The Board Brief
January 21, 2021
This edition of The Board Brief is a summary of the information presented and actions taken at the Board of Education’s Board Meeting on January 21, 2020. The meeting took place via teleconference due to COVID-19.
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Actions
Superintendent Announces Face-to-Face (F2F) Instruction Return Plans
On Thursday, January 21, Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones Jr. shared a plan for staff to return to schools on February 11, with students returning on February 18. Dr. Jones stressed that these dates are flexible and will depend on the level of community spread of COVID-19. Additionally, in a presentation to the Board, he included information about the District's plan to move forward with implementing Bi-Polar Ionization, a process that kills harmful pathogens in the airstream. Independent testing by CDC-affiliated labs confirms kill rates as high as 99.9 percent of various pathogens and mold spores, including SARS-CoV-2. To view the presentation, click here.
Board Elects Officers for 2021
On Thursday, January 21, Board members elected new officers for the 2021 calendar year. Daryl Morton was elected to serve as President, Dr. Thelma Dillard was elected to serve as Vice President, and Dr. Sundra Woodford was elected to serve as Treasurer. Outgoing officers for 2020 are Daryl Morton, President; Dr. Thelma Dillard, Vice President; and Dr. Sundra Woodford, Treasurer.
Board Approves Contract with Kelly Education for Substitutes
On Thursday, January 21, Board members approved a contract with Kelly Education for substitute teacher staffing services. There is a national shortage of substitute teachers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with Kelly Education will support the District’s efforts to manage the effective operation of the schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, while providing substitute employees an opportunity to earn benefits. For more information, click here.
Board Authorizes Contract with GoalBook Software
On Thursday, January 21, Board members authorized a contact with Goalbook Software for the Program of Exceptional Children (PEC). Goalbook Software provides real-time support for compliant, legally defensible Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), along with providing teachers with a robust network of specially designed instructional interventions. After the development of a strong present level of performance and goals, the teacher is able to access interventions and specially designed instruction to support students’ growth. Additionally, the program provides support for progress monitoring with data analytics. For more information, click here.
Board Approves MOA with Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential
On Thursday, January 21, Board members authorized a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential (GCAPP). The agreement will provide a partnership with GCAPP for the implementation of the Family Life and Sexual Health (FLASH) curriculum. The District has been implementing the FLASH program for 3 years through a national pilot program out of Seattle.
FLASH is a comprehensive, science-based sexual health education curriculum and is taught to ninth grade students as part of the health course. GCAPP will implement the same training services and curriculum, and the program remains at no cost to the District. The curriculum is available for parents or guardians to review and there is an option to opt-out of all or some of the course in a letter sent home at the beginning of the school year. For more information, click here.
Board OKs FY 2022 Budget Calendar
On Thursday, January 21, Board members approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Budget Calendar. Board Policy DCCA directs the District to annually provide a budget calendar for the ensuing fiscal year. This calendar must provide target dates for meetings such as budget work sessions, public hearings, committee, and board meetings for tentative and final adoption of the budget. For more information, click here.
Board Authorizes Sale of Surplus Properties
On Thursday, January 21, Board members approved the sale of surplus properties at 3750 Jessie Rice Street, 2840 Hightower Road and a 10-acre tract on Upper River Road. For more information, click here.
Board Approves Architectural Firms for Elementary School Renovations
As part of the 2016 Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) building program, the Board approved renovations for Lane, Taylor and Skyview Elementary Schools. On Thursday, January 21, Board members voted to approve two architectural firms to provide services. SP Designs will provide architectural services at Lane Elementary School, and WM2A Architects will provide architectural services at Taylor and Skyview Elementary Schools. For more information, click here.
Board OKs Network Upgrade for 26 Schools
On Thursday, January 20, Board members authorized a network upgrade for 26 schools. The upgrade will include Top of Rack switches and an update to the current network layout. This project includes installing equipment racks; replacing, relocating and/or reconfiguring electronics; running network cable; certifying the completed installation; and providing a detailed turnover to the District’s Network Engineers.
