School programs continue presentations at work group
By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Feb. 26, 2003
Meridian public school representatives showed Tuesday that their educational programs work and, in some cases, have helped improve scores last year on the Mississippi Curriculum Test.
Kim Benton, Oakland Heights Elementary School principal, credited improved test scores to the Marie Carbo program. Marie Carbo is designed to improve reading skills, fluency and comprehension.
Benton outlined the program during a meeting of the What Works group volunteers who are charged by the Meridian School Board to study the school district's strengths and weaknesses.
A separate group called New Expectations is charged with determining what the community expects from Meridian public schools. Both are expected to report to the school board in March.
The board is then expected to launch a full-scale search for a new superintendent to replace Janet McLin, who is retiring.
On Tuesday, school district representatives discussed the Marie Carbo program, the GED program and the alternative school. Nine of the 12 members of the What Works group attended the meeting.
Beverly Pennington told the group that the goal of the GED program is to keep potential school drop-outs off of the street.
Martha Walker said the Marion Park alternative school operates under "the little red school house concept," which means there are several grade levels present in one classroom.
Marion Park serves students with discipline, academic or behavior problems. Walker said that Marion Park operates under the same guidelines and curriculum as everyone else in the district.
