve Polk School System the past 4 years, and encourage all who are a part of the decision making for our Children to use a small rule of thumb, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME AND MY PAST CAREER OR WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS I MAY HAVE ACHIEVED, "IT'S ABOUT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS" of Polk County School System.
Harold McDurmon, Polk County Board of Education chair