KATE GRIFFIN TO OFFICIALLY CLOSE ITS DOORS

From The Meridian Star:

By Ida Brown / senior staff writer

It's official.

Kate Griffin Junior High School will close upon completion of the ninth-grade academy building on the Meridian High School campus, according to MPSD Superintendent Charlie Kent.

The "official" closing was determined during a special called meeting of the board of trustees Thursday at Central Office.

"Even though we've known since last April that K.G. would be closing, the board had never taken official action to closing, and we wanted to make it official," Kent said.

The board decided not to set a definite date in case there were delays in construction of the academy, which is scheduled for completion on June 30.

If construction is not complete by the start of the 2009-2010 school year, Kate Griffin will serve as a backup for the ninth grade. The three middle schools – Carver/Magnolia/Northwest – housing sixth, seventh and eighth grades will continue as planned.

Staffing for the ninth grade academy also was discussed at the meeting. According to Kent, a lottery process will be incorporated.

"Those faculty members currently teaching ninth-grade at Northwest and K.G. will provide us a profile of their job specifications, their certification and background and various endorsements," he said.

From there, the principals at Meridian High and Northwest will do a lottery for those teachers.

"We think that's the fairest way to do it, and also that does not give the high school principal carte blanche to cipher all the best teachers," Kent said.

"We want everyone to understand that if you can teach at one school, you should be able to teach at another," he said. "Our biggest concerns at the high school are licensure and certification."

Where there are vacancies, staff will be hired, he said.