Latest news with #AnnistonBoardofEducation
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Anniston school board approves JAG program to combat dropouts
ANNISTON — The Anniston Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to adopt the Jobs for Alabama's Graduates (JAG) program, a statewide initiative aimed at supporting at-risk students and reducing dropout rates. The decision, made during the board's formal meeting, secures $75,000 to $80,000 in state funding for a JAG instructor and an additional $10,000 in startup costs for the district. The program will launch in Anniston City Schools in the coming academic year. 'This is a program that has saved countless lives in Alabama over the years,' said Dr. Craig Collins, education administrator at the Alabama State Department of Education and state JAG coordinator. 'We titled our presentation 'Let's Do the Math' because when you break it down, the real cost of dropout rates is staggering.' Joined by longtime state JAG director Mandy Nichols, Collins detailed the program's targeted approach to students facing academic and socioeconomic barriers. He cited statistics that roughly 2,500 students drop out of high school annually in Alabama, costing taxpayers an estimated $292,000 per student over their lifetimes — more than $3.5 billion over five years. 'The consequences are enormous,' Collins said. 'If we do nothing to help students graduate, our communities suffer, our workforce suffers, and most importantly, our youth suffer.' The JAG program identifies students dealing with five or more of 33 recognized obstacles — including poverty, homelessness, and parental incarceration — and supports them through daily, dedicated contact with a trained adult. JAG classrooms focus on 87 core employability competencies in a flexible, student-centered environment. 'I love it,' Superintendent Dr. D. Ray Hill said. 'It's good for students who need that extra attention.' Collins shared a personal account of witnessing generational poverty in his hometown of Troy. 'These numbers aren't just statistics,' he said. 'I've seen five generations living in housing projects. I'm not talking about 'those people'—I am one of those people. That's why this matters.' The vote capped off a meeting largely focused on celebrating student and faculty achievements. The board honored Anniston High School's boys and girls track teams for continued state-level success since 2021. Coach Lisa Howard received a plaque recognizing her leadership. 'Track is not the easiest sport, but they came out and they gave it their best," Howard said. 'We have two of our young men here that's a part of our team, they also competed in the Special Olympics.' Hill praised her record of consistent excellence. 'I've only been in a couple of districts where we've had what I call a repeat winning coach,' he said. 'We're going to do something a little bit larger.' Howard will receive a bonus, and the board plans to help purchase championship rings for the team. Board President Robert Houston added that he will treat the athletes to dinner in celebration. The meeting also recognized participants in the Anniston City Schools Leadership Development Seminar Cohort and the student-led broadcast crew from Randolph Park Elementary. Anniston Middle School teacher Samuel Green showcased creative work from his gifted students, including animated cartoons. In other business, the board approved several field trips, including summer football scrimmages for Anniston High, a ninth-grade transition program for eighth graders, and a gifted student trip to Majestic Caverns.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Anniston school board highlights summer programs
ANNISTON — The Anniston Board of Education convened Monday morning to discuss upcoming educational initiatives and approve several operational measures. Natasha Scott, site director of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative and the Alabama Science in Motion program at Jacksonville State University, presented plans for summer professional development sessions. These sessions, scheduled for June 10-13, will be held at Randolph Park Elementary School for K-5 math training and at Anniston High School for grades 6-12. 'The week of June 10-13, we will actually be providing our summer learning opportunities at Randolph Park," Scott said. "We're really excited that we're actually going to use your kids to model and train teachers," she added. Scott highlighted the collaboration with Anniston City Schools. 'We're very thankful for the partnership with Anniston City Schools to allow AMSTI into the schools,' she said, adding that this initiative serves as a model for other districts. 'We actually then used this model and presented this idea to other school districts that have allowed us to do something very similar, but we use Anniston as our poster child.' Superintendent Dr. D. Ray Hill expressed support for the summer program. "I'm loving this, because the focus has truly been about the students of Anniston City Schools the entire time,' he said. In other business, the board met in executive session for over an hour before approving personnel recommendations. Additional approvals included: — A standard student data privacy agreement, which Hill described as essential for managing computer usage policies, including AI and emerging technologies. — Field trips for various student groups. — A bid for new freezers and coolers: one large freezer and one small cooler at Cobb Preparatory Academy, a large freezer at Anniston High School and a large freezer at Anniston Middle School. The board announced that elementary summer school will run from June 3-27, 2025. A secondary summer school is scheduled for June 3-30, 2025. Anniston High School's graduation ceremony is set for May 29 at 7 p.m. at Lott-Mosby Memorial Stadium, with a rain location at the school's auditorium.
