Although the city school district recently received a failing status from the state, Superintendent Dr. Darron Edwards said that rating will improve under his leadership.
“Don’t, and I repeat, don’t let what you see now define where we are heading in this school district,” he said, during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Monday.
Edwards, along with three trustees of the Yazoo City Municipal School District, shared the academic standings of the district with city leaders this week. The results were based on last year’s student results.
“The Yazoo City Municipal School District is an ‘F,’” Edwards said. “It is a failing school district. But that is not a true reflection of the 2,500 students who we have in this school district. They are remarkable. They are incredible. They come to school ready to learn.”
Edwards said he is optimistic about the district’s direction with a number if initiatives he has already implemented within his 12 weeks in the school year.
“A year from now, I will be back with some different results,” he said.
Edwards told city leaders his five goals for the school district include increased student achievement, increased graduate rate, a decrease in drop out rate, increased parental involvement and a stabilized financial record.
“These are five goals that we are working towards every single day,” he said. “This is week 12, and we are off to a great start.”
Edwards said his administration had an early projection of last year’s ratings. He knew where the district would be academically.
“We made a proactive approach,” Edwards said. “We changed five principals. Five out of six schools have new leaders.”
With a new vision of “Excellence is our Expectation, Edwards said he expects just that from his staff, students and parents.
“We expect that from everyone whether it’s employees, parents, students,” he said. “We have goals and expectations very different from what we had in the past.”
Edwards vows improvements will be made, but he admits it can’t happen overnight.
“Every student in the Yazoo City Municipal School District will improve and grow,” he said. “But every student cannot go to a proficiency (level) in 180 days.
Edwards said there is a very large numbers of students within the district who fall under “minimum or basic” levels.
“It unrealistic that we can take the students at performance levels 1 and 2 and take them to performance level 5 (advanced) overnight.”
Edwards said he knows it is going to be a challenging goal to reach. But he is optimistic about new programs and resources.
“We are not discouraged or dismayed,” Edwards said. “We know that it’s in our rear view mirror. And we can accept that. But that is not going to define where we go.”
Other than five new principals, there are some other major changes already in place under Edwards’ leadership.
The district has already saved over $250,000 by cutting the central office staff in half.
“We are going to do more with less,” he added.
With that quarter of a million dollars in savings, Edwards said he is focused on upgrading the district’s technology.
“We are behind in the Yazoo City Municipal School District when all of our schools don’t have WiFi access,” he said.
A Parent Academy has been established to educate parents on accountability, and he said it has been received very well within the community.
Offering transparency and an increased parental involvement will arise from community town hall meetings. Edwards hosted one just last Thursday.
Other program include a new teacher initiative, a literacy campaign requiring students to read 100 books in 100 days, mentor programs, online assessments and learning walks.
Edwards said the district will also be using the savings to pay for dual enrollment among students.
“Students in the district can take college classes with credit in college and high school,” he said. “We are investing in our students for a long term preparation.”
“What we are doing in Yazoo City is not just preparing them to go to the next grade,” he added. “We have to look beyond the here and now.”
Edwards is also working with local churches to provide free labs.
With his five goals and the variety of resources implemented thanks to new savings, Edwards said the district’s rating will improve.
Edwards was also proud to announce that he has relocated to Yazoo City.
