The Board Brief
January 16, 2020
This edition of The Board Brief is a summary of the information presented and actions taken at the Board of Education’s meetings on January 16, 2020.
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Actions
Board Authorizes Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget Calendar
On Thursday, January 16, Board members authorized the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget Calendar. To view the calendar, which outlines the timeline for the development of the 2020-2021 budget, click here.
Board Approves Grant to Provide Technology for 11 Schools
On Thursday, January 16, Board members approved the District to issue purchase orders for the implementation of the Title I Section 1003 Georgia Systems of Continuous Improvement Competitive Grant. This grant will provide 11 selected schools with classroom sets of iPads for grades K-1, one-to-one laptops in grades 2-8 and personalized learning training and coaching.
The School Improvement Competitive Grant will provide financial resources to the District on behalf of Title I schools identified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), and Promise schools as defined by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The schools receiving the grant are Appling, Ballard-Hudson and Weaver Middle Schools; and Bruce, Hartley, Ingram-Pye, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Riley (which includes Brookdale), Southfield, Union and Veterans Elementary Schools. For more information, click here.
Board Approves 2020 Board Meeting Dates
On Thursday, January 16, Board members approved meeting dates for February 2020 through January 2021 and the date for the 2020 Board Retreat. For a full list of board meeting dates, click here.
Board Elects Officers for 2020
On Thursday, January 16, Board members elected new officers for the 2020 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 2019 are Lester Miller, President; Dr. Sundra Woodford, Vice President; and Dr. Thelma Dillard, Treasurer. For more information, click here.
Board Reviews Policies
Board members reviewed various policies for first or second reading on January 16. 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 GAN – Employee Tobacco Use (First Reading)
- PR-2 Revision of Policy JCDAA – Student Tobacco Use (First Reading
- PR-3 Revision of Policy KBB – School-Sponsored Information Media (First Reading)
- PR-4 Revision of Policy MDA – Shared Services/RESAs (First Reading)
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 16, Board members approved various personnel items. To view all personnel items, click here.
Information
Board Receives Update on School Designations
On Thursday, January 16, Board members received an update on the District’s schools that have received designations from the state based on their College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score. The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) targets improvement efforts for Title I schools through the designations of Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Schools, Promise Schools, and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) Schools. Additionally, schools can also be considered Turnaround Schools as designated by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA). To view the presentation, click here.
Board Receives ESPLOST Construction Update
On Thursday, January 16, Board members received an update regarding construction of current Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) projects. These projects include Rileydale Elementary School, Peter G. Appling Middle School, Rutland High School Performing Arts Center and Westside High School Performing Arts Center. To view the presentation, click here.
Board Reviews School-Justice Partnership
On Thursday, January 16, Board members received an update on the Macon-Bibb County School-Justice Partnership (SJP). The agreement was locally planned and implemented in partnership with the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office to reduce the number of students who enter the juvenile justice system. The agreement focuses on providing an alternative response to students who commit certain offenses (focused acts) at school. The protocol allows SJP to address the needs of those students as a way of reducing the likelihood that they will re-offend. To view the presentation, click here.
Board Reviews Monthly Financial Report
On Thursday, January 16, Board members reviewed the District’s monthly financial report. For more information, click here.
Board Receives Presentation from the 2011 and 2016 Capital Improvement Program
On Thursday, January 16, 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 Informed of Policies for February 2019 Committee/Board Meeting
The Bibb County School District will be presenting the following policies for first reading at the February 20, 2020, Board meeting: BBA - Board Officers; BBAA - Board Officer Method of Election; BBABD - Duties of the Clerk; BBC - Board Committees; BE - School Board Records. 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. For more information, click here.
Highlights and Recognitions
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Harper Cox, a 1st grade student at Vineville Academy of the Arts.
Three District Schools Chosen as Reward Schools
Title I Reward Schools are recognized by the Georgia Department of Education for ranking among the top 5 percent of Title I schools in the state, based on data from the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). Additionally, these schools must maintain performance standards among certain subgroups. At Thursday’s meeting, three District schools were honored for being chosen as Reward Schools: Brookdale Elementary School, Burdell-Hunt Magnet School and Miller Fine Arts Magnet Middle School.
Brookdale Elementary School
Burdell-Hunt Magent School
Miller Fine Arts Magnet Middle School
Springdale Beta Club Students Headed to National Competition
Springdale Elementary School students recently competed at the State Junior Beta Club Convention in Savannah. These competitions cover a variety of academic areas. Several of these students, led by sponsors Anne Oxford, Jennifer Johnston and Kate Lambert, placed well enough in their respective competitions to advance to the national convention, which will take place in June in Fort Worth, Texas.
Quiz Bowl runners-up were Jake Hawkins, William Martin, Merrill Long and Angela Wang, and Battle of the Books runners-up were Charleigh Carlton, Aaron Greenbaum and Vincent Santamarina. The following students won individual honors: Foster Groebner, first place in science; Angelina Wang, first place in math; Merrill Long, fourth place in social studies; Andy Wang, second place in math; Jake Hawkins, fourth place in science; Joma Villesenor-Viloria, first place in recyclable art; and Garner Michael, second place in drawing.
ESPLOST Oversight Committee Members Recognized
The Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) has been crucial to funding projects throughout the District, including new school buildings, technology upgrades, athletic facility improvements and more. These ongoing projects are approved by the Board of Education, but other individuals are also involved.
The ESPLOST Oversight Committee serves to ensure stakeholder interests are being represented and the funding is being spent in a responsible manner. The committee members for 2019-2020 are Alvin Copeland, Mickey Daniell, Dr. Henry Ficklin, Kristin Hanlon, Juawn Jackson, John (Jack) Nichols, Rhett Rayburn, Dr. Lori Rodgers, Board Member Susan K. Sipe and Karen Yarbrough.
Truancy Task Force Members Honored
Attendance has been a key focus area for the District since Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones Jr. arrived in 2015. To help improve this area, a multi-agency Truancy Task Force was formed.
This task force meets with families of students with poor attendance patterns to address issues and obstacles that have negatively impacted student attendance. The following members of this task force for 2019-2020 were recognized at the meeting: Angela Solomon, Taryn Collinsworth, Melanie D. Brown, Brooke Widner, Danielle Fish, Doron Dvorak, Board Member Susan K. Sipe, Bill Square, Henderson “Mike” Carswell, Richie Kendrick, Reginald Thomas, Isis Davis, Dr. Danielle Jones, John Porter, Will Butler, Frank Mack and Takeysha Lewis.