Watson Chapel School District Superintendent Keith McGee highlighted the areas of focus for his first 100 days in the position during Monday’s board meeting.
Monday marked 111 calendar days since McGee succeeded the retiring Tom Wilson, who’s credited for quickly leading a campaign for a new high school campus when he was hired in the summer of 2022. While construction is on track, McGee has had to tackle several challenges including a negative perception of the district, which has been underperforming in state academic tests in recent years and endured a number of threats to campus safety.
The area of focus in McGee’s first 100 days centered on breaking down what he called departmental and district silos and “establishing effective collaborative, functional teams across the district.” To achieve this, McGee outlined, the district has been placing more emphasis on instructional leadership development; authentic school community engagement; inclusion and transparency; comprehensive audit and evaluation of all district departments; academic achievement and student outcomes for all grade levels, particularly in K-3 literacy and math and teacher efficacy; and a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff.
“I want a measurable target as a smart goal,” McGee said, specifying a 7% improvement among all subgroups in all schools for literacy and math as the goal. McGee is also pushing for a 100% graduation rate.
In the Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment (ATLAS) for grades 3-10, the district struggled in math with 66% of students scoring Level 1, or demonstrating a limited understanding of the subject; 25% in Level 2, or a basic understanding; 7% in Level 3, or a proficient understanding; and 2% in Level 4, or an advanced understanding.
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In English language arts, 42% of WCSD students scored Level 1, 42% in Level 2, 13% in Level 3 and 2% in Level 4. In science, 45% scored in Level 1, 42% in Level 2, 11% in Level 3 and 2% in Level 4.
Some of the negative perceptions of Watson Chapel that McGee pointed out was a toxic culture internally and externally, a curriculum that’s not challenging, distrust and division between staff members and the central office. The district has opportunities, however, to improve customer service, highlight more of the good news in the district and promote leadership development, but the district must create a sense of urgency, he said.
“We have to decide on where we want to be as a district, but we have to discuss where we are and we have to close that gap,” McGee added.
A recruitment and retention plan for teachers in the district is an immediate need for the district, McGee pointed out.
Mark Gotcher, leadership coach with Bailey Education Group, the consulting firm for the WCSD, revealed how the firm has supported the district this school year: The WCSD transportation department addressed efficiency by reducing the number of bus routes and the number of insured buses and vehicles, and introduced transportation software vendors for improved routing.
Bailey also provided coaching and support for the superintendent and other leadership personnel, and an operational audit has begun to review food service, transportation and maintenance/custodial departments to look for opportunities to be more efficient.
WORDS NOT WEAPONS
Edgewood Elementary School won a contest facilitated by Pastors on Patrol to solicit the most pledges by students to not use weapons, bully or use demeaning language. The contest was described as a boycott of the negative actions, the Rev. Jesse Turner said.
NEW OFFICERS
Mack Milner will serve as board president through November 2025, succeeding Goldie Whitaker. Under board policy, the office goes to the longest serving board member never to have held the position.
The board voted Kevin Moore as vice president, Connie Compton as secretary and Alan Frazier as legislative liaison.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The board unanimously approved the move of a professional development day from Jan. 3 to Feb. 17, Presidents Day. Jan. 6 is the first day students return to school from the Christmas break.
PERSONNEL MOVES
The board approved the hires of Laura Case as vocal music teacher, TeShara Crumpton as secondary English teacher and Savonta Curtis as secondary English teacher.
The board accepted a letter of resignation from gifted and talented education coordinator Jenifer Chapman.
The Rev. Jesse Turner of Pastors on Patrol talks with Watson Chapel School District board members before presenting an award to Edgewood Elementary School Principal Edgar Cooper. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)