Bibb County's school board is scheduled to vote Feb. 10 on Supt. Romain Dallemand's strategic plan, which could close up to a dozen schools and cut as many as 300 teachers' jobs.
VIEW: Dallemand's Strategic Plan
Dallemand wrapped up his two-and-a-half hour presentation around 6:30 p.m. Board members say they expect to vote next Friday, after he presents the plan at a public event at the Macon Coliseum.
His strategic plan suggest closing schools and realigning the grade structure in Bibb schools. He says that means they could need up to 300 fewer teachers.
The combined cuts could save more than $23 million, he said.
Dallemand was sworn in as superintendent one year ago this week. Since then, he says he's met with parents, staff, community and business leaders and others to develop a master plan for improving the district's troubled schools.
Some other elements of his plan:
- A move toward year-round schools by 2013;
- Longer school days that will increase 10 hours' learning time a week;
- Teaching Mandarin Chinese to all students;
- and moving toward a magnet-style "portfolio school" system where students could choose a school that best fits their interests.
- providing dormitory-style housing to "students who are experiencing unforeseeable circumstances...
SCHOOL SAFETY
Earlier, the discussion of Dallemand's plan turned to school safety and a reported rape at Northeast High School.
As Dallemand ran through a list of 170 "action steps," board member Gary Bechtel asked, "When a child feels safe in a school environment...Is that addressed in the plan? What is in the plan to address those that are not willing to cooperate in the environment we are proposing to create?"
Dallemand responded that his plan includes proposals for two alternative schools.
Bechtel asked, "Don't we have that already?"
Dallemand responded, "What we have is called an alternative action, but it's not wrap around service. We need to look at every child where they are, what they need" -- for example, providing mental health services.
Dallemand said his complete plan would address many of those points.
Deputy superintendent of teaching and learning Jane Brennan added, "The idea that if someone misbehaves we have to get them out of school is inappropriate, We have to figure out why that child is misbehaving and help them."
And board chairman Tommy Barnes said, "The Northeast incident could have happened anywhere. It's not symptomatic of a school, it's symptomatic of our district."
Board member Lynn Farmer drew applause from the full house by saying, "While we're providing opportunities, we have an obligation not to let those students hurt somebody."
COST QUESTIONS
Dallemand and his assistants could not provide specific answers about the cost of his plan.
Lynn Farmer asked if Dallemand had run a financial plan for his proposal, including extra student services and transportation.
He admitted the district would require initial funding to start to transform the school system." But he said the cuts he's proposing would, within five to seven years, also save $20 million to $27 million a year.
Assistant Suzanne Griffin-Ziebart said, "We need to still plan all those details, for example, where are the schools going to be located geographically. That will affect transportation costs." That will all come up in the planning process, she said.
"It's a complex process with lost of moving parts," she said.
Farmer responded, "So after we implement, is that when we will figure out the costs?"
Bechtel said the district could lose some state revenue by restructuring the schools. Has the state approved the restructuring?
Dallemand said he was waiting for the school board to approve his restructuring before applying to the state.
TIMELINE
The superintendent says he plans to begin the "portfolio school" model in 2013. He said he is still working on timeline of other parts of the plan.
"What I'm proposing here is somethign very few districts have been able to tackle," he said. "It's something we will have to phase in over 5 to 7 years."
Bechtel asked, "What are you gonna do in the meantime? What about the kids in school now?"
Dallemand said he's already launched some changes and improved student services, such as a major summer-reading kickoff last year.
LEARNING CHINESE
The superintendent says his Mandarin chinese progran would begin in September, phased in starting with the elementary grades. He said they would hire as many as 10 teachers from China, hired through a company named The Confucius Institute.
He said Bibb would be the first school district to teach Mandarin on such a wide scale.
AMBITIOUS GOALS
He started by laying out some ambitious goals.
By the year 2023, Dallemand says he wants 100 percent of the district's students to graduate, take the SAT tests and take advanced-placement courses.
His goals include moving toward a year-round calendar and creating magnet-like "portfolio schools."
He said he wants to "design and implement a district-wide calendar which minimizes significant learning loss and increases achievement and development" and "create a portfolio of schools of choice designed to maximize achievement where students and families can make informed decisions regarding school options."
He discussed improving the district's technology. His action points included designing and building a metropolitan free wireless system; providing free home Internet access to students; and providing home computers for students living in poverty.