Latest news with #PublicSchools
CBS News
18 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Barnes prepares for second year
Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes is preparing for his second school year in the role. In a sit down with WJZ, Barnes shared his approach to the new school year. When Barnes first started last year, he had a 90-day plan for the school district. Since then, he has had several more. "We're in our fifth 90 days," Barnes said. "That's what I told our team, we're in our fifth 90-day plan. So I think that level of urgency keeps us focused that we only have so many minutes in these roles, we gotta make the most out of each and every one of them." His approach has now shifted from short-term timelines to a multi-year strategy. Released earlier this year, his new strategic plan runs through 2029. It was created with input from surveys, community groups and other feedback. "I call it our strategic plan, because it was developed with over 12,000 voices and input from a wide range of community," Barnes said. The plan aims to strengthen learning and instruction, cultivate student belonging and well-being, foster staff growth and engagement, enhance systemic planning and procedures, and partner with families and community. Each priority has its own goals and strategies. Barnes said the school district will be transparent about its progress. "We'll check those off systematically, we'll be accountable," he said. "We'll be public about the results, and we'll take victory laps when they're there to be taken, and we'll take our lumps when we haven't hit the mark yet." Like its creation, the plan's goals are meant to be accomplished through collaboration with staff, HCPSS families and others in the community. "I'm as excited as I was a year ago, for the work, maybe even more so now that I've gotten into each of our schools and I've talked to teachers," Barnes said. "Our students and our teachers and our administrators give me a lot of energy, and then we come back and work with a really expert team here in our central offices."
International Business Times
5 days ago
- International Business Times
Female Decatur Substitute Teacher Admits to Grooming, Engaging in Sexual Intercourse with 11-Year-Old Student
The ex-Decatur Public Schools teacher who had sex with a male student under the age of 13 in her Mount Zion home could face up to 40 years in prison after agreeing to plead guilty. Alley E. Bardfield, 34, appeared Thursday in Macon County Circuit Court and admitted a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault, as reported by Herald & Review. That is a Class X felony which normally carries a sentencing range of 6 to 60 years in prison. But under the terms of a plea deal negotiated by Chief Public Defender Michelle Sanders, the agreed sentence cap was lowered to 40 years, with the actual penalty left to the decision of Judge Rodney Forbes. Bardfield, who has been held in the Macon County Jail since her arrest in March of 2024, will be sentenced Sept. 25. Boy's Mother Learned About the Relationship When He Started 'Acting Odd' After Spending a Night at the Teacher's Home Outlining the case against Bardfield earlier in court, State's Attorney Diane Couri said the defendant's sexual relationship with the boy was revealed when the child's mother noticed he was "acting odd" after he spent the night at the home of the former teacher. She also noticed the teacher had sent her son more than $700 over the past few months. The mother then found disturbing messages and pictures sent between Bardfield and her child on the boy's phone. The child later told police about having sex with Bardfield during that overnight stay. The child also said Bardfield would exchange nude photos on Snapchat. Bardfield Told the Victim She Couldn't Get Pregnant Because Her 'Tubes are Tied' During a "forensic" interview with police, the child said Bardfield had taken him to her bedroom and started kissing him. She had then helped the child undress and undressed herself before they had intercourse on her bed. During the interview, with the child's mom and cops watching, the boy engaged in a text message conversation with the defendant. The child told Bardfield he has to go out of town and then texts: "...I love you and I miss you alley. When I come back I'll see if I can come over." Bardfield is quoted as replying: "You're always welcome; I love and miss you too." Later, the child called Bardfield and police listen in after getting a court order to use an eavesdropping device. "(Bardfield) is heard telling the victim that her tubes are tied and that she cannot get pregnant," said the affidavit. "The victim asked Alley if he came over this weekend... if they could 'do it again'. Alley responded 'Yes'..." Bardfield Claimed the Boy Initially Made 'Sexual Advances Towards Her' After her arrest, Bardfield admitted having sex with the child on one occasion and paying him money when he asked her for cash. She is quoted as telling police the boy had initially made "sexual advances towards her" on the night they had intercourse. Forbes outlined in court the custodial term Bardfield was facing and also said she would have to register for the rest of her life as a sexual predator as part of her sentencing.
Washington Post
06-08-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Schools brace for potential cuts to special education funding
Special-education advocates and some public school districts are bracing for potential budget constraints as they prepare for the $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts the president signed into law last month. The billions that public schools get each year in reimbursements from Medicaid for services such as counseling and speech therapy are at risk, advocates warn.
New York Times
05-08-2025
- Business
- New York Times
A Public School Enrollment Crisis, and a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon
Hosted by Tracy Mumford Produced by Will Jarvis and Ian Stewart Edited by Ian StewartJessica Metzger and Tracy Mumford Featuring Dana Goldstein Public Schools Try to Sell Themselves as More Students Use Vouchers, by Dana Goldstein Trump's Demand to Trading Partners: Pledge Money or Get Higher Tariffs, by Alan Rappeport A Nuclear Reactor on the Moon? Come Again?, by Kenneth Chang Trump Administration Will Reinstall Confederate Statue in Washington, by Chris Cameron Chemical Makers to Pay N.J. $875 Million to Settle 'Forever Chemicals' Claims, by Hiroko Tabuchi James Leprino, 'Willy Wonka of Cheese' Who Revolutionized Pizza, Dies at 87, by Michael S. Rosenwald Tune in, and tell us what you think at theheadlines@ For corrections, email nytnews@ For more audio journalism and storytelling, download the New York Times Audio app — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Newsweek
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Admin Finds School Districts In Violation Over Trans Bathroom Rules
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Department of Education investigation has found five Northern Virginia School Districts violated Title IX by allowing transgender students to use the bathroom or locker room that matches their chosen gender identity. The districts include: Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Prince William County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, and Loudoun County Public Schools. Education Secretary Betsy Devos said that that the districts had breached federal law and the president's executive order to end "Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling." This is a breaking news story, updates to follow.
