The Martinsville School Board reviewed a new state accreditation model at its March 10 meeting, a change that could impact how schools measure student performance and determine rankings for assistance.
Additionally, a long-discussed community gym project, first proposed more than 50 years ago, is now moving forward, with plans to seek architects and engineers for further development.
The proposed accreditation model focuses on individual student growth, tracking progress in academic courses over time. Schools would be ranked based on student growth and attendance, receiving ratings of either “excellent” (90 percent or above) or “needs attention” (70 percent or lower).
Schools Superintendent Dr. Zebedee Talley Jr. expressed concerns over the program’s political nature and potential impact on local schools.
“I don’t know anything that’s not political these days. Some want to stop the implementation of this, and they thought this was an attempt to grade all schools in Martinsville as needing assistance,” Talley said.
He also questioned the necessity of a statewide overhaul, given Virginia’s high education rankings.
“Virginia is rated the highest state for business, and the second most important component of that is education. So, if Virginia needed an entirely new system, then why are we ranked so high?” he said.
Talley noted that The Virginia Association of Teachers has raised concerns, advocating for at least three years of recorded data before implementation.
“Some schools love it, some think it’s basically entrapment. It’ll be interesting to see what the results are,” he added.
Concerns were raised about increased pressure on both teachers and students to perform well under the new system.
“If we do what’s best for students and take care of our staff, I think things will work out for the best. I like that every student can show growth. This lets us keep moving students, which I like,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Angilee Downing.
However, she acknowledged potential drawbacks.
“There are positives and negatives, and the calculations are confusing,” she said.
Board members will hear additional data and discuss the accreditation model further at their next monthly meeting.
In other matters:
*A long-discussed community gymnasium project, which has been in school board records since 1960, is gaining momentum.
Travis Clemmons, executive director of Administrative Services, presented an outline for the building and proposed forming a committee to seek architects and engineers for the next phase.
Last month, Clemmons received several proposals from interested companies.
“We do not know the final price estimate yet, but we will find out in the coming weeks,” he said.
Talley emphasized the importance of providing young people with a dedicated space for sports and activities.
“It is very important that our young people have a gym, a place for the community. We will come up with a cost, and we have had separate entities that have promised support,” he said.
He expressed enthusiasm for the project, thanking those involved.
“We are excited for our kids; I am really excited for our people. We have a vision, and we’re going for it. I want to thank all of our sponsors.”
The board and attendees expressed optimism about the potential benefits of the gymnasium, with many highlighting how it would offer more activities for young people in Martinsville.
* The school board recognized the Swim Team’s state level awards presented by Katrina Childress. This is the first time a student has won first place in a state level competition. Sherman Dillard won the state title, Ben Puckett was awarded second place in the diving competition.
