A year-round school schedule would benefit Anson County students and staff, according to school board member Brian Johnson.

During the Anson County Board of Education’s Monday meeting, Johnson proposed moving county schools to a year-round schedule, alternating nine weeks in school and three weeks off.

Superintendent Michael Freeman provided the board with folders containing articles listing the pros and cons of changing the schedule so that each member could easily complete more research on the topic on his or her own time.

Johnson first pointed to Anson schools’ 2014-15 state scores. Anson Academy did not receive a grade since it had too few students to evaluate. Wadesboro Primary School earned a 35 (an F) and Wadesboro Elementary earned a 36 (F), making them the two lowest-ranked schools in the county.

Anson County Early College and Ansonville Elementary School tied for the highest scores with 70 (B).

Freeman said that while the schools should improve the scores, the other key focus should be on individual students’ grades to see how they were performing.

“I will never agree, and I think everyone here would agree with me, that an Anson County child can’t stand on his own and do as well as any other child in the nation,” Freeman said. “Because we’ve got some serious success stories.”

Board member Lisa Davis pointed out that while some of the schools scored low on the evaluation, some were listed as meeting or exceeding their overall growth. Even Wadesboro Elementary’s low score met the school’s growth expectations. She said charts showing the schools’ scores are misleading when examined on their own.

Johnson said he was afraid the low scores could mean the state will decide to take over the schools, and said the county needs to focus on improving those scores.

In order to improve those scores most quickly, Johnson said the board should switch the schools to a year-round schedule.

“It’s pretty much undisputed that no one’s damaged by it,” Johnson said. “Everyone does just as well or a little better, but the huge improvement, the huge benefit, goes to the economically distressed, the socio-economic group of children that aren’t doing well. To me, that reflects Anson County, and they’re the ones that benefit.”

The idea of taking summers off from school originated when families needed their children home during the summers to help with work on the farm. Johnson said the idea is antiquated and that it is time to introduce the year-round schedule.

Although there are different models, Johnson recommended nine weeks in school, three weeks off as he believes research has shown it to be the best.

Students who need academic tutoring can receive it in the first week of each three-week break, giving students who need it more focused attention.

“That’s why the more challenged students do so much better,” Johnson said.

The school should use single tracking rather than multi-tracking, especially with its declining student enrollment, Johnson said.

The board member also said the schools would find that not only do students perform better, but there would be less turnover and burnout among staff. While Johnson acknowledged the system would likely lose some staff in the first year, he said other teachers would be attracted to the year-round schedule.

The changed schedule would mean higher costs, largely from the tutoring, but Johnson said U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson is looking into the possibility of using Title I funds for it.

Johnson said he believes high school students would perform better in class and be more alert if they started school later in the morning.

Johnson acknowledged that professional development opportunities for teachers would be harder to schedule, but said he believed it could be worked out. Students would not have whole summers to use for summer jobs, but they would have the same amount of days free throughout the year to work, he said.

While the three weeks off of school every nine weeks may “complicate” child care, it would work out better in the long run, he said. Families would be able to pay for child care in smaller chunks throughout the year rather than for the entire summer, making it easier for families to afford, Johnson said. He also said he has talked with local church and nonprofit leaders who have expressed their willingness to help children.

Although it would be a big change, Johnson felt that everyone would like it overall after the first year and urged the board to make a decision as quickly as possible.

Only 8 percent of county residents have college degrees, Johnson said.

“When you look at the number of teachers, of doctors, of other professionals, that doesn’t leave a lot of people that have gone to college,” Johnson said. “It’s going to take a change in culture. It’s a big project.”

Freeman pointed out that many students can be successful without degrees, with many going into professions that don’t require them, but said Johnson was making several good points overall that the board did need to consider.

As a retired prison employee, Johnson said he’s seen too often what happens when enough investment isn’t put into children.

“Time is short,” he said. “Every day we don’t make a move on it, if we let it go another year or many more, more of our low socio-economic class is dying of drugs, they’re dropping out, they’re selling drugs, they’re holding up businesses. They’re throwing their lives away. The cornerstone is education. We have to get these kids graduated. We have to get them qualified for jobs so that they can work. They need a work ethic, and that comes from doing homework.”

Board member Dr. George Truman said that the board will need a “compelling reason” to make the change and that the board will need to do more research on the issue before making a decision.

If officials decide to pursue making that change, Truman said the board will need to get feedback from school staff and the community before any decision is made.

The board’s next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Charles Riddle Staff Development Center at the Board of Education office at 320 Camden Road, Wadesboro.

Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.

Imari Scarbrough | Anson Record School board member Brian Johnson asks his fellow board members to consider a year-round class schedule for Anson County Schools during Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_Brian-Johnson-toned.jpgImari Scarbrough | Anson Record School board member Brian Johnson asks his fellow board members to consider a year-round class schedule for Anson County Schools during Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
Johnson: Schedule would aid struggling students

By Imari Scarbrough

iscarbrough@civitasmedia.com