School Board Hears from Former Students Turned Doctors

Members of the Board of Education heard from the community again last Thursday regarding cutting the agriculture program from the high school curriculum.

Dr. Kaylar Howard’s impassioned plea to the board emphasized how the leadership and responsibility skills she acquired through the ag program, about 29 years ago, allowed her to experience the world outside of Monticello and put her on the path to becoming a successful practicing physician in Tifton.

She said she was ‘delivering her own personal testimony’ of how the program changed her life and propelled her to where she is today, and asked the board to at least reconsider the impact the program has on students, and look at keeping the program intact and explore other ways to meet the required budget cuts.

Rachel Holloway, another JCHS graduate who went on to earn a doctorate, came armed with an extensive and in depth report that asked specific questions of the Board. Chair Phyllis Norwood reminded her that her presentation was being made before a work session and the board’s policy was not to allow a question and answer exchange but the board would look at the questions in her report and give her a response.
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Dr. Holloway’s report included figures that she felt should not have required the board to cut the ag program yet be able to stay within their budgeted resources.

“These figures,” Dr. Holloway said, “lead me to ask if foresight of an impending financial crisis should have weighed heavily in the decision you made, and based on the information I gathered it seems the crisis could have been avoided.”

CTAE Supervisor Peyton Proctor outlined the 2010 Annual Plan for Career, Technical and Agriculture Education noting that some would have a budget increase while others would be decreased. The budget he submitted was reduced by $78,606 due to the discontinuation of the Agriculture Program. He noted that some of the submitted budget would be funded by grants—grants that would be coupled with local funds to fully operate.

He also reported that recruiters from Perimeter College have visited to aid the high school in aligning their curriculum with what students are being offered at colleges. Mr. Proctor said, “the school is working closely with the local campus of Griffin Tech to forge a new and better relationship that will offer local programs that students are seeking for career advancement.”

He proudly reported that of all the CTAE programs around the state, Jasper County excels with three students, out of a class of 500 plus, holding the honor of being state representatives.

At the Thursday work session, the board heard from Don Rooks of the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) regarding their search for a new superintendent. According to Mr. Rooks, the search process includes announcing the vacancy and advertising it with colleges and universities throughout the Southeast that have education departments.

He emphasized that the public must be informed when the board has lined up the top three potential candidates that are being considered for the position, and give a 14 day notice that allows the public to take a look at the qualifications of the potential candidates. He suggested they post the information online. Mr. Rooks explained that should the board decide to use the GSBA to conduct the search, he would be available to work with them through each of the 17 steps required before they arrive at their decision.

After identifying candidates that meet the requirements of the Board of Education, the GSBA will offer them a large list of potential candidates, from which to choose their top candidates for interviews. The Board voted unanimously at the regular session on Tuesday to enter a contract with GSBA at a fee of $8,000, to use their search services to identify a potential superintendent of schools for Jasper County.

Supt. Jay Brinson reported that BOE revenue is on track to meet the needs of the budget for this fiscal year. The balance sheet indicates assets of $6.8 million which equals the liabilities of $6.8 million. The fund equity shows a decrease from last year by about $2 million. Total system wide enrollment is down 22 students from last year and high school enrollment is at its lowest point since June, 2007. Attendance too is down in a greater proportion than the system wants, but still for grades 1-8 well within the guidelines for determining AYP.

“We are not expecting to not make AYP because of attendance,” said Mr. Brinson.

Some of the other actions taken by the Board include approval of the Student Uniform Code of Dress – the Board plans to hold a policy working session later with staff and personnel to further define the code; approval of Personnel Leaves and Absences, which were reconfigured and adjusted based on the reduced FY 2010 budget plan; approval of the 30 year lease of the parking lot at 319 College Street to the Jasper County Historical Foundation, but the lease agreement would not include the storage building located on the property.

Most notable of the approvals, was the resolution to submit a request to the Georgia Department of Education’s Director to suspend item #9 of the assurances pertaining to the agriculture equipment construction bonds submitted in October, 2006. This involves the dissolution of the agriculture equipment at the heart of the disbanding of the Agriculture Program. Dr. Holloway read part of that contract to the board during her presentation on Thursday, which says the equipment received locally would be transferred to another program if this program ceases to exist. The local board is asking for a year’s reprieve on that item.

Students, parents and teachers were on hand to share with the board the successes and awards of scores of student achievements through projects in various programs and also improvement in CRCT scores.