Students at Bedford Primary and Elementary schools next year will get some extra help with reading and math through about $210,000 in federal funds.
The Bedford County School Board on Thursday approved the use of those funds to be split between the two schools to hire reading and math coaches.
The two schools qualified for the School Improvement Funds from the federal No Child Left Behind Act because they did not meet the Adequate Yearly Progress standards through Standards of Learning testing the past two years.
The funds would pay for a full-time reading coach at each school, plus a math coach to be split between schools.
Karen Woodford, literacy specialist with the division, requested that a reading coach position already included in next year’s budget for the two schools be moved to Thaxton and Montvale Elementary schools instead. Those schools are on the watch list for sanctions should they not meet SOL benchmarks again.
“We want to give them some additional help,” Woodford said.
The board unanimously approved that request Thursday.
Also at the regular meeting, the board:
w granted permission for the division to seek bids to paint the roof of Big Island Elementary School and purchase tires.
They also accepted three separate bids for buying two mobile classrooms for Thaxton Elementary School; painting services at Moneta and Huddleston elementary schools; and the purchase of bleacher upgrades for Jefferson Forest, Liberty and Staunton River high schools.
w approved shifting about $240,000 in funds to the instruction category of the 2008-09 budget. The supplemental appropriations were requested because of unexpected revenues from sources such as federal grants, reimbursed tuition from Central Virginia Community College and parents paying for out-of-district students to attend virtual school.
w heard a presentation on fundraising plans for a new playground at Forest Elementary School.
w listened to results from the division’s first Student Advisory Committee. Eleven middle and high school students in the committee presented what they think needs to change in their schools.
Concerns ranged from addressing tardiness and bad bus behavior to increasing student participation in clubs and making better use of the last few weeks of the school year.
Said school board member Joy Wright, “You’ve given us some food for thought.”
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