LEON COUNTY, Fla. — A Leon county commissioner calls on the community to help improve test scores in Tallahassee's Southside.
Commissioner Bill Proctor says this will be a joint effort from everyone in the county so that the future is bright in Tallahassee's Southside.
Commissioner Proctor wants the community to take action after the Florida Department of Education released test scores and grades of schools in Leon County.
Out of the 43 schools in the county, at least three from Tallahassee's Southside: Griffin Middle, Bond Elementary and John G. Riley Elementary school received a 'D' Grade and all were below grade level in English, Math and Science.
More than 60% of school children in Leon County's title one schools tested below grade level according to the Florida Department of Education.
"If you cannot read that means you cannot read the question the science part of the exam," Proctor said.
In response the district issued this statement saying:
"We are proud of the hard work being done in our schools every day. Our schools have made a tremendous progress this year, especially our Title I schools with four of them achieving a B grade from the Florida Department of Education. To say otherwise is disingenuous.
As with any organization there is always room for improvement and we understand there is work to be done.
We welcome members of our community and elected officials to visit our schools and meet with our administrative teams to see firsthand the amazing taking place on our campuses. Together, we will continue to build a world-class school system where all of our schools and students reach their full potential."
Commissioner Proctor has invited the Superintendent and the community to a Southside Student Success conference, with a goal of coming up with a strategic plan to enhance academic performance.
That conference will be held at Bethel Family Center at 6 p.m. next Thursday."
Commissioner Proctor has invited the Superintendent and the community to a Southside Student Success conference, with a goal of coming up with a strategic plan to enhance academic performance.
That conference will be held at Bethel Family Center at 6 p.m. next Thursday.
Proctor says if no action is taken, this will lead to great problems for the Capital City.
"Failure to deal with this is going to contribute to crime and it's going to contribute to another cycle of economic disparity," said Proctor.
Proctor has big goals for those schools.
"Beginning next year, I am declaring we will not have schools in the Southside that's below a 'C,'" said Proctor.
He wants members of the Leon County School Board to attend what he calls a Student Success event to talk strategy and ways to enhance academic performance.
"I solute the superintendent, the school board, the principals, the teachers and everybody. I'm simply saying we need to do more," said Proctor.
The Southside Student Success 2020 & Beyond will be Thursday, August 1 at Bethel Family Center at 6:00 p.m.