The funding source for this project is 85% from Category 2 E-rate Funding (a program for equipment and services discounts for eligible schools and libraries) and is contingent upon receipt of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) commitment letter. The USAC administers the fund under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The remaining 15% will be funded through general funds. For more information and to see a list of the 26 schools that will be receiving the upgrade, click here.
Board Reviews Policies
Board members reviewed various policies for first or second reading on January 21. Policies must be read twice before they may be voted on for final action. To review the policies, click here.
· PR-1 Revision of Policy KBF – Use of Students for Public Information Programs (ACTION – Second Reading)
· PR-2 Revision of Policy LEBA – Parental Involvement in Education (ACTION – Second Reading)
· PR-3 Revision of Policy MG – Associations (ACTION – Second Reading)
· PR-4 Revision of Policy AB – School Board Legal Status (INFORMATION – First Reading)
· PR-5 Revision of Policy ABCA – Number of Board Members (INFORMATION – First Reading)
· PR-6 Revision of Policy ABCDA – Board Member Un-Expired Term Fulfillment (INFORMATION – First Reading)
· PR-7 Revision of Policy BDF – Review of Administrative Rules (INFORMATION – First Reading)
· PR-8 Revision of Policy BDG – Administration in Policy Absence (INFORMATION – First Reading)
· PR-9 Revision of Policy GBA – Professional Personnel Compensations Guides and Contracts (INFORMATION – First Reading)
· PR-10 Revision of Regulation IDBA-R – Sex Education (INFORMATION – Board Review)
Stakeholders are encouraged to review policies posted after first reading and make public comment via Simbli before the proposed policies are brought back before the Board for action the following month. Simbli may be accessed through the District’s website, www.bcsdk12.net, under “About Us” and “Simbli.” On Simbli, “Pending Policies” will appear on the right side of the screen.
Personnel Items Approved
On Thursday, January 21, Board members approved various personnel items. To view all personnel items, click here.
Information
Board Informed About Chief of Staff Position
On Thursday, January 21, Board members congratulated current District Chief of Staff Keith Simmons on his appointment to Superintendent of the Griffin-Spalding County School System. He will begin on March 1. Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones Jr. also informed Board members that he intends to appoint Dr. Tanzy Kilcrease to the position of Chief of Staff. Dr. Kilcrease is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. That position will be advertised.
Board Informed About End-of-Course Tests (EOCs) and Final Exams for 2020-2021
On Thursday, January 21, Board members received information on course grade weight for End-of-Course tests (EOCs) and final exams for 2020-2021. On December 21, 2020, the State Board of Education (SBOE) voted unanimously to approve State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ recommendation of a .01% course grade weight for the Georgia Milestones (EOCs) for the 2020-2021 school term. The Bibb County School District (BCSD) will apply the .01% course grade weight for final exams in other courses to provide consistency in practice. For more information, click here.
Board Reviews Monthly Financial Report
On Thursday, January 21, Board members reviewed the District’s monthly financial report. For more information, click here.
Board Receives Presentation from Capital Improvement Program
On Thursday, January 21, Board members received a presentation in regards to the 2011 and 2016 Capital Improvement Program, including information on expenditures and encumbrances. For more information, click here.
Board Reviews Investments, Investment Income and Bonds Report
On Thursday, January 21, Board members reviewed a presentation about the Investments and Investment Income report as well as the monthly Bond report associated with 2020 project accounts. For more information, click here.
Recognitions
Miller Academic Team Qualifies for 2021 Junior National Academic Championship
The academic team from Miller Fine Arts Magnet Middle School recently qualified for the 2021 Junior National Academic Championship by finishing in the top five nationally in its division. This competition will be held virtually in May.
Team members include Mary-Katherine Lewis, Geronimo Henkel Pino, Leah Howard, Oliver Jennings, Robert Le, Albert Le, Thomas Rutland, Parker Shoultz, Jacob Hawkins, Jonathan Hurley and Emma Tillery. The team is coached by Bibb County Teacher of the Year runner-up Erin Kelly.
