The Board Brief
October 21, 2021
This edition of The Board Brief is a summary of the information presented and actions taken at the Board of Education Meeting on October 21, 2021.
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Actions
Board Approves Retention Supplement for Employees
On Thursday, October 21, Board members voted to approve a one-time retention supplement for District full-time and part-time employees, to include contracted employees such as school nurses, as well as substitutes placed in long-term positions. Individuals on service agreements and regular substitutes do not meet the criteria and will not receive a supplement. This retention supplement is estimated to cost the District $3.9 million using federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. The retention supplements will be scheduled for payment no later than January 7, 2022. For more information, click here.
Board Votes to Authorize Contract with GSBA for Superintendent Search
On Thursday, October 21, Board members voted to authorize a contract with Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) to conduct the superintendent search. Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones announced in September he would retire in June 2022.
Board Approves Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Grant Award
On Thursday, October 21, Board members voted to approve funding through the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) for student and staff devices, as well as mobile hotspots and wireless service. The Federal Communications Commission’s ECF is a program that will help schools and libraries provide the tools and services their communities need for remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period.
For eligible schools and libraries, the ECF Program will cover reasonable costs of laptop and tablet computers; Wi-Fi hotspots; modems; routers; and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff and library patrons. For more information, click here.
Board Authorizes Expansion of Graphic Design Pathway, Amendment to WiSH Lease
On Thursday, October 21, Board members voted to authorize the expansion of the Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Graphic Design Pathway. Presently, the Graphic Design Pathway has a partnership with RICOH, which provides students with the curriculum and skills needed in the digital and print industry.
Due to ongoing changes in the digital media and print industry, there is an academic and skill gap for the students enrolled in the Graphic Design Pathway. An upgrade to equipment for simulation of a “real world” training facility will close the educational and talent gap. The upgrade requires advancement in curriculum, equipment and training for the Graphic Design instructors. For more information, click here.
Additionally on Thursday, October 21, Board members voted to authorize an amendment to the contractual agreement of WiSH printing for additional expenses. In November 2014, the Board approved the District to implement WiSH Printing, an on-site print shop, in partnership with RICOH. The partnership with RICOH allows Graphic Design students to complete jobs for a variety of internal and external clients.
As students work in the Print Shop, they have multiple opportunities to apply the information and skills learned in the classroom and acquire real-world experiences. Under the TCPN Cooperative Contract, RICOH provides the equipment and contracted labor for WiSH Printing. For more information, click here.
Board Authorizes Personnel Items
On Thursday, October 21, Board members approved various personnel items. To view all personnel items, click here.
Board Authorizes Various Operational Expenditures
On Thursday, October 21, Board members approved various operational and financial expenditures:
- A letter of engagement to cover non-extraordinary attorney fees with Jones Cork LLP.
- A purchase order to cover extraordinary attorney fees with Jones Cork LLP.
- A contract with Middle GA Insulated Structures LLC to provide walk-in freezer and replacement/installation services at the Central Kitchen.
For more information on the aforementioned operational expenditures, click here.
Board Reviews Policies
Board members reviewed various policies for first or second reading on October 21, 2021. 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 DJC - Payroll Procedures (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-2 Revision of Policy DJCB – Salary Deduction (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-3 Revision of Policy DJD- Travel Reimbursements (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-4 Revision of Policy FGCB & FGCB (1) - Facilities Bid Advertisement and Solicitations (ACTION – Second Reading)
- PR-5 Revision of Policy FDBA – Existing Facilities Inventory (Rescinding)
- PR-6 Revision of Policy FGDAA – Facilities Projects Contracts Fair Employment Clause (INFORMATION First Reading)
- PR-7 Revision of Policy Regulation GBRIG-R(1) – Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (Up for 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.
Information
Board Informed of the District’s 150th Anniversary Planning
On Thursday, October 21, Board members were informed that the Bibb County School District will celebrate its 150th anniversary in August 2022. The General Assembly approved the passage of an act to establish a permanent Board of Public Education and Orphanage for Bibb County, which was signed on August 23, 1872. A copy of the act appears in the Acts of the 1872 Georgia Assembly.
The Bibb County School District has established a team to plan and coordinate events to celebrate the District’s anniversary. A timeline of events and celebrations will be shared with the public in early 2022. For more information, click here.
