Published: September 23, 2008 05:31 pm            

Trinity, Wheatmore updates

ASHEBORO — Randolph County Schools attendance for the first 10 days of classes is about 210 students less than the state had projected.

Superintendent Donald Andrews reported to the Randolph County Board of Education on Monday night that while the state had estimated a systemwide enrollment of 19,150 students, attendance by the 10th day of school was only 18,937. There were 18,449 children on opening day and 18,912 on the fifth day.

Overall, Andrews said, the opening of school was a smooth process. However, on Aug. 27 a tornado warning in the county had all the schools on alert and students were led into safe areas until the warning was lifted. Andrews said it was decided to hold the elementary students about 15 minutes after classes were dismissed to make sure the weather was clear.

He said Principal Billy Tanner of Liberty Elementary asked to hold his students an extra 15 minutes because there were still low clouds in that part of the county.

The first day of school might come early for Trinity and Wheatmore high schools. The board voted to ask the N.C. Department of Public Instruction for a calendar waiver for those two schools since the new Wheatmore High School isn’t expected to be completed by opening day.

In that event, both student bodies will hold separate classes at Trinity until the Wheatmore buildings are ready. When the facilities become available, administrators want to have a three-day period for moving, during which time students won’t be having classes.

The school system is asking the state for permission for Trinity and Wheatmore to begin classes on Aug. 20 rather than the state-mandated Aug. 25.

In other business, the board:

n Received an SAT report from Dr. Sharon Johnson, director of testing and accountability.

The average Randolph County SAT score for 2008 increased by four points on critical reading and one point on math. The participation rate decreased by 2.2 percent from the previous year.

The average subtotal (critical reading and math) for Randolph County Schools was five points higher than 2007 at 985 while the state average rose by three points (to 1007) and the U.S. average remained the same at 1017.

Southwestern Randolph and Eastern Randolph had the highest increases, with Southwestern showing a 23-point rise to 1441 and Eastern coming in with a 30-point increase to 1447. Randleman and Trinity both dropped from 2007.

n Heard an update on a dropout prevention program by Dremia Meier and Ann Callicutt.

Get a L.I.F.E. — Learning Is for Earning — is a collaboration of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce, the Randolph Program for the Rural Carolinas, Asheboro City Schools and the county schools.

The focus of the program is to show students how an education can mean better jobs and more money over a lifetime. A locally-produced video shows several Randolph County people who dropped out of school and experienced hard times before going back to school to improve their lot in life.

“We’re excited about this program,” said Meier, community relations director for Randolph County Schools. “If we can keep our kids in school, it’s well worth it.”

n Honored Chairman LaVerne Williams for her 18 years on the board, eight as chair.

Andrews recognized her with a board spotlight award for all the years she’s given to the county schools.

“Sometimes we take for granted people who show leadership,” he said. “We want to recognize you for all the work you do.”

        

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