The South Tippah School District is asking parents, faith leaders, business owners and local officials to help shape its future. The district has scheduled a series of South Tippah strategic plan meetings for Oct. 19, 22 and 29, with community sessions in Ripley, Blue Mountain and Pine Grove.
The schedule was shared Oct. 3 on the Ripley Middle School Facebook page. According to the post, the district will work with Studer Education, an education consulting firm, “to help drive our district, and to meet new accreditation standards.”
Why South Tippah Is Writing a New Strategic Plan
A strategic plan sets a school district’s goals and priorities for the next several years, covering areas such as student achievement, staffing, facilities and community engagement. The district said the meetings are part of developing a new plan for South Tippah, which serves students in Ripley, Blue Mountain and Pine Grove.
Rather than one large public hearing, the district split the sessions into focus groups. Separate meetings are set for faith leaders; business, economic development and city and county leaders; school administrators; district administrators; certified staff; and non-certified staff. Each of the district’s three school communities also gets its own meeting.
“Please join us as we work together for the students of STSD,” the post said.
Full Meeting Schedule
Monday, Oct. 19
Faith leaders: 9 a.m., Northeast Campus at Ripley
Business/economic development and city and county administrators: 10:30 a.m., Northeast Campus at Ripley
School administrators: noon, Oscar Shannon Building
District administrators: 1:30 p.m., Oscar Shannon Building
Certified staff: 3:30 p.m., Ripley High School Auditorium
Ripley community members: 6 p.m., Ripley High School Auditorium
Thursday, Oct. 22
Blue Mountain community members: 6 p.m., Blue Mountain School Cafeteria
Thursday, Oct. 29
Non-certified staff: 3:30 p.m., Ripley High School Auditorium
Pine Grove community members: 5 p.m., Pine Grove Auditorium
How Ripley, Blue Mountain and Pine Grove Residents Can Take Part
For most families, the key dates are the three community meetings: Ripley on Oct. 19, Blue Mountain on Oct. 22 and Pine Grove on Oct. 29. Parents, grandparents, alumni and other residents who care about the schools are encouraged to attend the session closest to home.
The district did not list a sign-up requirement in its post. Residents with questions about the meetings can contact the South Tippah School District central office in Ripley.
The planning sessions come during a busy fall for the district. South Tippah recently honored Ripley students who earned perfect scores on state MAAP tests, and the district is taking construction bids for a building addition at the Tippah County Technical Center.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