Board Reviews Elementary Gifted and Talent Development Initiative
On Thursday, October 21, Board members reviewed the District’s elementary gifted and talent development initiative. Students identified as high achieving will be added to elementary gifted classes to receive enrichment in the areas of achievement, creativity and collaboration. The goal of including high-achieving students is to increase the number of gifted-identified students in the District. The District serves gifted students in specific grades on designated days of the week. Students engage in problem- and project-based learning focused on developing critical thinking skills while allowing them to use their talents to personalize their learning. For more information, click here.
Board Informed of Public Safety Officials and First Responders Supplement
On Thursday, October 21, Board members were informed of the impact from Gov. Brian Kemp’s Public Safety Officials and First Responders Supplement Grant using funding from the state’s American Rescue Plan Act. This program was established in recognition of the sacrifice and dedication public safety officers and first responders have shown in serving Georgians and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant will provide a $1,000 pay supplement for all eligible sworn law enforcement officials serving during August 2021.
The Bibb County School District has been given a list of 29 potentially eligible officers who will receive the supplement provided they were actively employed by the District for the month of August 2021. Grant funds will be paid to the District, and Finance will disburse payments to these eligible officers through the payroll process. For more information, click here.
Board Receives Update from Vendor Fair
In July 2021, the Bibb County School District hosted its first Community Vendor Fair on June 9-10, 2021. Participating vendors represented a broad range of businesses offering summer and after school programming, tutoring, mental health services, and field trips. The event was organized for vendors to have the opportunity to share their services with school and district administrators. Of the 55 vendor fair participants, 49 vendors were added to the District’s approved vendor list. For more information, click here.
Board Reviews Monthly Financial Report
On Thursday, October 21, Board members reviewed the District’s monthly financial report. For more information, click here.
Board Receives Presentation from Capital Improvement Program
On Thursday, October 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, October 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.
Highlights and Recognitions
Bibb Celebrates 80.67% Graduation Rate
Data released today by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) show the Bibb County School District’s high school graduation rate has surpassed 80 percent for the first time in at least a decade. The District’s overall graduation rate for 2021 was 80.67 percent. This is up from an overall District graduation rate of 51.30 percent in 2011. All six high schools demonstrated growth in the graduation rate from 2020 to 2021, and both Central (pictured above) and Howard High Schools achieved a graduation rate of 85 percent for 2021 – a new high for District schools. For more information, click here.
Bibb Retired Educators Association Honored
The members of the Bibb Retired Educators Association represent a valuable asset to our community. Not only are they formerly classroom educators, but their continued commitment to volunteer efforts in our schools is crucial to our “Victory in Progress.” As such, they are being recognized with Retired Educators Day and Retired Educators Month in November, with proclamations from Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
Southwest Senior Selected for State Council
State Schools Superintendent Richard Woods selects students from across the state each year to serve on his Student Advisory Council, and this year, Southwest High School senior Altaron Palmer Jr. was chosen. The members of this group serve as a liaison between their schools and state-level administrators, and they can help shape policy decisions.
Daniely, SOAR Recognized with Awards
Dr. Julia Daniely, the District’s Director of Personalized Learning and Alternative Education, was recognized as the 2021 Administrator of the Year by the Georgia Association for Alternative Education. Additionally, SOAR Academy Personalized Learning Center was chosen for third-place honors as a Spotlight School of the Year.
Vineville Academy Honored with GAESP Awards
Every year, the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals presents the School Bell Award to no more than 10 schools across the state. These schools are recognized for having innovative programs in the area of curriculum and organizational leadership. For the sixth consecutive year, Vineville Academy of the Arts was chosen for the award, this time for “Vineville Goes Virtual: We Can Do Virtually Anything Through Technology.” GAESP also recognized Vineville Academy of the Arts and Society Garden with an Education Patron Award. Society Garden has partnered with the school for the Student Leadership Buddy Bench Project, Teacher Support Group, an Outdoor Reading Library, panda wood carvings by Chaptacular and more.
Next Monthly Board of Education Meeting
The Bibb County Board of Education will hold its regular session Committee and Board meetings on Thursday, November 18. The Committee meeting will begin at 4 p.m. and the Board meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. Both meetings will take place at the Professional Learning Center, Martin-Whitley Educational Complex, 2003 Riverside Drive, Macon. Room capacity will be limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The monthly meetings are streamed live at www.youtube.com/bibbschools.
Agendas are posted prior to meetings at https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Index.aspx?S=4013. Anyone wishing to address the Board at its 6:30 p.m. monthly meeting should follow the protocols set forth in Policy BCBI. To read Policy BCBI - Public Participation in Board Meetings, CLICK HERE.