Entries by Ben Munro

Commerce students’ summer break just got longer.

Faced with either laying off teachers or shortening next school year, the Commerce Board of Education will reduce the 2010-2011 school calendar by 10 days.

Students will attend class 170 days. Teachers will work 180. [Full Story »] 

Commerce education leaders continue to play the waiting game with the state as they wait to set next year’s local school budget.

Superintendent James “Mac” McCoy told the Commerce Board of Education (BOE) Monday night that there’s been no new information from the state capitol to change the troubling financial scenario he presented April 1 for Commerce Schools.
[Full Story »] 

This was no April Fool’s joke.

Due to shrinking state funding, an anticipated deficit and dwindling enrollment, the Commerce School System could cut personnel next year. [Full Story »] 

Commerce teachers can look forward to three more days off without pay.
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Commerce High School students will have a new building waiting on them when they return from Christmas break next school year.

At least that’s the plan. [Full Story »] 

Complete with a ringing endorsement from her principal, Commerce Middle School teacher Stephanie Ring took city school system Teacher of the Year honors at Monday night’s school board meeting.

“In my 30 years (in education), she’s as good as I’ve been around,” CMS principal Chuck Bell said.
[Full Story »] 

The Commerce School System is writing much larger checks these days for the construction of the new Commerce High School as concrete block and steel work continue for the 136,500-square-foot project.

The sixth payment request was just over $1 million.
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The decision to move forth with new report cards at Commerce Elementary School drew a rare split vote from the Commerce Board of Education.

After much discussion, the board voted 4-1 to implement “standards-based” report cards for grades 3-4 for the next two school years.


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Fourth-year Commerce Schools Superintendent James “Mac” McCoy earned a “satisfactory” approval rating and a one-year contract extension.

The Commerce Board of Education (BOE) approved both moves unanimously Monday. Prior to that, the school board conducted much of its one hour, 45-minute meeting behind closed doors.

[Full Story »]