Bibb Superintendent calls on community to help students perform

Bibb County Schools Superintendent Dan Sims asked the school community to be “pushing and loving” students amid threats to public schools at the annual State of the District meeting.

Students from across the district were bussed into WSHS. Sims’ remarks concluded with the 100 or so students trickling onstage and surrounding the superintendent as he reminded the audience about the importance of public education.

“This isn’t about me, this isn’t about adults, but it is about every single one of these children that are on this stage,” he said.

In an impassioned 40-minute speech, Sims highlighted improvements in test scores and programs and outlined ongoing problems with chronic absenteeism and funding for public education.

Teachers, school board members and other community stakeholders listened to Sims’ presentation along with a brief panel discussion at the Westside High School auditorium Thursday morning.

The school district adopted the motto of “Yes to BCS,” a call to action for community engagement but also a recognition of the growing  alternative options to public schools such as private and charter schools.

“We have to maintain a viable fund base in order to fulfill the needs of our students,” Sims said. “I think about House Bill 581, that we’re opting out of, but that’s another way to subsequently lower the funding that we would get.”

Sims touted five Bibb County schools recognized by the state Department of Education for exceptional academic achievement or improvement along with a 87% graduation rate.

While state testing scores did not improve across all schools, the superintendent said he believes scores will improve so long as teachers stick to their “viable curriculum” and push students to do their best.

Sims highlighted efforts to raise funding and teased the coming expansion of the district’s dual enrollment program before identifying problems facing the district.

About 24% of students were considered “chronically absent,” or missed more than 10% of school days this past school year.

Sims said the district has established incentive programs and “breakthrough teams” to  monitor attendance and try to reduce absenteeism. However, he told attendees that the district cannot solve the problem alone and parents and students also need to be held accountable.

“Absenteeism is a big deal,” school board member Barney Hester said. “We got to get our children to school and I think that goes back to making sure parents are getting them out of the house in the mornings and getting them to school.” 

Hester said Sims did a good job of noting the “disconnect” between students and the opportunities being provided to them, like dual enrollment and technical education tracks.

Sims said everyone needs to buy in to bettering the district’s schools in order to bring out the best in students.

“I want us to be a voice and I value the relationship I have with my students,” Sims said. “ I want to take advantage of that and be a voice of reason for them.”