THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995 TAG: 9512190260
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
A policy that could increase the summer school population five-fold in 1996 was put out for comments Monday by the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank School Board.
The ``promotion/intervention'' policy sets entrance requirements for grades 4, 7 and 9 and mandates summer classes for students who don't meet them.
That could mean 500 or more kids will attend four weeks of summer school next year, Superintendent Joe Peel said. In 1995, 88 students took summer courses.
``In my tenure as superintendent, this may be the most dramatic step the Policy Committee has taken,'' Peel told the board before the policy was tentatively approved. ``It sets some significant standards for performance for students.''
The policy, which won't take effect unless approved again in January, is based on a statewide push for higher academic standards and on research that shows most students don't benefit from being held back a grade if they fail.
Initially, the policy will rely on end-of-grade test scores in reading and math to determine whether students should enter a summer program to catch up to their peers. An ``entrance committee'' will evaluate borderline students, and the district will add other performance measures in the coming years.
Students who still are behind after summer school will be referred to other programs during the next regular school year, the policy says. Students assigned to summer school who don't participate will have to repeat their previous grade.
The expected increase in summer school students and other programs for struggling students is likely to raise expenses, Peel warned the board Monday.
``Any time that you start holding people accountable, you're responsible for making sure that you help them,'' Peel said. ``In the long term, it may cost us as we develop a more diversified program.''
In other business Monday, the board:
Offered Peel a new four-year contract to run from July 1996 through June 2000, which Peel signed on the spot. The superintendent, who is paid about $85,000 a year, said some job ``opportunities'' have arisen recently, but he is not ready to leave the district.
``When you have good people, you like to try to keep them,'' board Chairman Marion Harris said in explaining the new contract.
Elected Harris, a health and physical education instructor at College of The Albemarle, to a seventh term as board chairman. Pat McDowell was re-elected vice chairman.
Approved bids for nearly $17 million in construction projects on the River Road Middle School and J.C. Sawyer, Central, Northside and Pasquotank elementaries.
Heard from Janice Boyce, who was virtually silent in public meetings during her first year on the board.
``It's been a challenging, scary and frightening year,'' said Boyce, who thanked fellow board members for their support. ``I want to do a good job and still desire your help in the future.'' by CNB