Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Jan. 2, 1992, edition 1 / Page 6
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NEW SUPPLY ELEMENTARY TO Hiam im-rr BUSY YEAR Schools Seek ' Collaborative ' BY SUSAN USHER Superintendent P.R. Hankins sees the Brunswick County Schools fol lowing "an ongoing road that leads upwards" in its purNuil of academic excellence and student performance during 1992. He expects the opening of a new showcase elementary school at Supply this fall to fuel that upward spiral. "That's our ongoing goal," he said at a meeting of school system leaders with representatives of the local press. "We do have some inter mediate goals for getting there." Added Donna Baxter, chairman of the Brunswick County Board of Friiication, "We're not going to be second best." What can county residents expect in public education this year? A greater em phasis on aca demic excel lence and stu dent commit BAXiER ment; a continu ing emphasis on increasing student and teacher attendance, decreasing the student drop-out rate and build ing student sell-esieem through the use of programs such as Quest and DARE. More emphasis will be placed on developing a "collaborative mode" finding ways to involve parents and the community at large in the schools and on keeping in tune with their conccrr.s about education. Hankins and Ms. Baxter foresee working to improve morale by com batting "burn out" through staff de velopment, central office support and expanded involvement of teach crs in uc?i5icr>-n>akir.g through ac tivities such as the Superintendent's Council and site-based management under Senate Bill 2 and the system's three-year commitment to develop ing more effective schools. "We're got to do more. We've got to get these kids prepared," said Ms. Baxter, who recently began her sec ond year as board chairman. "But without these parents ? we're not going to maice these changes happen without them," she continued. Staff members say they're already seeing more parental interest in ? and turnout for ? school func tions, from a Chapter 1 parents' meeting to DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) graduations. "We're seeing a better turnout ev ery time the doors arc open," said Nelson Best, director/coordinator for athletics, health and physical educa tion and drivers education. Staff and board will be looking at ways to improve existing programs and performance and will look at finding better ways to work together. "I want to see more openness, more teamwork and cooperation be tween the board and administrative staff," said Ms. Baxter. "1 don't want just us (the board ) saying what sounds good." Central office personnel will spend more time in the field during 1992, helping tcachcrs, principals and staff reach goals they've set for their schools and classrooms. "We're moving out of the central office and into the schools," said Lewis. Hankins elaborated. "We're say ing, 'This is your ballgame. It's your play. How can wc help you?'" he ssid, of decisions ranging from whether to mainstream handicapped students into regular classrooms to encouraging academic improve ment. Baxter expects board and staff to be evaluating the "whole language" approach to reading and language education. "Wc should be seeing some progress. After three years wc should have an idea if this whoic language approach is working. If not, wc will look at something else." Student Services Director Judith Babcock's new interdisciplinary tcdin 2pprc2ch io sc r~v *c one example of the central office staff's efforts to serve the schools. Students with support needs now get the services of a team that includes a nurse, psychologist, social worker, counselor, drop-out prevention spe cialist ? or other specialists as ap propriate. Liz Locus, the new management information systems specialist, will be implementing a state-mandated computerized system for bus routing called TIMS, as well as reorganizing and refitting computer resources in rpjc AUTO J=?J S ELECTRIC ALTERNATORS STARTERS VOLTAGE REGULATORS GENERATORS REPAIR? REBUILT? EXCHANGED AUTOMOTIVE WIRING 754-7656 Royal Oak Road & Hwy. 17 N., Shailotte *.1991 The BRUNSWICK BEACON 2-FOR-T HE-PRICE-OF-1 STEAK SPECIAL Sirloin steak, choice of potato, tossed salad and bread... 2 FOR $1 0.95 MONDAY-THURSDAY ONLY * SEAFOOD ? DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS SANDWICH PLATES ? SALADS EVERYDAY I *l FIDDLER'S SPECIAL Includes fish, shrimp, deviled crab, clam strips, French fries nnie slaw hihi hi isri winffe;, ? ; ?? ; - $8.95 GET 1 'free SUNDAY LUNCH BUFFET 11:30-2 PM. CLOSED SUNDAY EVENINGS SANDFIDDLER SEAFOOD RESTAURANT HWY. 130 EAST ? SHALLOTTE ? 