The Board Brief
September 19, 2019
This edition of The Board Brief is a summary of the information presented and actions taken at the Board of Education’s meetings on September 19, 2019.
=======================
Actions
Board Approves Knowledge Resources Group Contract
On Thursday, September 19, Board members approved the use of additional funds to hire special education teachers through Knowledge Resources Group to fill vacant positions. The Bibb County School District’s Human Resources Department is committed to recruiting, hiring and retaining high-quality candidates to fill vacant teaching positions. For more information, please click here.
Board Oks Contract with DRIVE Educational System Professional Learning Services
On Thursday, September 19, Board members approved a contract with DRIVE Educational System, a full-service educational support network that strives to unite and elevate the possibilities of all learning communities. DRIVE facilitates school transformation and improves student outcomes by helping schools create a climate and culture that will empower lifelong learners, nurture the whole child and strengthen social-emotional competencies. Through the contract, DRIVE Educational System will provide additional professional learning services and materials to Ballard-Hudson Middle School and Rutland Middle School for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. For more information, click here.
Board Renews Contract with Intalage
On Thursday, September 19, Board members approved a contract renewal with Intalage. The company partners with the District to fill vacancies with certified international teachers. The contract between Intalage and the District ended July 2019 after a three-year term. Renewal of this contract allows current Intalage teachers to remain in the District, and allows the District to continue hiring teachers through Intalage for hard-to-fill teaching positions. There are currently 16 teachers working in the District provided by Intalage. The same conditions in the previous contract will remain. For more information, click here.
Board Authorizes Propane Fuel Purchase
On Thursday, September 19, Board members approved action to purchase propane fuel through Ferrellgas, LP for its school buses. In FY 2019, the Board authorized the District to purchase propane fuel used to operate 83 propane buses. On September 16, 14 new propane buses were placed into operation, meaning more propane fuel is needed. For more information, click here.
Board Approves Authorized Gas and Diesel Providers
On Thursday, September 19, Board members approved the District to purchase gas or diesel fuel with one of the following suppliers – Walthall Oil, Davis Oil, Mansfield Oil, and Osan Oil. For more information, click here.
Board OKs New Device Management Software
On Thursday, September 19, Board members approved the District to purchase a new device management software. The Technology Department and its Network Operations Center will implement an inclusive software to manage all of the end users’ devices in a single platform. This implementation will allow the Technology Department the ability to manage all devices issued on and off campus. For more information, click here.
Board Authorizes Purchase of Dell Computers
On Thursday, September 19, Board members authorized the District’s Technology Department, Title I/Federal Programs Department and individual schools to purchase Dell computers for various projects and grants under the State of Georgia purchasing contract. For more information, click here.
Board Reviews Policies
Board members reviewed various policies for first or second reading on September 19. 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 GAAA – Equal Opportunity Employment (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-2 Revision of Policy GAEB - Harassment (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-3 Revision of Policy JR – Student Records (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-4 Revision of Policy KL – Public Use of School Records (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-5 Rescission of Policy IG – Guidance Programs (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-6 Revision of Policy CJ – Administrative Consultants (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
- PR-7 Revision of Policy DFLA – General Fund Investment (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
- PR-8 Revision of Policy DFM – Equipment and Supplies Sales (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
- PR-9 Revision of Policy DFN – Property Sales (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
- PR-10 Revision of JBCBA – Tuition (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
- PR-11 Revision of BD – Policy Development (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
- PR-12 Revision of Policy IBB – Charter Schools (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
- PR-13 Revision of Policy IDE(3) – Competitive Interscholastic Activities, Grades 6-12 (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
- PR-14 Revision of LA – Inter-Organizational Goals and Objectives (PRESENTATION – First Reading)
Board Informed of Policies for October 2019 Committee/Board Meeting
The Bibb County School District (District) will be presenting the following policies for first reading at the October 17, 2019 regular board meeting. ED – Student Transportation Management; FDC – Naming Facilities; FHCA – Names on Building Plaques; IDFA – Gender Equity in Sports. The Board of Education and District are working collaboratively to review and update policies. The above-referenced policies are being shared in advance of the first reading to allow comments and suggestions from all stakeholders related to the policies. The Board and District want to allow every stakeholder an opportunity to share comments and suggestions that will be considered in the revision of a policy. For more information, click here.
