July boardroom bits: Teacher concerns expressed, school murals approved

In her first school board appearance as Jackson-Madison County Education Assoc. president, Janis Carroll spoke about four concerns expressed among teachers.

Serving as a “voice” for members, Carroll said she “had to speak out” because teachers either feel uncomfortable or don’t have the time to do so themselves.

“We want the same thing: we want to have a place to come to work to, where we’re happy, we want to have a place where we can be successful and we want our students to be successful,” she said to the board. “So, I hope you don’t see anything I say as adversarial.”

Carroll, an 18-year Jackson-Madison County School System employee, teaches third grade science and social studies at Denmark Elementary and will serve as JMCEA president for the upcoming school year, a position she’s previously held.

 “I want us to find solutions to fix these problems,” Carroll said before expressing teacher concerns of student behavior, curriculum, bell-to-bell teaching, teacher turnover and communication.

Student behavior: She said teachers know some students can be challenging; however, she said some teachers say students act as if there aren’t consequences, or at least meaningful consequences, for their actions.

Curriculum: Carroll remembers the time when the system didn’t have a uniform curriculum and when she had to struggle to get books. After two years, the district completed its plan to purchase curriculum for the four core subject areas of English, math, science and social studies.

But, teachers said the curriculum is too rigid and that they want more flexibility that isn’t too strict, Carroll said.

Told to teach bell-to-bell: She said being told to teach bell-to-bell doesn’t allow teachers to form student-teacher relationships that are encouraged. She said not having those relationships can lead to student behavioral problems.  

Teacher turnover: Carroll said that teachers express not having good relationships with administrators or not being a good fit in a school.

Those teachers are “blacklisted” and told to go to another district until a few years, she said, adding that gives them the prospect to never come back to JMCSS.

“A lot of experience is walking out of the door,” she said.

Communication: There have been instances where teachers don’t know what happens in the district in order to make educated decisions, Carroll said.

As president, she said she plans to work with superintendent Ray Washington to resolve some of those issues.

Mural proposals

The board approved mural proposals at Community Montessori and Lincoln Elementary.

Community Montessori would have a mural with wings covered in words, like success and other attributes of achievement, with space for a student to stand between the wings in the ___ and mural with footsteps on the floor leading to

The school’s PTO are paying for the murals.

Lincoln would have several murals, including ones of a turtle for the cafeteria, a tree with leaves of knowledge for the computer lab, Michelle Obama in the parents’ center, books in the library and the redemption of the old school in the main walkway.

The Michelle Obama mural is of her in an off-one-shoulder shirt, but Washington said they’d find a picture that is more representative of her.

 The district allocated a budget to get the new school “up and running,” and the price of those murals is included in that budget.

Disciplinary board

At Monday’s work session, nine JMCSS employees were presented to be a part of the disciplinary hearing board, but board member Morris Merriweather asked that community members be on the board.

Community members have been on disciplinary board before but not in the past three years.

In the past, there had been some confidentiality issues involving community members, Washington said.  

Merriweather suggested adding city agency representatives on the board, such as representatives from Ombudsman, which is outsourcing the system’s alternative schools and its programs.

As of now, though, policy states there can be no more than nine members; that policy can be changed to include more members, or the district could replace some of the suggested district employees.

Stewart, for example, said the disciplinary board could have nine district employees with seats for agency representatives.

The board postponed voting on the disciplinary board until later; it wasn’t approved last year until September.

Other news

• The board approved its retainer agreement with Rainey Kizer Reviere & Bell Law Firm, which represents the school system. Board member Shannon Stewart abstained from the vote because her husband practices law at the firm.
• School supply lists and before- and after-care registration information can be found online at jmcss.org
• L.O.O.P., Local Options and Opportunities, will have two additional part-time teachers since it’s increasing from 25 students to about 50.
• The TNReady score embargo will be lifted on August 9. School districts get scores but can't release them to the public until after a certain date. While under the embargo, scores are shared with district staff and employees. 

Updates

• Whitehall Elementary, which is being renovated, is almost done, according to Washington, and should be nearing the time to be cleaned before completion. There is a cleaning schedule for all the buildings.
• Lincoln Elementary has been rebuilt, so the city will take control of the old building.
• Since Dr. Tiffany Green, JMCSS human capital director, has been out town, the number of available teaching positions is not definitive. As of Monday, there were still about 48 available teaching positions, but Washington had made 10 recommendations so that number could be less.

Dates: changes, events and meetings

• July 25 and 26: new teacher orientation, 7:30 a.m.
• Board member James “Pete” Johnson asked new mayor Scott Conger to meet with the board. Conger gave him four possible dates to meet at 3:30 p.m.:
  • July 25, July 30, August 1 or August 6
• July 28: back-to-school prayer service for JMCSS teachers, staff and school board at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, 5 p.m.
• August 5: first day of school
• August 5 combined work session and board meeting: changed because Jackson Generals is hosting a back-to-school bash
• August 16: policy committee meeting
• September 9 combined work session and board meeting: changed because of a scheduling conflict

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Lasherica Thornton is The Jackson Sun's education reporter. Reach her at 731-343-9133 or by email atlthornton@jacksonsun.com. Follow her on Twitter: @LashericaT