Message from Dr. Phyllis A. Edwards, Superintendent, City Schools of Decatur
Dear Parents, Community Members and Visitors to the CSD Website,
Welcome to what promises to be another exciting year in City Schools of Decatur! I hope you had a restful and rewarding summer. As you navigate our website, you will see pictures of our board, employees and events happening within the City Schools of Decatur. This is a high performing school district in terms of student achievement, parent and community involvement and a dedicated and highly-trained staff. You will see news releases and additional documentation; including video of board meetings and other special program events which demonstrate the high level of excellence within this school system.
One major change for teachers, students and parents for the 2010-2011 school year is the new school system calendar. Students return to school August 2, 2010 and are released for the summer May 28, 2011. This earlier start allows us to reinforce the learning of our students without the long summer breaks that often allowed so many students to lose vital skills and information. Our 2010-2011 calendar features breaks throughout the school year, which will keep our students and staff fresh and eager to continue their academic journey. I am looking forward to this positive impact that this calendar will have on teaching and learning. You can access the calendar on the home page of the CSD website.
We have some eager and exciting new leaders joining our team for 2010-2011. Each of them brings a fresh energy, vitality and new vision to the important work that we do. Mr. Derrick Thomas assumes the role of principal at Renfroe Middle School and will be joined by a new assistant principal, Dr. Cathey Goodgame. Ms. Erin Wheeler returns to City Schools of Decatur after a year as an expeditionary learning designer to lead Clairemont Elementary as its new principal. Mr. Bill Weinmann is the new director of maintenance and facilities and will be responsible for keeping our old buildings maintained as well as our new ones on line. Ms. Debra Kahn joins CSD as the cultural arts and special events coordinator. Debra’s primary responsibility is overseeing the use of all the space in the Decatur High School’s
Performing Arts Center. Each of these new leaders brings important experience and a keen sense of our mission to help all students to achieve and succeed.
We continue to fulfill our master plan commitment for construction and bring on new and upgraded facilities so our students can enjoy the best environment for learning. We have completed the gymnasium at Renfroe Middle School and will have the ribbon cutting for the RMS gym sometime in August 2010.
Additionally, Renfroe Middle School has undergone its first major infrastructure update in forty years with a new heating ventilation and air conditioning system, wiring and cabling, total remodeling of restrooms and the addition of almost forty Active Boards in classrooms. You will certainly notice a difference when you enter the building.
The renovation of sections of Decatur High School to accommodate our new Career Academy is well underway. The Career Academy will give Decatur High School students and community members the opportunity to pursue career fields that are technical and career-focused. Last year, we submitted and were awarded a state grant of over $3 million to accomplish this goal. Relevant and rewarding educational opportunities will come with the opening of the Decatur Career Academy.
The construction of the 4/5 Academy at 5th Avenue continues to progress. We are so excited to be bringing 5th Avenue back to life! The building planned at 5th Avenue is architecturally beautiful and fits nicely into the community. This building is being designed to meet the needs of fourth and fifth grade students fully engaged in the International Baccalaureate Programme.
Our students have continued to demonstrate improved academic achievement this year. At this time, we are certain that, with the exception of Renfroe Middle School, all other schools have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), as determined by the Department of Education/ No Child Left Behind. Some of our students with disabilities have struggled to cross the bar and show the success needed to make AYP in math. It is only this population of our students that did not “meet or exceed” in math. Mr. Thomas and his staff will continue to work hard and assist all RMS students to succeed with a special focus on special education students in the area of mathematics. While the formal announcements for meeting AYP have not been made, we want to provide you with as much information as possible at the time of the writing of this
letter. It is still possible with retake information of students’ taking the tests in the summer, RMS will still make AYP.
In the midst of all the excitement surrounding the opening of school we never want to lose sight of our primary goal – to provide the very best education possible for all of the students in City Schools of Decatur. This year we will continue to build on the successes of our past – but will also be focusing on what is in store for the future. We are planning to begin a new Strategic Planning process; which will provide vision and direction for the school system for the next five years. You will be notified of the activities associated with this timely project. It is my hope that you will participate in community conversations to help us determine our direction.
I am looking forward to a great school year complete with many challenges and continued success!
Sincerely,
Phyllis A. Edwards, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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