754-8168 the schools to make /the most of the equipment owned by the schools. She's also encouraging entry in a statewide competition that could re sult in new technology for iho win ning school Edna Gausc, director of media and technology, says automating of school media centers for circulation and cataloging will continue. Also, she is helping rewrite the state me dia skills curriculum to better mesh with the content areas of the new state curriculum. Students will some some addi tions and some deletions from high school curricula next year. Starting litis fall, said Coordinator Nelson Best, driver's education will no longer be Uiught by the schools or during school hours, but will be bid out to private contractors. In social studies, James Mc Adams said the schools in be adding, in 1992-93, a third state-re quired high school course with a world focus ? either world history, world cultures or world geography. Also in 1992-93, entering fresh men will be the first group of North Carolina high school students re quired to pass Alegebra I before they graduate. r In conjunction with Brunswick Community College, the public schools arc involved in two efforts to ease the transition from high school to college, while affording students with more options for learning. Qualified students arc being en couraged to enroll in college-credit courses and the vocational division is laying the groundwork for "Tech Prep." Tech Prep is aprogram developed to guide students into a course of study that will prepare them to enter an associate of applied science de gree program at a community col lege without having to first lake re medial courses. "It's something that we think a lot of students will be excited about," said llankins. 'School Of The 90s' While staff will be planning a new central office to be built at the Brunswick County Government Center, opening of Supply Elementary School this fall will spark the most excitement during 1992, as well as serving as a vehicle for change systcmwidc. Hankins and his staff are in the process of choosing a principal for Effort In '92 the school, so thai planning for its opening can begin right away. They're looking for a school leader willing to engage staff "in some risk-taking, to try some new ap proaches and polish up the old." The new school is expected to be "a school of the 90s," that will take students into the 21st century, one that reflects the latest technology and provides the tools and atmo sphere for invitational learning. It is expected to accommodate more than one teaching/learning strategy and serve as a pacesetter, a "beacon" for other schools. "I see a school facility that exudes learning," said Hankins. "Everywhere you look I see walls, furniture dc signcds that cause you to take note, that have you saying, 'Hey, I'd like to be at this place bccausc this is a place of learn ing. "We're look ing for a peson who can make this happen," he con tinued. "Someone who shares this o HANKINS vision." As for how other schools and em ployees in the system react to the new site and its stall, "We want them to be jealous," saiil Hankins. "We think that will have a positive effect on those not chosen be part of that team. "We hope it will encourage them to light a fire under their leaders." With the opening of Supply Elementary School, the county will move to a true "middle school" sys tem of organization. Its opening will draw students from Union Primary, Shallottc Middle, Southport Elementary and even from Bolivia Elementary schoois. Thai will alle vi:HP nvpri'mwHintr nnri nn?v:ihlv nl ? 0 r j ? low removal of some mobile class rooms from those campuses. "We hope it will give those other schools an opportunity to be what they want to be," said Ms. Baxter. Between curriculum and policy development, facilities planning and implementing changes already in the making, staff has its work cut out, indicated Hankins. "Our agenda is full," he said. "We're going to have to do a real good juggling act." 1 ihrnilv rs ?! - a home or vacation home, they want to know more than which ones are for sale. Smart home buyers look for more than a real estate guide when they are moving to a new commu nity or antici pating pur chasing that long-dreamed of vacation home. They look for a guide to the community, like The Brunswick Beacon , which not only lists what homes are on the market, but tells them im portant things they need to know about the area in which they may move or invest. The Beacon pro vides insight into the community that you can't find in any other source that also provides listings of homes for sale. And that's why smart home sellers get such good re sults when their homes are listed for sale in the real estate and classified ad vertising sec tion of The Brunswick Beacon. If you have a house for sale and it's not listed in the Beacon, call us.. .or call your Realtor. THE BRUNSWICK' POST OFFICE BOX 2558 TELEPHONE (91 9) 754-6890* FAX (91 9) 754-5407 SIIALLOTTE, NC 28459
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 2, 1992, edition 1
6
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