Springdale Students Qualify for National Junior Beta Club Convention
Several members of Springdale Elementary School’s Junior Beta Club recently won competitions as part of the virtual Junior Beta Club Elementary State Convention. These students qualified for the National Junior Beta Club Convention, currently scheduled to be held in Orlando in June 2021. This is the fourth consecutive year Springdale Beta students have qualified for national competition.
The following students came in first place in their competitions: Lucas Aleixo, Rebecca Greenebaum and Adelie Jourdan (Book Battle); Ethan Brock, Foster Groebner, Merrill Long and Angelina Wang (Quiz Bowl); Merrill Long, Angelina Wang, Bryson Tanner and Madisyn Yarbrough (Marketing and Communications); and Rebecca Greenebaum, Foster Groebner and Angelina Wang (Academic Test). Madison Jamieson, Jeremy West, Gabriel Pye and Madison McAllister also placed in their events.
Springdale students also competed in the National Junior Beta Club Convention in June 2020. The quiz bowl and book battle teams, which included several students from this year’s teams, finished as national runners-up.
Carter Achieves Leader in Me Lighthouse School Status
Recently, Sonny Carter Elementary School was recognized as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by FranklinCovey. This recognition comes because the school has achieved outstanding results in school and student outcomes, by implementing the Leader in Me process with fidelity. It is also because of the extraordinary impact the school is having on staff, students, parents and the greater community.
Leader in Me utilizes and integrates several leadership, social-emotional learning and educational models and processes from past and current thought leaders including The 4 Imperatives of Great Leaders and The 4 Disciplines of Execution. The process includes student participation in goal setting, data tracking, leadership roles, Student-Led Conferences, leadership environments, and Leadership Events. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is also a key component of the overall Leader in Me process.
Carter Elementary is the third school in the Bibb County School District to achieve Lighthouse School status. Bernd Elementary and Burdell-Hunt Magnet are also Lighthouse Schools. The District has progressively increased the number of schools employing the Leader in Me framework with the assistance of OneMacon and the Business Education Partnership. As of this year, all 33 schools are either trained in or in the process of training to use Leader in Me.
Morton Recognized for Term as President
During Thursday’s meeting, the Board of Education recognized Daryl Morton for his service as the Board’s president during the 2020 calendar year. This is his second stint as president after previously serving in 2017. Morton is an at-large member of the Board of Education in his second term.
Flowers Named National Afterschool Ambassador
Dr. Janice Flowers, the District’s Director of Before and After School Programs, was recognized for being selected to serve as an Afterschool Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance in 2020-2021. She is one of just 18 leaders in the United States chosen for the honor this year.
Rutland High Teacher Receives State Recognition
Rutland High School teacher Tamoco Hill was recognized as a 2020 Teacher of Excellence by the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics. This award is given to teachers who have shown strong content knowledge and instructional growth.
Miller Principal Named Regional Officer
Jim Montgomery, principal of Miller Fine Arts Magnet Middle School, was honored for being named Co-Director for District 11 for the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP). GAMSP is an affiliate organization of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, which is Georgia’s largest and most active professional organization for school administrators.
Testing Coordinator Elected to State Organization Office
Dara Foy, the District's Testing Coordinator, was recognized by the Board for being elected treasurer for the Georgia Assessment and Accountability Professionals organization.
CTAE Executive Director Recognized by Chamber
Dr. Cassandra Miller-Washington, the District’s Executive Director of Career, Technical and Agriculture Education, was honored for being named Workforce Development Champion during the 2020 Chamber Awards. This event was hosted by the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce in November.
District Employees Go Above and Beyond
Earlier this month, Macon-Bibb County announced the opening of the Brookdale Warming Center at the former site of Brookdale Elementary School. This location allows individuals with insufficient shelter a place to stay warm in cold weather. To make this initiative possible, the following District employees worked hours during their holiday break to get the facility ready: Eddie Montgomery, Director of Maintenance, and his Maintenance team; Rose Powell, Executive Director of Technology Services, and the Technology Services team; Russell Bentley, Chief of Campus Police, and other Campus Police officers; Sam Kitchens, Executive Director of Capital Programs; Cam Bryant, Project Manager; Capital Programs team; Timikel Sharpe, Executive Director of School Nutrition, and the School Nutrition Program team.