Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the K 12 Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lenoir County task force urges career pathways, 1-to-1 technology and earlier literacy supports
Summary
The Lenoir County School System Improvement Task Force presented recommendations including career exploration in middle school, a district 1-to-1 technology initiative, early-literacy outreach and study of grade configurations; administration was directed to develop implementation plans and seek grant funding.
Members of the Lenoir County Board of Education heard School System Improvement Task Force recommendations calling for expanded career exploration, a districtwide 1-to-1 technology rollout, stronger early-literacy supports and a study of grade configurations.
Dr. Nzinga Mazingo, superintendent of Lenoir County Public Schools, summarized the committee's conclusions and described next steps. "We have recommended that we incorporate career exploration in the middle school to advance our students' transition to high school," Dr. Mazingo said. She told the board that the recommendations aim to help students select a high-school pathway without asking them to make lifelong commitments in eighth grade.
The task force recommended several interlocking steps: begin career exploration in middle school so students understand course choices for high school; expand the district's 1-to-1 technology project (with kindergarten through fifth grade identified for early rollout next year); form a parent outreach committee focused on literacy; develop summer "jump start" or transition kindergarten programs for children who arrive unprepared for kindergarten; and assemble a task force of community service providers and parent stakeholders to inventory local resources.
Dr. Mazingo said the district already has begun parts of this work, including curriculum adjustments at some sites and technology pilots in primary grades. She described the 1-to-1 initiative as both a classroom tool and a driver for curriculum change: "We have seen amazing things happen'particularly in literacy and reading, with iPads and some of the work they can do," she said.
The presentation also noted ongoing research on grade configurations. Board members were told the issue is unsettled and may be controversial in the community; Dr. Mazingo said more study is needed before any decisions. The task force recommended the district evaluate whether changes to grade spans would suit some or all schools, but it did not propose an immediate vote.
The superintendent said administration will pursue grant opportunities to fund technology and other recommendations and will return to the board with more specific proposals in future meetings.
