BCS candidates from districts with varied demographics, sizes and results

Lionel Jackson

On Tuesday, June 28, trustees of the Bogalusa City Schools will decide which one of three finalists with take the reins as superintendent of the city system. The successful applicant will become the third superintendent since Jan. 1, 2005 and will fill the vacancy created when Ruth Horne resigned effective March 11.

Dr. Daniel Slack

The candidates include (alphabetically) Lionel Jackson of Tangipahoa Parish, Dr. Daniel Slack of El Dorado Springs, Mo. and Louise Smith of Poplarville, Miss. and were picked from a group of 15 applicants to national search firm McPherson & Jacobson.

All three are veteran educators and all three have been finalists in a district’s search for a superintendent — Jackson and Slack as recently as this spring and Smith when Horne was hired in Bogalusa.

Louise Smith

Additionally, all three come from districts where some educational success has been met and, while progress has been made in Bogalusa, it would be hard to find anyone who feels there is anything other than a long way to go.

Jackson is one of two assistant superintendents in the Tangipahoa Parish District. With 19,455 students and 37 campuses, it is the largest district connected to the three finalists.

Tangipahoa is also the district that is most closely aligned to Bogalusa in regards to demographics — with 49.2 percent white and 47.3 percent black.

According to the Louisiana Department of Education’s accountability report, in 2009 the district scored 85.4 compared to the state median average of 89.4 and earned a two-start rating. In 2010, that gap closed as the district rated 88.1 and the state rated 91.8. It once again earned a two-star rating.

Seven schools in the district showed exemplary growth, eight were recognized, s0 had minimal growth, one showed no growth and three were in decline.

Slack is superintendent of East Carter R-II, a three-campus district with 772 students in a county with just 6,265 residents.

According to the Missouri Department of Education site, the district is overwhelmingly white — 96.6 percent — with less than 1 percent (0.08) black student population.

State proficiency targets show the district met its 2009 goals in communications arts and an “additional indicator,” but did not meet its mathematics goals. In 2010, the district only met goals in one area — communications arts.

Smith, a finalist in 2008, is in a Poplarville district that is most closely aligned with Bogalusa in two areas — four campuses and 1953 students.

The Mississippi Department of Education does not include district demographics, but statistical data shows Poplarville to be 73.94 percent white and 23.66 black and Pearl River County 85.55 percent white and 12.18 percent black. A large portion of Poplarville’s student body resides outside the city limit.

In regards to performance, Poplarville High School is rated as high performing and the junior high as successful. The upper elementary is on academic watch.

Bogalusa has 2,178 students, according to the job posting, on six campuses. The student population is 68.0 percent black and 29.7 percent white.

In regards to performance, the district has four campuses in minimal growth, one in no growth and one in decline. In 2009, the district scored 75.0 and earned a one-star rating versus the state rating of 89.4. In 2010, the margin widened — 75.4 versus 91.8.

School trustees will spend time with each of the three candidates as they visit Bogalusa. The candidates will also visit campuses and meet with staff and students and will also meet with the public prior to making a decision on Tuesday, June 28.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)