THOMASVILLE — In a room packed with parents and stakeholders, Thomasville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Laine Reichert got the feedback she planned to gather since becoming the system’s top educator back in June.

Reichert hosted one of two town hall meetings Thursday night. The meeting, conducted at Disciples of Jesus Ministries, was for the city schools’ District 1.

The city schools system is looking into a program called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), referring to the program as “another foundation” on which to build, Reichert said.

The program, she said, takes the middle 50 percent of students, who often will be first generation college students and underrepresented at the college level, and “gives them the academic support to succeed.”

Students in the AVID program are pushed to take harder classes but are offered support along the way, Reichert said.

“We’re going to create a pipeline to AVID,” she added.

Reichert also noted the five city schools have become “silos,” particularly the elementary schools.

The goal is more uniformity among the schools and the curriculum.

“We’re beginning that process to align all of that,” Reichert said.

Common assessments and pacing guides, along with the district’s use of Audio Enhancement cameras and equipment in the classroom, also was discussed.

The system also is a positive behavior intervention support (PBIS) district, Reichert noted.

Barriers to overcome

Three issues, Reichert said, within the city school district are:

• Chronic absenteeism effects on closing the achievement gap.

• Chronic stress.

• Poverty.

Quote 1

“We as a community have got to figure out how to get over these barriers,” Reichert said. 

Reichert said students in poverty often face the “32 million word gap,” when compared to their peers, as school is a “language-rich environment.” 

Education, Reichert said, is the way out of poverty.

Areas that could help students in poverty include relationships, teaching organization, and knowing that they matter, among others. 

“Everybody participates”

Attendees and Reichert formed a circle around the room, and the superintendent asked each person to state why he or she came to the town hall meeting.

Attendees included city school board members, administrators and teachers, parents, and students.

A band, made of city school colors, was symbolic, Reichert said, as the tightly-bound band, which was passed around the room, couldn’t be pulled apart.

Reasons for attending included concern for the city school system, wanting to know what is going on with students, help and support, and how to be a solution.

Other reasons, attendees said, were ways to be of service to the school system, seeking more information and to simply learn.

The band eventually made its way back to the superintendent.

“I think you know why I’m here,” Reichert said, adding she has an “intense, burning passion” for students.

What the city schools do well

Reichert posed the question of what the Thomasville City Schools does well.

Attendees believed what the city schools does well is hiring and finding the right employees, disseminating information and public relations, and facility updates.

The addition of teaching soft skills at Thomasville High School, revamp of special education, and parent notification of when report cards are administered were other areas of strengths noted for the city schools.

The variety of ways for students to learn while enrolled in the city schools also was pointed out.

Attendee Morris Arrington applauded the city schools for looking to install a program like AVID.

“It is a phenomenal program,” he said, noting he became familiar with the program while in Glynn County.

Opportunities for growth

Along with the city schools’ strengths, Reichert wanted feedback on where the Thomasville City Schools could grow.

“I know that we have some opportunities for growth,” she said.

Arrington said he would like to see more professional learning and more emphasis placed on rigor. He said he also felt there is a “deficit” with curriculum and instruction.

A question was posed by a student on what is being done to help students prepare for the workforce.

Thomasville High School Principal Chip Clatto said the high school is looking at different additional pathways for students.

School branding and perception, a parent said, needs improvement, especially at the elementary schools. More collaboration among schools also is key, the parent added.

“The silos of the schools we’re not created overnight,” Reichert said, also noting the issue would not change overnight.

Reichert said change would be achieved through “continual feedback.”

Jerger Elementary’s enrollment is “something we’re working on,” Reichert added.

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“That is a struggle for us. We need to do some more of this.”  

– Reichert said regarding parent involvement in the city schools.

The city elementary school has four pre-k classes. The first factor looked at during the enrollment process is if the child has a sibling that attended Jerger, followed by if a parent works in the city school district. The last factor is proximity to Jerger.

The amount of parent involvement also was questioned.

“That is a struggle for us,” Reichert said. “We need to do some more of this.”

Kejar Butler, city school board vice-chair, said she would like to see a better connection with the district and local churches.

Traits of a Thomasville High graduate

Discussion of the traits a Thomasville City School system graduate should possess closed out the town hall meeting.

“We need to make sure we are preparing our students for what our community expects us to prepare them for,” Reichert said.

What is being done has to be reflective of the city schools, Reichert added.

Attendees wrote desired traits of a Thomasville High graduate on stick-on notes and placed them on a poster before leaving. Attendees also wrote down thoughts and ideas they didn’t get the chance to express during the meeting.

Reichert was asked how will strategies for improvement be put in place.

District 2 Town Hall Meeting:

Nov. 13, 6 p.m., Studio 209, 209 W Remington Ave.

The superintendent replied by encouraging those to trust in her ability to lead and “by continuing to give us feedback about how we’re doing along the way.” 

The next town hall meeting for District 2 is set for Nov. 13, 6 p.m., at Studio 209, 209 W Remington Ave.