By Maggie Blackwell
mblackwell@salisburypost.com
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education unanimously approved a proposal Monday to provide day-treatment programs at two schools for students who now attend programs at Nazareth Children’s Home and in Kannapolis.
Dr. Crystal Vail asked the board to consider consolidating the programs serving Rowan-Salisbury students’ mental health needs.
The Nazareth program, called “New Bridge,” serves 19 students from the Rowan-Salisbury system, and the Kannapolis site, or “Expeditions,” serves nine.
Under the new plan, Rowan-Salisbury would develop programs at China Grove Middle School and Landis Elementary. Two new teaching positions would be paid for with federal incentive funds, creating new jobs.
The program would also provide mental health professionals and a program manager, paid for by Nazareth Children’s Home. Students currently attending New Bridge would transition to the new program in fall of 2009, and Expeditions students would transition out within a year.
Principals from both China Grove Middle and Landis Elementary attended Monday’s meeting and indicated their support of the program.
Benefits of the proposal include reduced transportation costs and integration of the students onto a traditional campus, easing later transitions for them.
Nazareth will provide ongoing education for all staff. The Nazareth training is in high demand across the state.
Vail said the need for day treatment slots continues to grow. She said the changes would improve service levels, cut costs and benefit students.
In other business:
– The board approved an event proposed by Mike Gurley, basketball coach at West Rowan High School, who has developed a partnership with Coach Robert Hairston at Lexington High School to create a Dr. Martin Luther King Day classic basketball weekend. The goal of the event would be to provide a positive, educational and fun atmosphere to celebrate King Day.
The weekend would begin on Saturday with junior varsity teams of both genders from the two schools competing in the morning. On Saturday evening, the teams would get together for a dinner where essay winners would read selections from their essays. Monday afternoon, the varsity teams would compete.
Normal ticket prices would be increased by a dollar to provide a scholarship for the seniors who win the essay contest.
The coaches discussed their plans with local NAACP groups, churches and leaders to ensure the event would not conflict with other recognitions of the holiday.
Gurley teaches African-American history at West Rowan.
“We want people to walk away from this game saying, ‘That was a wonderful experience,’ ” he said.
– Alesia Burnette, director of school improvement and Title I, presented the annual reapplication for Title I funds. She plans to apply for Faith Elementary to receive Title I funds, as it has qualified according to federal guidelines. Although the state cut reading assistants for grades 3-5 from the budget, Title I will pay for them in 2009-2010.
– Dr. Rebecca Smith presented plans for closing the achievement gap, developed by a committee of twenty-two people, including educators and community leaders. The recommendations included 17 initiatives, including more support for spanish-speaking families, seeking alternative funding and providing high-quality pre-kindergarten programs.
– Board members Karen Carpenter and Bryce Beard were selected to join a literacy committee comprised of members from the school board, Rowan County Board of Commissioners and Salisbury City Council.
– In her remarks, Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom expressed appreciation to the Robertson Foundation for granting more than $400,000 to programs throughout the county.
The school system was the largest recipient of Robertson funds this year.
The school board will meet twice in June. A June 8 meeting will be a work session, and a June 29 meeting will finalize the upcoming budget. Also at the meeting on the 29, members will set goals for the coming year.