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At the January 26 Marengo County Board of Education meeting, K12 Instructional Leader Wendy Joiner presented her first reports of the year to the board.

The first topic was the data from the winter AimsWeb. AimsWeb is a benchmark and progress monitoring system based on direct, frequent. and continuous student assessment using brief, accurate measures of reading, math, spelling, and writing. aimsweb is the most comprehensive K-12 assessment system. that supports Response to Intervention (RTI) and tiered instruction.

Grades K-8 were tested and showed improved proficiency in reading and math and decreases in at risk students in these areas. Reading proficiency improved from 46 percent to 58 percent, and math proficiency improved from 37 percent to 56 percent. The number of at-risk students in reading decreased from 30 percent to 22 percent, and the number of at-risk students decreased from 42 percent to 25 percent.

Summer learning plans are in progress. Reading and Math coaches met in the Central Office on January 30 to begin making plans for June 5-30. Joiner said they are waiting on guidance for incorporating math into summer school. The goal is to improve attendance and the number of students that are proficient in Reading and Math.

All three county schools have had more than 50 percent of their students complete the FAFSA. Sweet Water High School has had 100 percent of its students complete the FAFSA, AL Johnson has had 79 percent of students complete the FAFSA, and MHS has 72 percent completion.

The Ready to Work curriculum was taught in all three schools and provides a career pathway for trainees to acquire entry-level skills required for employment. There were six modules: Technology Basics, Problem Solving and Job Prep, FDIC, Communication, and Workplace Behaviors. Students are required to get at least a bronze on the WorkKeys assessment. Students will be awarded the Alabama Certified Worker Certificate.

The Mental Health Coordinator report announced the completion of the District Wellness Plan. The Rhithim district score is a 75 meaning the school system is regulated (ready to learn) but there is room for improvement.

The Mental Health Coordinator has a caseload of around 38 students actively. SWHS has twenty students, MHS has ten, and ALJ has eight. This does not include the scholars who come in venting. The most important thing is that the scholars have gotten comfortable enough with self reporting. Parents are reaching out through calls and emails.