|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Superintendent, staff discuss issues facing school system
Editor’s note: Tampa Bay Newspapers asked Pinellas County School Superintendent Clayton Wilcox and his staff to answer four questions on key issues affecting the school district.
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007 |
 |
![[Image]](/content_images/080207_pco-04.jpg) |
| Clayton Wilcox |
|
Q. How effective is the FCAT in measuring and improving student achievement?
A. FCAT is one of several measures used to provide part of the snapshot of student performance in reading and math. It has allowed us to compare our progress in improving instruction from one group to another (provided all other things are equal). It also has allowed for “some” individual student growth measures using developmental scale scores for students.
Q. What can state government do to improve school districts’ financial capability to meet legislative mandates, rules, etc.?
A. The state could actually “fund” or “fully fund” the mandates passed by the legislature after making a careful judgment of the real costs associated with the legislative priority.
Q. In the wake of shootings, violence and concerns about sexual predators on school grounds across the country, what has the school district done or should do to address such issues?
A. We’ve increased security resources like peer mentoring, mentoring and anti-bully campaigns to prevent violent acts from occurring, and we have heightened security on our campuses to include campus monitors, camera systems and other active safeguards. Additionally, an office of school safety and security has been created to specifically look at and address issues related to surveillance cameras, perimeter control and access to our schools. We struggle with maintaining a balance between having a user-friendly, welcoming school environment and a facility that is secure from unwanted intruders. We already have the Raptor system in schools that checks all visitors against the sexual predator database, and we are continually educating our students, staff members and parents about access-control strategies and the importance of following the rules. Every school develops a crisis plan and trains the staff on how to prevent incidences from occurring and their responsibilities if something should occur.
Q. Other than the issues that have been discussed, what is the biggest challenge(s) facing the school district in the coming years?
A. One challenge facing all school districts continues to be class-size amendment requirements. In 2008 ’09, the mandate will move to a class-by-class calculation of size, making adhering to the law even more complex. Developing a new student assignment plan for the 2008-’09 school year and beyond is another challenge for the district. Declining enrollment, which has led to the possibility of some schools closing, also faces Pinellas County Schools as population growth stagnates and the number of children in school decreases rather than the traditional increase to which we were accustomed in the past.
|
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
|
