HCHS preparing plan to improve school grade

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, May 18, 2017

JASPER — Superintendent Rex Mitchell and Hamilton County High School are preparing a plan for the second cycle of a Turn Around Option Plan to improve the school’s grade.

Mitchell said at the May 8 school board meeting, the high school had to create a Turn Around Option Plan last year due to school grades.

The 2015-2016 school grade was D.

If the school does not receive a C or above at the end of the school year, they must have a new plan in place. HCHS last received at least a C on its school accountability report from the state was 2011.

The plan options the school can choose from are a district management plan, charter school, closure, external operator and a hybrid plan of external operator and district management plan. 

Mitchell said since the high school chose district management plan last year, it cannot be chosen again.

“We are going to choose hybrid,” Mitchell said.

He said with this plan the district will have some control and will hire an outside source to help implement changes to improve the grade. 

“It will come at a cost to the district,” Mitchell said.