PENDLETON — South Madison Community School Corp. is gearing up for the 2018-19 school year, processing transfer students, acquiring new technology, and saying goodbye to some employees while welcoming new staff.
During a recent board meeting, district officials said the corporation will accept six more non-resident students this year. Two students are currently enrolled but have moved out of district and want to continue in South Madison Schools; four students are new to the district.
The corporation, which has a total enrollment of about 4,500, has a total of 79 non-resident students.
In other school business:
• Laura Miller, assistant superintendent for elementary curriculum and instruction, presented a report on student and educator growth through the implementation of blended learning, which involves teaching methods outside of the traditional classroom form, such as online research.
The analysis, conducted by Five-Star Technology Solutions through a partnership with South Madison schools, included 1,847 students, teacher and administrative surveys, 121 classroom visits and nine focus group discussions.
The results indicated growth in several categories. The study showed a balanced distribution of learning strategies implemented in the classroom and a strong use of a variety of learning methods to support all students.
Students, teachers and administrators all fell within a high proficiency.
Miller commended the teachers, administrators and coaches for their work to provide a broad range of learning opportunities to meet students’ needs.
• The bid-opening process for renovations at Pendleton Heights High School, for the new wrestler area and activities center, has been pushed back to Monday, July 9. The plan is for bids to be recommended to the board for approval during the regularly scheduled meeting, Thursday, July 12.
• District officials agreed to a lease for purchase of Chromebooks for the district’s fifth- and ninth-graders. The costs will be included in book fees, and the purchase cost will be reimbursed over the four years of use, district officials said.
• Administrators and board members honored 2018 retirees, including: East Elementary School’s Jackie Stephens, Pendleton Elementary School-Primary’s Christy Wilson, Pendleton Heights High School’s Linda Manges and Annie Wills, as well as the administrative services center’s Altheia Groover, Larry James, Jim Vaughn, Terri Lee and Sandra Hudson.
• Officials also welcomed new hires: Curt Trout, English teacher, Pendleton Heights High School; Sonnet Moore, science teacher, Pendleton Heights High School; Rebecca Walls, chemistry teacher, Pendleton Heights Middle School and Pendleton Heights High School.