Seven local schools receive monetary awards from state
Seven Dothan schools are being rewarded for meet or exceeding the state’s challenge for poor students and black students.
Dothan City Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Stokes says four schools will receive $5,900 each from the state for meeting the challenge, while three schools will receive $22,000 each for exceeding the challenge.
“The state department has a rewards program, and as part of that rewards program, they have recognition of different schools across the state in their different categories,” Stokes said. “They were recognized for two categories, exceeding the challenge for the poverty kids in the schools and the black kids in the school. It’s just a great way of recognizing the schools, and those schools are certainly serving those populations.”
The state looks at the results of the Alabama Reading and Math Test to determine which schools can meet the challenge.
Beverly Middle, Grandview Elementary, Selma Street Elementary and Fain Elementary schools are receiving the $5,900 reward for meeting the challenge, meaning they each had at least an 80-percent poverty rate among full-time students and made Adequate Yearly Progress for at least two consecutive years.
Montana Magnet, Carver Magnet and Heard Elementary schools exceeded the challenge.
Each of the schools had at least 40 students in the reading and math subgroups, and those subgroups exceeded the reading and math proficiency of their state counterparts. Each of these three schools was also required to increase its math and reading proficiency from the previous year or have 100 percent of students who are proficient in math and reading.
According to Stokes, the money can be spent according to the schools’ wishes.
“There are no real strings attached to that money. The money goes back to the schools, and they’ll have to work with their faculties to determine how the money is spent,” he said.
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Reader Reactions
123. show me a racial remark i made
Don’t worry I have reported mrhunter for his racial remarks and name calling. He shouldn’t be allowed to post on these boards in my opinion.
Concerned , I’m not spreading negativity , i’m just spreading facts . If these facts dont fit into your politically correct world then i am so sorry.
I think its all in how you perceive a good education myself. In the end, we all end up working together anyway 
Isn’t that ironic?
I totally agree with the Educator’s comments. Well said! All schools are doing their VERY best with what they have—magnet and non-magnet schools. I applaud all of them! **And to “mrhunter”—I have a child in the magnet program and a special needs child in a non-magnet school. BOTH of my children deserve a good education, regardless of their “intelligence” and ability. I notice that you reply to all of these type of articles about our schools. I think you have too much time on your hands—find something more productive to do rather than spread your negativity onto our school system.
Educator, i’m certainly not knocking the magnet school program!! I believe its the best thing to happen to schools in many years.I advocate more public funds going to these schools because the students in magnet schools are faster learners and the public overall will benefit in providing a better education to these more intelligent kids.
Yes, the schools received monetary awards for exceeding the challenge. They do have free and reduced lunch students there, but the two magnet programs do not receive title 1 funds or special populations funds. As far as learning at the same rate, I did not say that. I said all students can learn. I am just tired of people knocking the magnet programs and being under the illusion that the programs have a great deal of money. They don’t. They deserve the award(s) received.
Educator, according to the article the schools received the funds due to
“They were recognized for two categories, exceeding the challenge for the poverty kids in the schools and the black kids in the school.“
I have no idea which is correct their article or your post. They appear to contradict each other.I also totally disagree with you that all kids are capable of learning at the same level and speed reguardless of their socioeconomic status, race, or abilities. After many years of research Richard J. Herrnstein , author of The Bell Curve , documented your statement to be false .
I think it is very interesting that the general public believes that magnet programs receive a great deal of money. I assure you they do not. They do not receive specific federal funds that are reserved for special populations including free and reduced lunch. The magnet programs raise their own funds and operate off of the money given to them by the school system as outlined by the state. The magnet programs succeed because they work hard to give the students in their care the very best education possible. The students are very capable but not all of them are as motivated as the public seems to think. All schools work hard. They ALL deserve recognition. It is a shame that when success happens people want to tear it down rather than try to apply what is working to other schools. Schools believe that all students can learn regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or abilities. It is time Dothan stop complaining about what is not working and truly invest in its future. The state of Alabama is doing better, but we must do our best. Good schools happen because of hard work. Great schools happen when all resources are fully funded, teachers are supported, and the communities invest in the future. Let’s invest in all our children. They all deserve it!
Seven Dothan schools are being rewarded for meet or exceeding the state’s challenge for poor students and black students.
Here we go just another example of how race ends up being the calling card. What funded these rewards? Was it my tax dollars? What does this teach our kids?
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