Nelson County school board reviews ‘Best Days’ results, approves make-up days

The Nelson County board of education met for its monthly working session Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. The board approved make-up days for days missed during the recent snow and reviewed the recent “Best Day,” the district’s non-traditional instruction day.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, 10 p.m. — The county school district’s first non-traditional instruction (NTI) day Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 was reviewed Thursday night at the Nelson County Schools board of education work session.

Superintendent Anthony Orr discusses the “Best Day” survey results Thursday night during the board of education’s working session.

The district calls its non-traditional instruction days “Best Days,” and the first one was called the Monday after heavy snow blanketed the county.

“I feel like it was a complete success,” Ann Marie Williams, the district’s director of elementary schools, told the board.

To get feedback on the first “Best Day,” Williams sent surveys to teachers, certified staff and parents. The results were generally very positive, with comments about improving communications, the instruction, and the expectations of a “Best Day.”

The “Best Day” concept is for students have have study material from their classes to take home prior to an anticipated snow event or to download when school is closed by weather or road conditions. The students are tasked with completing their assignments while they are home from school and then turning them in when they return to school.

In the survey comments, some parents and teachers wondered why a “Best Day” wasn’t called when the roads conditions were very poor. Instead, the district’s first “Best Day” was called the Monday after the big snow when most county roads were in good condition.

Some students had trouble logging in for their lessons, and Williams said that students who need help will be given additional instruction to be sure they know how to access the needed information and resources.

Ann Marie Williams, right, present survey results on the district’s first “Best Day” on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Click to enlarge.

Superintendent Anthony Orr said a “Best Day” is designed to operate when the major roads are passable; this way, teachers can still report to schools, and be available to assist their students who are working from home. And students who are able to come to school have to option of coming to school and completing their assignments at their school.

“We’re only doing (Best Days)it on days when its quite safe for people to get to work,” he said.

Among parents, 91 percent approved of the “Best Day” use. Among the school employees, 73 percent rated the Best Day as “Good,” with 27 percent rating it as “OK with change needed.”

Board member David Norman said the “Best Day” was a hit with at his home with his son.

Another opportunities for improvement identified in the survey included improved communication with the media so they are aware of the need to announce a “Best Day” plan was being implemented, rather than simply reporting the schools were closed.

THOMAS NELSON BID DELAY. Due to the delayed state approval of the Thomas Nelson High School auditorium plans, the bid packets were delayed and unavailable for review by prospective contractors.

Tim Hockensmith, the district’s chief operating officer, said the TNHS bids will be opened March 1st and then brought to the board for approval at its working session Thursday, March 3.

The board will also approve a resolution for the sale of bonds to fund construction of both the ELC expansion and the TNHS auditorium projects.

Hockensmith also reported on the refinancing of two bonds the board authorized recently. The district was able to refinance both and get a lower interest rate. Over the 12-year life of the refinanced bonds, the district will save nearly $503,000, he said.

MAKE-UP DAYS. The board approved three make-up days to compensate for the days lost in the recent snowfall. Feb. 12, March 11 and May 20 will be used to make-up for Jan. 20, 21 and 22.

In other action, the board reviewed the MAP assessment scores in math and reading for the district’s K-8 schools.

Kim Brown, the district’s director of secondary schools, compared the differences in student math and reading achievement between assessments given in the fall and then again in the winter.

The assessments are used in the schools to identify students who need additional help with math and reading skills, Brown said.

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