At the Liberty County Board of Education work session March 27, the central office staff recognized the board members in honor of School Board Appreciation week March 18-22. The board room was decorated with a poster honoring the members, and Superintendent Dr. Franklin Perry and staff presented all board members with a certificate.
In other business, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning provided an update on the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), also known as English as a Second Language, Avant said.
The curriculum is based on the integration of the English language proficiency standards, enabling those English Language Learners (ELLs) to use English to communicate and demonstrate academic, social and cultural proficiencies, she continued.
Each year, students are given a Home Language Survey where the information provided is used to refer students for screening. Newly enrolled students are also given the survey, Avant continued.
According to state guidelines, all ELLs participate in state and locally mandated assessments. The scores of ELL students only begin to count in the content mastery section of the College and Career Ready Performance Index after three years in the ESOL program, Avant said.
As of 2016-17, there were 65 students enrolled in the program, and it has grown to 172 students in 2018-19, Avant added.
“The hurricane in Puerto Rico and other events led to the increase in the program,” Avant said. “We are not looking for a decline any time soon. The program will continue to grow.”
Concerning capital projects, Chief Operations Officer Jason Rogers reported that the Liberty County High School’s parking lot surfacing and repainting had been completed, and that both highschools’ HVAC improvements were finished. There were also completed improvements to the Bradwell Institute softball field access.
Continuing improvements and projects include Bradwell’s gym, which is very nearly completed, Rogers said. LCSS received a pass on all required reports from the state fire marshal, and the school system took ownership of the building on Wednesday, Rogers continued. The first phase of Bradwell’s baseball improvements is underway, and the second phase on the concessions and restrooms will begin when baseball season concludes, Rogers said.
Future projects include some roofing updates, track improvements, security enhancements, HVAC modifications and a new scoreboard at LCHS, Rogers said.