SUMMER FOR STUDENTS IN OUR AREA. GOOD NEWS-BAD NEWS DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS HEADING BACK IN SESSION TODAY INCLUDING BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS. SARAH: WVTM13'S MATTIE DAVIS JOINS US LIVE THIS MORNING. MATTIE, YOU CAUGHT UP WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT? REPORTER: THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID THEY MADE MAJOR STRIDES FORWARD LAST SCHOOL YEAR AND HOPE TO USE THAT MOMENTUM THIS YEAR. FRIDAY TEACHERS GATHERED TO KICK THINGS OFF AND SET GOALS FOR THE YEAR. THOSE GOALS INCLUDE FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. AS WELL AS, ADDRESSING THE LEARNING LOSS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THEY HAVE AROUND 260 STUDENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF VIRTUAL SCHOOL THIS YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT DR. MARK SULLIVAN SAYS THEY MADE MAJOR STRIDES ACADEMICALLY LAST YEAR. THEY HOPE TO KEEP THIS GOING, AND HAVE EVERY STUDENT READING AND DOING MATH ON THEIR GRADE LEVEL. >> THIS IS GONNA BE A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS. YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT LATER ONCE THE STATE RELEASES THE TEST SCORES WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT GAINS. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. WE WANT TO BE THE FIRST IN EDUCATION
First day of school for Birmingham City Schools students
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Updated: 9:07 AM CDT Aug 8, 2022
Birmingham City School students are returning to the classroom. Teachers across the district met to set goals ahead of the school year. Goals include focusing on the needs of English language learners and addressing the learning loss due to the pandemic. Around 260 students are taking advantage of the system’s virtual school this year. Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan says they made major strides academically last year. They hope to keep this going and have every student reading and doing math at their grade level. The system is dealing with a teacher and staff shortage, like other districts across the country. “All of our classrooms will be covered by the start of school, whether that be a substitute or whether that be a blend of virtual and in-person learning,” Sullivan said. “But yes, there is a teacher shortage. It’s the reality throughout the nation."The system is making efforts to recruit and retain teachers which include a mentoring program and signing bonuses.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham City School students are returning to the classroom.
Teachers across the district met to set goals ahead of the school year. Goals include focusing on the needs of English language learners and addressing the learning loss due to the pandemic.
Around 260 students are taking advantage of the system’s virtual school this year.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan says they made major strides academically last year. They hope to keep this going and have every student reading and doing math at their grade level.
The system is dealing with a teacher and staff shortage, like other districts across the country.
“All of our classrooms will be covered by the start of school, whether that be a substitute or whether that be a blend of virtual and in-person learning,” Sullivan said. “But yes, there is a teacher shortage. It’s the reality throughout the nation."
The system is making efforts to recruit and retain teachers which include a mentoring program and signing bonuses.
