Growth topic at Leeds Board of Education

Published 12:48 am Thursday, November 1, 2012

At a recent Leeds Board of Education (BOE) meeting, principals Andrew Briskey, Dr. Jason Baker and Michael Turner updated the board on the progress each school’s had since the beginning of the 2012/2013 school year.

“We need a new school,” said Briskey. “We’ve seen enormous growth. Our staff did a great job welcoming and managing 798 students for the beginning of school.”

Applauding the Leeds Elementary School teachers, Briskey also thanked his students and their parents for their support.

“Great things go on at Leeds Elementary School (LES),” Briskey said.

LES has equipped every classroom with SMART Boards (interactive white boards) to provide students with a more engaging way to learn.

The SMART boards were purchased with Booster-Thon funds and with money donated by Synergetics.

“I could talk to you all night about this,” said LES first grade teacher Brittany Puckett. “They have really changed the way I teach. Students are so much more engaged. This has really changed how students learn.”

Discussing improvements made in math and reading as well as a high percentage (well over the 80 percent it needed) voted to make LES an AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative) School.

“I could not work with a better group of people,” said Briskey. “They are working hard for all the children of Leeds. They are making a difference. Our community is going to be better because we love what we do.”

Leeds Middle School (LMS) principal Dr. Jason Baker spoke about his school’s achievements.

“We have a fantastic school,” Baker said. “We have about 520 students that utilize our classrooms everyday.”

Working on upgrading technology at LMS, Baker is hoping to secure three to eight SMART boards through a grant written by Dr. Burke Wren, Coordinator of Curriculum Initiatives for Leeds City Schools.

“Currently LMS has four SMART boards, one per grade level,” said Baker. “We also have a full classroom set of iPads for check out that is in use pretty much everyday.”

Baker commended the board for the ease of early dismissal for the homecoming schedule and let them know about the LMS PTO grant program.

“Our PTO grants middle school teachers with proceeds from events like dances and can be used for copy paper, laptops or whatever they may need,” said Baker.

Leeds High School (LHS) principal Michael Turner operates with 460 students on his campus.

In line with LES and LMS, LHS has also made upgrades to its technology.

Thanking the board for matching funds the Leeds Education Foundation provided, the high school was able to purchase 30 iPads.

Seeing a need for change, Turner identified what they needed to do in order to make room for success at LHS.

“Currently 80 percent of our seniors qualify for general or advanced academic diplomas. That’s a vast improvement from last year’s 59 percent,” said Turner. “Our teachers are doing an incredible job making sure every child has the opportunity to graduate from high school. Every student in our high school deserves the opportunity to go to college. We owe it to them.”

Adjusting to the new seven period day (moved from the block system at the start of this year’s school year), Turner said they work hard every day to uphold the vision and mission of the school system.

Honored to be a part of Leeds City Schools, Turner said, “I love what this community represents and stands for.”

The next Leeds BOE meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 13 at 6 p.m. at the LMS library.