The Laurel School District has developed a plan for improvement to address the district’s performance on the state’s new Mississippi Curriculum Test and accountability model.

Parents, educators, students and community leaders attended a community meeting at the Gardiner Administrative Building Auditorium to discuss the new accountability system and the district’s goals.

A full explanation of the new system was presented, as well as plans for improvement.

Jean Massey, associate superintendent of the assessment/accountability division of the Mississippi Department of Education, attended the meeting.

Massey told those in attendance that the state’s new accountability system is designed to “move Mississippi toward national average performance.”

She said the state has developed an accountability system that “includes an achievement component, a growth component and a graduation/dropout component.”

“In this model, you have to pay attention to every child because they all need to grow,” Massey said. “If, based on the prediction model, the students on average in a school receive at least one year’s learning in one year, the school will have met growth. ... The district’s QDI (Quality of Distribution Index) is not just based on achievement. It’s achievement and growth.”

All schools in the Laurel School District have been hosting community meetings concerning the new state test results and the schools’ plans of action.

Laurel School District Superintendent Dr. Glenn McGee said the community meetings are designed to educate the public while also encouraging all the stakeholders to become involved in the schools’ improvement plans.

Miranda Beard, president of the Laurel School Board, said it’s important for everyone to be involved in the process.

“We want to get everyone on the same page,” she said. “We want people to know where we are and how this model works.”

Following the release of the latest Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (MCT2) results in November, Laurel school officials have been working to develop the district’s and the individual schools’ plans of action.

According to the new state assessment, the city schools did not meet growth. The Laurel School District’s overall descriptor from the state is “At Risk of Failing.”

Jakeyla Miller, an eighth grader at Laurel Middle School, encouraged educators to remember that children learn in different ways.

McGee agreed. He said the school district’s mission is to “build a community of life-long learners by providing diverse educational opportunities.”

The superintendent said the school district plans to offer differentiated instruction, professional development, curriculum alignment to state frameworks, common assessments, after-school tutoring at all schools, mentoring for students and district progress monitoring each nine weeks.

David Willis, a parent of a high school student, said there’s a lot of issues that have to be addressed in order for students to come to school ready to learn.

“We as parents have to do a better job,” Willis said. “We are in a state of emergency. ... It’s time for us to come together as a community ... as a society.”

Massey agreed, adding that “the school can’t do it alone.”

Laurel Councilman Trey Chinn, who attended the meeting, encouraged everyone to become involved in the school district and improvement plan.

McGee said he has no doubt that the school district can improve. However, “it’s going to take everyone working together.”

School officials said Tuesday’s meeting was one of several being conducted to inform the public.

Every school in the district is hosting community meetings throughout the month of January where school administrators discuss the individual schools’ accountability results and plans for improvement.

All the meetings will be at 6 p.m. at the various school sites.

Laurel High School and Stainton Elementary School had their meetings earlier this month.

Nora Davis Magnet School will have its meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21; Mason Elementary School on Monday, Jan. 25; Oak Park Elementary on Tuesday, Jan. 26; and Laurel Middle School on Thursday, Jan. 28.

McGee said each of the community meetings are important and will disclose to parents and the community, that particular school’s goals for the future.

“We need as many parents as possible to become involved in this process,” he said. “Together we can make a difference.”

School Board Member Greg Brown encouraged those in attendance to work toward the improvements outlined and to pray for the community and the success of the students and the school district.