School board applicants grilled

The City of Holly Springs considered one applicant, LaKisha DeBerry, for the Holly Springs School District Board at the February 17 board meeting.

DeBerry was asked questions regarding her knowledge about the functions of the school board and Charisse Harris, a veteran board member of 10 years, was also present and asked for reappointment.

The board was hesitant at first to explore the applicants knowledge about the functions of school boards but did not offer a motion to appoint either person.

What followed was a thorough vetting of the applicants understanding of the relationship of the school board to the school district.

Mayor Charles Terry said the appointments would start serving in March.

Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather began questioning of DeBerry after saying she was not quite ready to make a motion. Merriweather is a veteran school teacher and school system administrator.

Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones, also an educator and administrator, asked DeBerry why she was applying for the school board position.

DeBerry attended daycare, ICS Head Start, and Holly Springs High School and now teaches at Byhalia.

From her educational experience, DeBerry said she sees that children develop differently and she understands that children deal with different issues. She said Holly Springs is losing its students to other schools.

“So we need to hone in on what the issues are or figure out what we are not doing,” she said.

Terry interjected that he wanted a motion to interview school board member Harris, too.

“I want to see Holly Springs elevated to the school I remember,” DeBerry said. “I want to see all of it elevated.”

Ward 1 alderman Sandra Hodges asked if schools are trying to work with “No Child Left Behind.” “No child should be left behind,” DeBerry said. "I think we need to understand where they are as students."

DeBerry said students are not on grade level. She said she wants to see the graduation rate improved.

“Most of our students are not on grade level,” she said. “So, interventions are very important to get them to their actual grade level.”

“I know testing is a real high standard for us,” she said.

“What is the purpose of the school board,” Merriweather asked.

“The purpose of the school board is to grow not just our community, but our students, as well as our parents,” DeBerry said.

Terry asked what DeBerry brings to the school board.

“My experience, knowledge and experience,” she said. “I think we are losing our students because we don’t have creativity to move our kids forward.”

Merriweather asked three priorities DeBerry believes the Holly Springs School District should focus on for the next few years.

“Growth of schools and retention of students, resources, and top tier intervention,” DeBerry said.

Merriweather, who said she had covered the area of school boards and districts at Municipal League conferences, asked DeBerry what strategies she supports to ensure equitable funding and budgeting to make sure money is spent on appropriate resources.

“I would like to see what the budget looks like before I answer that,” DeBerry said.

Merriweather asked DeBerry how a school board provides input into school policies on attendance and hiring.

“I’m in Byhalia now,” DeBerry said.

She said she does surveys for 9^th and 10^th grade English where the parents are taught, as well as the student, to engage parental interest.

“How would you use that to engage parents?” Merriweather asked.

DeBerry said the Byhalia school tries to engage the parent in anything that is being done in the school district to give the parent perspective on how to improve the school and catch their interest.

“Where do you see Holly Springs School District in five years?”Merriweather asked.

“I want our students to come back and give back to the school, to get the best as a school,” DeBerry said.

She said she moved her child out of the Holly Springs School District because it was not the best.

Merriweather asked what strategies DeBerry has thought about specifically that she would do working with other school board members.

“It takes a team to know where we are,” DeBerry said. “Being a team member is #1.” “How would you hold the district leadership accountable?” alderman Jones asked.

DeBerry said when you elevate out of grade level, you allow children to be children instead of adults. Board members need to work on student loss to other schools, the number of students below grade level and work as a team, she said.

Merriweather asked who is ultimately responsible to assure school districts get qualified teachers, administrators, etc.

DeBerry said the school board is over the superintendent and considers experience when hiring and can go outside the city to find employees.

“What qualities do you see?” Merriweather asked.

“The ability to adapt, to be humble, to get it done and to take in communication from all around, discernment, adult intervention, all those things,” DeBerry said.

School board member Charrise Harris was asked why she should be reappointed.

“What are some of the big wins at the School Board?” Merriweather asked.

Harris said the district moved up from a grade C to a grade A level school.

She said the school board governs by policy.

“Superintendents and principals respect us,” she said. “We ask about intervention and what are the benchmarks. We are data driven.”

Merriweather said if students are performing on all three benchmarks, there should be growth.

“No child is being left behind,” Harris answered to alderman Hodges, who repeated her question. “We make sure staff has adequate training. You make sure parents are involved. Everybody plays a part when it comes down to student achievement.”

Alderman Jones asked when the last time the school district hired male principals.

Merriweather asked for an example of a problem where the school district had a policy for it.

Harris said the recent ice storm is an example where the school board was allowed to forgive days missed for two weeks.

“In the state, you have the choice to do it,” she said.

Terry asked about the accountability of the school board.

Harris said the board discusses issues they feel strongly about and then stand together on situations.

“What do you bring to the board?” Terry asked.

Harris said she understands education as she is an educator. She understands student achievement and decision making.

Jones asked how school officials get feedback from superintendents and principals.

Harris said through surveys. Jones asked about the long- standing problems in the Junior High which has moved from failing to a “D”.

“What are we doing to address these deficits?” he asked.

“That’s not something that is going to change overnight,” Harris said. “We did change some leadership.”

“What are we doing for intervention?” Jones said.

Harris said if you don’t have classroom management, you are not going to have student achievement.

“You have to understand each child. Every teacher teaches differently. You find out how to help teachers to help,” Harris said.

Asked about enrollment, Harris said it is right at 1100 and has had drops over the years.

Merriweather asked what percent of students are leaving the High School and what the district has initiated in terms of policy as board.

Harris said the school makes sure the student lives in the district. The district does get requests for transfers, but the policy is you have to stay in the district.

She said sometimes parents ask to be allowed to take their child to another district which is close to where they work.

“What is the number one reason parents leave?” Merriweather asked.

Harris said behavior can cause a parent to request moving their child to another district. But often the request is related to the parent wanting their child to go to school near their work.

“It has not been due to academics,” she said.

She said it is important to support the teachers and staff and to see to it that every child has access to safety and a high quality environment – to make sure policies are in place to have high quality learning.