Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Performance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Principals present third benchmark data; board highlights attendance and staffing as key concerns
Summary
Principals from across the district presented third benchmark results showing mixed proficiency and growth; board members emphasized chronic absenteeism and teacher vacancies as primary factors affecting performance.
Principals from Vicksburg Warren School District presented third benchmark assessment results for reading, math, science and history across multiple schools. Board members and staff discussed the data and emphasized chronic absenteeism and teacher staffing shortages as primary concerns affecting achievement.
Presenters provided school-level figures. Vicksburg High School reported reading proficiency at 35% and math proficiency at 55% with science/biology at 24%; total enrollment was reported at 647, ADA about 91% and teacher attendance about 89%. Warren Central High School reported a total score of 700.62, math proficiency of 60.55% and reading proficiency of 41.73%; enrollment was listed at 1,123 with ADA 88.8% and chronic absence reported at roughly 44.5% for the month. Other schools reported a range of proficiency and growth figures: Vicksburg Junior, Vicksburg Intermediate, Vicksburg Central Junior High, South Park Elementary, Beachwood and others each presented third benchmark proficiency, growth and attendance metrics (detailed figures were supplied in the board packet).
Board members repeatedly flagged chronic absenteeism as a driver of lower scores and cited recent flu and weather disruptions that affected testing and attendance. One principal said the shift from counting students with two or more absences to three or more would materially change chronic-absence percentages but that the district must keep students in school when not legitimately ill. The superintendent and staff noted district supports including an attendance officer and climate/stay-interview practices designed to identify retention drivers; staff also said the district conducts stay interviews and climate surveys rather than relying solely on exit interviews.
Board members also asked about teacher vacancies. The superintendent said the district currently has 43 licensed vacancies and that number may increase before the end of the school year. The board requested a future report summarizing top reasons for licensed teachers leaving and the district’s retention strategies.
No formal action was required on the benchmark presentations; the board thanked principals for the reports and asked staff to continue attendance interventions and provide the requested vacancy and retention analysis.
