Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Minor issues on McRae audit

McRae Middle School has successfully passed a recent audit by the state and is just one year away from a clean record.

MMS Principal Jamye Barnes recently addressed members of the Prescott School Board with the news.

In a telephone interview on April 5, Barnes said the Scholastic Audit was conducted by the Arkansas Department of Education, and that there were only a few minor issues the school was asked to address.

MMS continues to have a school improvement status. Barnes said the district will be clear of that designation if next years audit results are as favorable as this.

We think we will make it, Barnes said.

There are several schools around the state facing the school improvement requirements and Barnes said one of the biggest reasons is that middle schools are more accountable.

All four grades at middle school are tested and accountable, Barnes said.

She said the elementary schools have only two grades facing tests and high school students dont take the same standardized tests. The fact that all four grades are tested means there are more opportunities for middle schools to fall into the needs improvement category. Barnes said some districts around the state have split the middle schools to avoid that scenario.

In Prescott, Barnes said the teachers met the challenge head on.

Our teachers have worked very hard, Barnes said.

One of the changes made at MMS is that students have a period dedicated to intense study time. During that time, teachers work with students to meet individual goals with the ultimate goal being the higher test scores.

Barnes said it appears to be working.

Another change is that each student who exhibited a problem area on the standardized tests now has an improvement plan designed to address any deficit areas.

While there has also been an after-school tutoring program, Barnes said that particular area hasnt been as helpful as shed hoped. She said many students who would have benefitted from the one-on-one study time simply didnt show up for the service.

The after-school tutoring program ends this week, Barnes said.

Barnes told board members that the audit deficiencies were minor problems with solutions. For example, the auditors report indicated that the school should have had trophies and school achievement awards displayed. Another program in the district had requested that the trophy case in the main hall be used for displaying reading material.