September 3, 2021
During the Danville School Board’s meeting on September 2, the board heard communications from several different departments, including:
Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Natalie Halloran presented the new TalentEd program for applicant tracking.
Each principal in the district shared good news from their schools, as well as their current class sizes.
Director of Student Support Services Dr. Marva Tutt, Director of Services for Exceptional Children Dr. Tia Hairston, and Coordinator of Health and Wellness Renita Townes gave an update on departmental staffing and initiatives in progress, as well as a timeline for the PATHS school-based clinic at George Washington High School. The clinic is expected to open in January 2022.
Dr. Melissa Newton, executive director of assessment and accountability, shared SOL data from Spring 2021, which was released by the Virginia Department of Education on Aug. 26.
Dr. Tia Hairston provided an update for the annual plan for the services for exceptional children department, which now includes American Rescue Plan subgrants.
Dr. Angela Hairston gave an update on the Corrective Action Plan.
The board approved the following action items:
Twice a week COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated athletes and students involved in other extracurricular activities where distancing is not possible brought forth by Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston. This will be provided with no cost to students or the school system. One vendor to offer this testing will be Unity Mobile Health, LLC.
Personnel recommendations brought forth by Dr. Halloran
Lawrence Distributing as the provision of beverage items for 2021-2022 with an optional three year rollover brought forth by Director of Child Nutrition Phillip Gardner
Accounts payable warrants brought forth by Director of Finance Sharon Barksdale
The use of carryover funds for employee retention stipends brought forth by Barksdale
The 2021-2022 Career and Technical Education Advisory Council
FEV Tutor starts September 7
Danville Public Schools is partnering with FEV Tutor to offer live 1-to-1 tutoring help. The service is available to all DPS students in grades 3-12 beginning September 7, 2021. Short informational sessions are scheduled during the week of September 7 for teachers and later in the month for assistant principals and principals to learn how FEV works and how to refer students to them for additional help. Please see the Monday Memo and Teacher Tidbit for the training schedule.
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
The PAEMST program recognizes elementary and secondary level teachers in alternating years. This year recognition will be given to teachers of kindergarten through grade 6 in elementary mathematics and elementary science (K-6). Computer science applications will be reviewed as part of the mathematics category, and engineering applications will be reviewed as part of the science category. Nominations can be made by students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Teachers may also self-nominate. The nomination form must be submitted electronically by January 7, 2022 and should be completed early enough so that the teacher has enough time to prepare an application that reflects exemplary elementary teaching. Superintendent’s Memo #238-21
Schoolfield Science
At Schoolfield Elementary, we are growing future SCIENTISTS! We love to see our children thinking, hypothesizing, writing, and collaborating! Students are testing the effects heat has on a solid ice cube and how matter goes through phases. SOL 5.7
Go Jaguars!
DPS to hold in-person career fair
SPREAD THE WORD: Danville Public Schools is holding an in-person career fair on Sept. 13 at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, located at 150 Slayton Avenue in Danville. The event will be held from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and then from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome but pre-registration is encouraged by filling out this form: https://bit.ly/3hgDzFt