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, September 19, Board members approved various personnel items. To view all personnel items, click here.
Information
Board Reviews Monthly Financial Report
On Thursday, September 19, Board members reviewed the District’s monthly financial report. For more information, click here.
Board Reviews Investments and Investments Income
On Thursday, September 19, Board members were presented with the District’s Investments and Investments Income information. For more information, click here.
Board Receives Update on New Elementary School
On Thursday, September 19, Board members received an update on the construction of the new elementary school located at 3522 Greenbriar Road. As paid for by the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST), the Board of Education approved the construction of a new elementary school to be built upon the consolidation of Riley and Brookdale Elementary Schools. The school is scheduled to be complete before the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. For more information, click here.
Board Presented with Safety and Security Update
On Thursday, September 19, Board members were presented with an update on the District’s safety and security procedures in regards to the district-wide random search initiative. Safety and Security Manager Corey Goble explained the purpose and data collected thus far. The random searches occur either at entry points or in random classrooms. The Campus Police Department’s K9 supported searches have taken place as well. The random searches began in 2018 for middle and high schools and now take place at elementary schools additionally. Entry point random searches will now occur at every school bi-monthly and are led by administration. For more information, click here.
Board Receives Presentation from the 2011 and 2016 Capital Improvement Program
On Thursday, September 19, Board members received a presentation in regards to the 2011 and 2016 Capital Improvement Program, including information on expenditures and encumbrances. They also received information from the 2016 ESPLOST report. For more information, click here.
Board Receives Update on Naming Committee for New Elementary School
On Thursday, September 19, Board members received an update on the process for naming facilities. Per Policy FDC – Naming Facilities, upon the construction of a new school or facility, school consolidations, re-use of a school or facility, or the closing a school, a committee must be appointed to make a recommendation as to the naming or renaming of the school or facility.
The committee is made up of Board members Dr. Sundra Woodford (chair) and Dr. Thelma Dillard; Vicki Williams, a former principal of Brookdale; Mary Wimberly, a retired teacher and member of the Greenbriar Neighborhood Association; and a representative of the District. The committee will be meeting soon to discuss the new school’s name.
As paid for by the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST), the Board of Education approved the construction of a new elementary school to be built upon the consolidation of Riley and Brookdale Elementary Schools. Establishing a name for the new school as early as possible will assist the architects and construction manager as they progress in the construction process. Additionally, acting soon in appointing a naming committee would assist in ensuring all stakeholders have ample opportunity to give input regarding the name.
Board Receives Update on Naming of Appling Middle School
On Thursday, September 19, Board members received an update on the name of Appling Middle School. The aforementioned Policy FDC – Naming Facilities is in effect in this case as well.
In July 2017, the Board was given recommendation regarding the renaming of Appling Middle School, as a part of the new construction associated with Northeast High School. The recommendation for the name was Appling Middle Academy of Health Sciences and was tabled because more information was requested concerning if health sciences would be added as a programmatic focus at the school. At this time, there are no considerations of adding a health sciences program at the middle school.
Students are scheduled to move to the new middle school site for the 2020-2021 school year. Because Appling Middle School is moving to a new school site, Board action is required concerning the naming of the school. The following options are in place for the Board to consider for the naming of the school: The Board President can appoint a new naming committee for the middle school being constructed on the site of Northeast High School or the Board of Education can vote to retain the Appling Middle School name for the school building at the new site. The Board will vote on the name next month.
Highlights and Recognitions
Carter Recognized for Being Named a Title I Distinguished School
Last school year, Carter Elementary School was recognized as one of the state’s Title I Distinguished schools for scoring in the top 5 percent in Georgia in the 2018 College and Career Ready Performance Index. The school’s achievements continued in May, as Carter was one of two schools in Georgia selected to be recognized as a 2020 National ESEA Distinguished School. This marks the second year in a row the District has had a school to receive this honor, following Skyview Elementary last year.