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Board makes policy changes
Schools to charge for some electives
Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Chilton County Board of Education recommended to approve two new policies that will directly affect the students they represent.
Student fees will now be instated within the school system for non-required classes of the Alabama school system.
If a student decides to take a class that requires additional fees, the school is now able to charge the student additional fees to support the class.
The fees will be used to buy and maintain instructional materials so that classes not funded directly by the state will still uphold the school’s policies for academic excellence.
“If our students want to take it, we can now charge a fee,” Keith Moore, Chilton County superintendent, said.
Additionally, the board voted to reverse a ban on in-school suspended students that prevented them from participating in extracurricular activities.
“We just didn’t think it was right,” Moore said.
Some schools had longer or shorter periods of in-school suspensions, and the board decided to allow those students that would possibly be suspended on a Friday to still participate in weekend curricular activities, like sports, since the suspension periods are not regulated.
“In other words, a student who is in in-school suspension could not go to football practice afterwards, but now a student in in-school suspension can go to practice,” Moore explained.
All students penalized with out of school suspension are still not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities affiliated with the school. Students with unexcused absences are also unable to participate in extracurriculars on the day of the absence.
Excused students may still participate in their regular activities the day of their absence.
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Comments
Posted by donnymhayes (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad. Our schools should teach personal responsibility, cause and effect, that there are consequences to our actions. But not Chilton County, our education leaders feel it is more important to play sports. I hope everyone will remember this very poor decision come next election and vote these people out of office. They clearly have no concern for the education of our students.
Donny Hayes
Posted by chiltonnative77 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This comes as no surprise to me. As a parent of students in this system I have sat back and watched as "problem" students get pushed ahead of other well deserving students in regards to sports. It's just another example of how corrupt our system is. The real problem is that we continue to allow this to happen.
Posted by danwright (Dan Wright) on July 17, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In a time when young people have absolutely no appreciation for the things they have we are once again allowing them to be rewarded for wrongdoing. I for one do not care whether an athlete gets to play football or not on the weekend if they can not behave properly any other time. This is absurd and proves exactly where the "elected" officials priorities are.
I am not familiar with the details concerning the first part of this article but it now appears we are "charging" students for trying to better themselves and expand their learning experience? If I am wrong I will withdraw my comments. I understand meeting budgets and everything associated with it, however we can not allow our students to accept mediocrity. Requiring students to pay for non-required classes will promote mediocrity. What about those students' families that are unable to afford the extra fees?
Posted by NoSugar (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How is it that according to the advertiser poll a large majority of us do not believe the students in ISS should be allowed to attend extracurricular activities yet the Board and Superintendent elected by the people of this county have voted to allow it, contrary to the peoples'preference? It is time that we ensure that we elect officials that represent the majority, not who make decisions based on their personal agenda or just to go along with what the chief official wants. I hope that we can all remember this in our upcoming elections.
Posted by callie123 (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is not a surprise to me.. I agree with the other comment of this is an example of how corrupt our system really is... I have children that were in sports, but are not now. What we are teaching our kids in school is horrible..
It used to be that it was a privilege to be involved in different things because you stayed out of trouble. Now it doesn't matter.. I think this decision shows again that we have the wrong board in place. All I can hope is that we get them out next election.
Posted by callie123 (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is not a surprise to me.. I agree with the other comment of this is an example of how corrupt our system really is... I have children that were in sports, but are not now and am glad. What we are teaching our kids in school is horrible..
It used to be that it was a privilege to be involved in different things because you stayed out of trouble. Now it doesn't matter.. I think this decision shows again that we have the wrong board in place. All I can hope is that we get them out next election.
Posted by Peaches48 (sue hicks) on July 18, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To Whom It May Concern:
I am extremely disappointed that my first comment was removed because it stated what I had experienced in two school systems. I "stepped on toes" and it was removed.
Since freedom of speech is not allowed and I want to express my thoughts and not get censored--take a look at the survey which expresses the majority! Sue Hicks 2202 F Scott Drive, Montgomery, AL 36106
Daytime number-334 242 2065.
Posted by kudzupatch (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sue - don't take it personally - I made a comment the first day something was printed about this - I think it was a couple of days ago - mine was removed too - nothing ugly - just stating a fact! As always - the mighty "good old boy" system continues to reign in Chilton County - nothing will ever change here.
Posted by callie123 (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It sound like the Chilton County School System WILL NEVER CHANGE....
Posted by kudzupatch (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It won't - too much nepotism and taking care of their "buddies" they promised jobs.
Posted by bmaze (Brent Maze) on July 18, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sue, you're comment has NOT been removed. It is still on the site for the poll question. Because of this repsonse. I have readded the poll to this story. You can still access the comments to the question. Any comments that are attached to the front page poll questions will be changed every day because the poll question changes every day. In fact, most of the comments were used in an online reader feedback column on today's editorial page. If you have any questions please contact me.
Brent Maze
Managing Editor
Posted by kudzupatch (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Brent - thank you for the note about finding our previous comments with the poll question - I found my previous comment - I appreciate your work!
Posted by callie123 (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our children are the ones that are suffering..
Posted by donnymhayes (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If anyone wants to really get frightened, read the SouthEast Education Foundation report: High School Dropouts: Alabama’s Number One Education and Economic Problem (www.southerneducation.org)
To quote:
"National studies have used varying methods and numbers, but every independent analysis of high school graduation
rates among the states in recent years has shown that Alabama remains near the bottom, ranking somewhere between 42nd and 47th in the nation."
Think about this too:
"Using the Alabama Department of Education’s
own latest published data and graduation standards,
SEF determined that Alabama’s public high schools
had a dropout rate of 39 percent in 2006. This means
that roughly 4 out of every 10 of Alabama’s 9th grade
students who should have received regular high school
diplomas in 2006 did not graduate."
And this doesn't just affect the dropout..it affects everyone. This is the reason the state has to offer so much in incentives to get companies to open shop here..the companies know they will have a hard time finding the number of educated workers needed. Our board would better serve our community spending time solving real education issues, but until we all wake up and stop voting these people in office time and time again, history will continue to repeat itself.
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