At the Monday Board of Education meeting, members unanimously approved the plan's overall goals in the areas of climate, student achievement, quality staff, parent and community involvement and efficient and effective operations, but left open for change the strategies on how to obtain them.
"I think what it does is, it gives the whole system focus, all in one document," said Board Vice Chairwoman Kathy Farren, who helped develop the plan. Dr. Sally Ward, retired director for research, evaluation and grant development, spent months of the 2005-06 year developing the areas with focus groups of administrators and teachers from across the county.
The new strategic plan outlines ways that faculty and staff can help provide new learning experiences for students, keep parents informed, and engage the greater community.
The ability to change those strategies, which are tied to measurable outcomes such as test scores, can be rewritten as new research or new laws come into play. The plan is designed as a framework to help improve education, but it leaves room for individual creativity for the strategies at each school.
"It's a place to begin," Farren said.
New Discipline Guidelines
In another agenda item, Dale Frye, chairman of the Policy Committee, presented new guidelines on discipline, which are mandated by the state. The policies define discipline procedures for seclusion or isolation and types of restraint.
Information will be sent home with students at the beginning of the 2006-2007 year explaining and defining the school's policies.
According to the policy, teachers are responsible for discipline except in cases requiring the attention of the principal. Discipline matters can be referred to a school-based committee when the student's disruptive behavior interferes with academics or requires the attention of the principal more than twice.
Parents or guardians must be notified before the issue goes before the committee.
The new policy outlines what actions warrant the use of physical force and mechanical restraints by school personnel to fully or partially restrict a student's movement.
The two means may be used "reasonably" under the following circumstances:
-- When the student has a dangerous object.
-- When needed for self-defense.
-- To maintain order to prevent or break up a fight,
-- To ensure the safety of any student, employee, volunteer or other person.
-- As reasonably needed to teach a skill, to calm or comfort a student or to prevent self-injurious behavior.
-- To escort a student safely from one area to another.
-- As part of a behavior intervention plan for exceptional children.
-- As needed to prevent imminent destruction to school or another person's property.
Similar guidelines apply to mechanical restraints, including seat belts or safety devices during transportation.
Tying down, taping or strapping down is not permitted as a restraint.
Seclusion is defined in the new wording of the policy as "the confinement of a student alone in an enclosed space from which the student is either physically prevented from leaving or incapable of leaving due to physical or intellectual capacity."
Prohibited activities include hitting, electric shock, loud auditory stimuli, "forcible introduction of foul substances," blindfolding and "denial of reasonable access to toileting facilities."
The policies provide a clearer explanation and definition of how school personnel may handle discipline problems.
"There's security in knowing what you may do and may not do," member Dr. Lorna Clack said during the policy committee meeting.
The policies, including a revision of the Internet use policy, will be voted on at a later meeting.
Full policy explanations are available at the school system's Web site .
Little Reappointed
In other business, the board unanimously reappointed George Little to another term as a member of the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees.
Little has served on the board since 1981 and has never missed a meeting as chair of the college's governing body for more than 20 years.
Blanchie Carter nominated Little for another term.
"I think it's a wonderful move," Carter said "He's done a fantastic job at Sandhills Community College. I'm tickled."
Kenneth Bowen, from South Carolina, was approved as a new assistant principal. He will provide administrative support for both Aberdeen Primary and Aberdeen Elementary schools. The board also approved Brandon Scruggs to replace Sandy Stancil, an assistant principal at Pinecrest High School. Scruggs is from Virginia. He met Joel County, the newly selected principal for Pinecrest, at the board meeting.
Members Bruce Cunningham and Jennifer Garner did not attend the meeting.
Caroline Kornegay can be reached at 693-2484 or by e-mail at ckornegay@thepilot.com.
