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State of the Schools
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In the tradition of presidents, governors, etc. we would like to report on the State of the Schools in Coosa County for 2023. Thanks to the hard work of students, staff, administrators, board members, and family and community members, the Coosa County School system is proud of the progress made in the following areas. We are happy to report that the state of our schools is strong, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our schools in 2024.
Student Achievement
- Central Elementary School increased two percentage points on the state report card
- College and Career Readiness score on the state report card was 86%, up from 60% previous year
- The percentage of students who scored in the 50th percentile on the ACT increased by 9% compared to previous year
- iReady results (standardized assessment that measures student achievement in math and reading)
- At the conclusion of the 2023 school year Central Elementary has 133% typical growth rate in reading (100% is the target growth rate)
- At the conclusion of the 2023 school year Central Elementary had a 14% increase in the percentage of students at the Early on Grade level and 16% increase in the percentage of students at the mid or above grade level (100% is the target growth rate)
- At the conclusion of the Central Elementary Summer Literacy Camp, those students recorded a 146% growth rate in reading and a 97% growth rate in math.
- high school reading: the percentage of students who are on or above grade level increased 4% since testing at the beginning of the school year
- high school math: the percentage of students who are on or above grade level increased 7% since testing at the beginning of the school year
- Graduating seniors passed the state mandated Civics Exam with an 88% school average
- Top 10 list for Kudor Career Assessment completions in the state of Alabama
- Every student received basic school supplies gift box first day of school
- Literacy Everywhere grant provided 5,000 free books to students to build their home library, sponsored five parent literacy events, and provided books for classrooms, libraries, and community businesses and organizations
- Students won awards at various state and regional competitions including a Central High School student who won first place in Alabama’s JAG Financial Literacy competition and was a national top 10 competitor in its inaugural year, senior economics students placed first in Alabama Stock Market Game for southern region for the second year in a row, Robotics team received Core Values Award and Top 10 team in state, All-County Honor Band, and Girls varsity basketball team named 2A Champions.
- Increased opportunities for students to take learning outside of the classroom including visits to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Berman’s World History Museum, University of Montevallo, JD Thompson Training School, Cougar Broadcasting Network members featured on The Front Porch, Camp ASCCA, University of Alabama, Trenholm State, and Auburn University.
- Continued the following programs outside of normal instructional time, at no additional cost to families, aimed at increasing student achievement: Summer Learning Camps with transportation provided expanded to include reading, math, and STEM, Summer Feeding Program, after school tutoring, after school STEM program, after school SAFE Pay to Learn Workforce Development, after school ACT Prep, 4-H, and Robotics.
- 27 Coosa County Career Tech Center (CCCTC) students received job offers as a result of CCCTC’s hiring fair that was the culmination of two months of working with Career Tech Education (CTE) students on resume writing and interview skills combined with the credentialing and educational programming offered through the CTE programs of Auto Services, Education and Training, and Business Information Technology
Staff
- Received funding to move from a split unit to a full time Career Coach
- Hired new head baseball coach
- Three CCCTC staff members attended the summer Career Tech Education Conference in Mobile, Alabama where they learned instructional strategies for CTE Education and the programs they teach presented information on the latest industry trends.
- Increased support staff pay to a minimum of $15 an hour
- Increased substitute teacher daily rate to $100
- Coaching supplements increased 25%
- Continued staff appreciation holiday dinner, dancing, and door prizes
- Multiple elementary teacher have received or are working on LETRS-ECE mastery level certification, an intensive reading professional development program for early childhood
- Five of the six math and science teachers at Central High School have earned the additional TEAM certification or are in the process of becoming TEAM certified
- Added math coach position to our staff at Central High School , continued science coach position
- Theatre teacher added to Central High School staff
Fiscal Health
- For the third year in a row, the Coosa County School District recorded a surplus of funds, the 2023 amount was $1,914,733.49, the 2022 amount was $1,102,432.00, up from $311,027.00 in 2021 and a deficit of $389,344.06 in 2020
- In 2023, Coosa County Career Tech Center (CCCTC) was awarded five grants. The grants covered training for employees, $50,000 in new equipment for CCCTC programs, and credentialing and certification testing fees for students.
- All athletic programs are operating with a surplus of funds
Infrastructure and capital improvements
- Created testing lab with new computers at the CCCTC to conduct standardized testing
- Built 1600 square foot Field House at Keith Bullard Stadium including hospitality room for officials and handicap accessible restrooms, parking, and viewing platform for spectators
- Lighting installed at Keith Bullard Stadium track and play clocks installed
- Every K-12 classroom, as well as the libraries, equipped with new 75 inch interactive learning panels
- Renovation of flooring, lighting, backboards, and new bleachers and stadium seating and a new trophy case thanks to Madix, at the Joe N. Belyeu gymnasium
- New electronic screen scoring tables for Central Gym and Joe N. Belyeu Gym
- Security barriers added to the entrance of both Central Elementary and Central High schools
- Upgraded intercom system and security cameras at Central High School
- New directional signs were installed to help community members and visitors find their way to various venues around the Central Coosa campus
- Central Head Start, serving children six weeks to four years old, and the Coosa County Extension Office, serving the people of Coosa County, are now located in the former Central High School adjacent to the current Central Coosa Schools
- School Resource Officer truck and Pride of Coosa County band trailer received Cougar Pride decal wraps
- Newer model car purchased for Drivers Education program
Parental Involvement, Communication, and Partnerships
- An Advisory Board was established at the Coosa County Career Tech Center (CCCTC) which represents multiple industries from across Coosa County and the Central Alabama Workforce Region in addition to the establishment of five specific advisory boards that focus on industry representation that align with Career Tech programs offered at CCCTC
- The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) sponsored and supported multiple events including an Art Gala, Rainbow Fun Run, Pumpkin decorating contest, and school dances
- Continued partnership with the Coosa County News to communicate school news to the public on a weekly basis, Coosa County Schools Weekly newsletter which is shared with board members and PTO, and weekly updates on website
- Partnerships with the following organizations provided students with an enriched educational experience: Limitless groups, Coosa Upward Youth Sports, Central Alabama Community College, Bridgeways, Central Alabama Extension Office/4-H, Girl Scouts, United Way, Children’s Policy Council, AltaPoint, Coosa County Soil and Water Conservation District, Coosa County Sheriff’s Department, Goodwater Fire Department, and Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative
- Alumni basketball, softball, and baseball players held athletic competitions to benefit their respective sports programs
- Quarterback Club re-established to support the Central football program
- SAFE Workforce Development program invested more than $108,000 in our students and staff using the pay to learn model in providing after school tutoring for the ACT and workforce skills instruction
- Literacy Everywhere grant started Community and School Engagement program which included home visits to build trust and positive relationships between the school and parents and Prescription for Literacy program
- Grandparents Day returned to Central Elementary School
Plans for 2024
- Reinvigorate attendance awards program to decrease chronic absenteeism rate
- Four graduating seniors will be earning their high school diploma and associate degree from Central Alabama Community College simultaneously in May, at no cost to the students, compared to one student the previous year
- Multi-purpose building including baseball indoor batting cage and visitors field house for football games
- Screening for the back of visitors bleachers at Keith Bullard Stadium funded through RC & D grant awards
- Upgrading air conditioning units at both the Central Gym and Joe N. Belyeu Gym
- Upgrades to Cougar baseball stadium including spectator seating and player locker room
- Installation of secure access to facilities for staff members using FOB technology
Posted in Education
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