By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Interim superintendent Gary Campbell addressed the Michigan Schools Report Cards at Monday night's Brandywine Public Schools Board of Education meeting
Campbell reported all of Brandywine schools met the requirements of Adequate Yearly Progress and the schools all received "C"s.
He was pleased the schools all passed, but felt the grades did not accurately represent the schools.
He pointed out it is good to have an accountability system like this, but the new system does have some faults.
Campbell said the schools have improvement plans in place to help the students and staff make even more progress in the future.
Brandywine Elementary principal Gary Spiess made a presentation explaining the "Freedom to Learn" resolution, a program in which the school would receive laptop computers to help students obtain the skills they need to lead a 21st century workplace.
The board had questions about how much money would be necessary for maintenance and support costs.
Spiess explained the board did not need to make a final decision, but in order for the school to apply by the Feb. 13 deadline, the resolution did need the board's approval.
The board adopted the resolution allowing the school to apply, but they plan to look into the program before arriving at a final decision.
Middle school teachers Connie Hughey and Catherine Bronsing then led a discussion on a "bullying rubric" that they have developed to create a system of consequences for bad behavior.
The rubric provides a procedure for the school to follow to deal with behaviors such as gossip, name calling and other harmful student interactions.
The public was concerned that behaviors such as eye rolling were included with the label of "bullying."
Hughey and Bronsing felt a system like this would provide a safer, more comfortable environment for their students.
After a lengthy discussion, the meeting moved on to discuss the progress with their superintendent search.
Tom Pridgeon, regional president of the Michigan Leadership Institute, presented the brochure they would be using to advertise the open position.
It contained the "points of pride" for the Brandywine community and the final candidate profile that was developed from feedback from the board, staff, students and the public.
Pridgeon asked the board to look over the brochure and let him know if they wanted to make any changes.
The Michigan Leadership Institute, which was hired to assist in the search, will print out numerous copies of the brochure next week and they will be readily available to anyone interested in applying for the job.
Pridgeon said they have already received 13 inquiries regarding the superintendent position.