Senate Concurrent Resolution 530

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE BOLD ACTION OF JACKSON SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT EARL WATKINS IN REORGANIZING THE STAFF AT LANIER HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEREAS, Jackson Municipal Separate School District Superintendent Earl Watkins announced on January 22, 2004, that every employee at Lanier High School, including 67 teachers, must reapply for their jobs. A new principal, with a transition team, will select staff members for the new school year; and

WHEREAS, by this "bold" move, Superintendent Watkins believes the reorganization is unavoidable for Lanier High School, which the State Department of Education rates as one of 33 Level 1 low-performing schools because of poor student scores on state tests; and

WHEREAS, Lanier High School currently has about 950 students, 3 administrators, 67 teachers and 35 classified employees; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent Watkins said he is counting on the reorganization to reinvigorate the school, which has some of the worst test scores in the state, and most students and staff view this directive as a positive move which will make a difference; and

WHEREAS, under the federal "No Child Left Behind" legislation, schools must meet specific achievement benchmarks, or adequate yearly progress, in the percentage of students scoring proficient; states must have 100% of all students "proficient" by the 2013-2014 school year, which is measured by math and reading test results for grades 3 through 8 and once at the high school level; and WHEREAS, Mississippi is making steady and encouraging progress in student achievement at both the state and national level. On the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Mississippi's grades 4 and 8 students have shown significant gains in both math and reading. For example, trend data from 1992 to 2003 show that for math, grade 4 students gained 21 scale score points while the nation gained only 15. Grade 8 math students gained 15 scale score points while the nation gained only 9. Mississippi is making solid strides in closing the gap in national test score comparisons. At the state level, our students are also showing gains on all state assessments, both at the elementary and secondary level. For the 2003-2004 school year, over half of the schools in Mississippi met the accountability requirements of No Child Left Behind, and Mississippi currently ranks as having the 12th best accountability program in the nation; and

WHEREAS, in order to continue this progress, the Legislature must continue to properly fund K-12 education, and it is essential to maintain the support of the business community through local accountability programs in order to support this funding; and

WHEREAS, the accountability measure instituted at Lanier High School by Superintendent Watkins is a perfect example of action to generate local business community support for continued state funding of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent Watkins, the Board of Trustees of the Jackson Municipal Separate School District, the incoming administrators at Lanier High School and the Jackson Parent-Teacher organization at Lanier High School are to be commended for their cooperation in this effort to succeed in its reorganization and to rise to a higher level of school performance:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the bold action of Jackson Municipal Separate School District Superintendent Earl Watkins in reorganizing the staff at Lanier High School in an effort to rise to a higher level of school performance, and extend to him the best wishes of the Legislature in this endeavor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Superintendent Watkins and the Board of Trustees of the Jackson Municipal Separate School District, be forwarded to the State Board of Education and be made available to The Clarion-Ledger and to members of the Capitol Press Corps.