Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Superintendent Dennis Sawyer told the board the system is looking for achievement gaps and had a goal-setting session conference emphasizing student growth. “Growth within the system keeps students in the crosshairs.”

The system, he said, is also trying to identify students who reached growth, exceeded growth and who fell under expectations. “It's a monumental task, a very daunting task, but we're up to the challenge and we expect to grow.”

Board member Linda Brewer wanted to know what board members could do. “I feel like our people at the high school work unselfishly. Is there something we can do to help our teachers? I almost feel it's like a coach.”

Much, Sawyer said, has been put in place. Speaking of school principal Tammie Williams, the superintendent said, “She's very much a nurturer. I think when we talk to the instructors, they tell me a lot of good is occurring. I think when we're here next year, we will all be celebrating great things at the high school.”

Said Williams, “We have some of the hardest working teachers at Roanoke Rapids High School. All we have to do is dig deeper.”

Williams said teachers are working hard as they are faced with challenges from the state taking tenure away.

They are studying data and standards as well and have set up Tuesday and Thursday tutoring sessions to help students.

“I know the teachers are trying,” board member Jane Deese said. “Over the last several years I've seen a decline in children's pride. We need to get the kids involved in wanting to improve their grades.”

Board member Mike Williams wants someone within the system to go into the depth and breadth of the report for a better understanding of what areas the high school suffered and how they compare to the rest of the state.

Principal Williams said the school has stats charting the students' strengths and weaknesses and the tutoring program, which offers bus service, is focusing on English II, biology and algebra and is open to all students. Last week 30 students participated.

The only action the board took on the matter, with Thomas McDonald absent, was to agree by a split vote to weight all final state exams, end of course tests and the career technical education assessments by the state 20 percent mark.

Board member Valencia Davis cast the dissenting vote on the matter.