The Bulloch Board of Education held their last regular meeting of 2024 on Thursday December 12, following the signing ceremony of the new Cohort of REACH Scholars.
During the meeting, students from schools across Bulloch County were recognized for their academic dedication, which led them to the REACH Program. Upon their completion of the program and graduation in 2029, they will receive a $10,000 scholarship.
The 2029 REACH cohort includes:
- Charlee Hernandez-Hernandez from Langston Chapel Middle
- Zakary Knight from Southeast Bulloch Middle
- Jemiah Leysath-Ellis from Portal Middle
- Charles "Trip" Lee III from William James Middle
The Foundation for Public Education also recognized and awarded Innovation grants to the following Bulloch County Teachers to enable them to implement their ideas for helping children in the community:
- Elizabeth Garvin, SEBHS
- Amber Tapley, SEBMS
- Brittany Miller, SHS
- Katie Reece, PES
- Robin Lane, WJMS
- Kittie Lamb, SES
- Amy Smith, WJMS
- Concella Holder, SHS
- Megan Bennett, SEBMS
- Josh Hall, SHS
Three board members' last meeting
Thursday night marked the last meeting for Board Members Stuart Tedders, Glenn Womack and Heather Mims, as they rotate off of the Board and new members take their seats.
Board member Tedders thanked the community for their support throughout his four years serving on the Board.
“What a gift,” he said. “What a wonderful experience it has been to advocate for the kids, the students.”
Board member Womack, who spent eight years in the district three seat, says that although it was not always an easy job, it was rewarding to serve the students of the community.
“Our children are our future,” Womack said, also expressing his gratitude for the other members of the board that he has served alongside.
Board member Mims said that she will miss the friendships she has made with the board members throughout eight years on the board, though she will not be going far, and looks forward to serving the community in another capacity in the future.
Chair Elizabeth Williams, as well as Board Members Glennera Martin and Maurice Hill thanked their outgoing colleagues for the expertise, insightful and helpful perspectives they have provided the school board during times of tough decision, and wished them well in their next steps.
Superintendent Charles Wilson presented each of the retiring board members with an award and the gift of a clock, to honor the time that they have put into serving the board and the time they spent behind the scenes working to advocate for the students.
Portal Elementary Spotlight and Award Nomination
Portal Elementary School was highlighted at the meeting with a spotlight presentation, and was also announced as the nominee for the Georgia Reads Award.
The award recognizes 10 communities in the state for their achievement of significant literacy progress in the last five years. The Bulloch County Literacy Council, in partnership with Bulloch County Schools, the Rotary Club, and Georgia Southern University, seek to use the potential $20,000 reward to transform Portal Elementary School’s media center into a community hub where they can offer workshops and time for families to visit to help increase the literacy within that area. The awards will be announced in February.
Until then, PES teachers are working towards improving reading scores utilizing programs like iReady, Jan Richardson Guided Reading, and UFLI Phonics.
The state testing scores of PES students took a slight dip from 2023, and Principal Nate Pennington says that the solution being implemented is more rigorous instruction in lower tier learner groups, in order to continue pushing each student to the next learning tier.
They are happy to report a 47% improvement in the number of students with five or more unexcused absences and say that attendance awards and monthly class recognition have helped significantly in getting the students excited to be at school.
Superintendent Charles Wilson commented that he appreciated the candor in admitting where testing had not quite hit the goals that were set, and commended their commitment to improving the practices in the classroom in order to reach those targets.
APPROVED G. Consent Agenda
1. Board Minutes
2. Board Member Payroll
3. Financial Report
H. Old Business for Approval
APPROVED 1. Board Policy GCRA(1): Drug and Alcohol Screening of Drivers
Amendments to the language within the Board Policy Manual of Bulloch County Schools were adopted after revisions were reviewed at the last meeting.
I. New Business for Approval
APPROVED 1. Xcel Full Time Bid Approval: contract in the amount of $150,000
APPROVED 2. LED Lighting Project Approval: Esplost contract $540,201.80
Superintendent Wilson described that the lighting throughout the county’s schools has aged out and is not able to be repaired, and is energy inefficient.
The replacement of the lights will take place in a five phase process, three schools at a time across a five year period.
APPROVED 3. Guaranteed Max Price HVAC Project Approval: GMP $2,970,538 for Mattie Lively Elementary School with Pope Construction
APPROVED 4. Large Equipment Approval SHS Cafeteria Approval: Manning Brothers contract $155,267.63.
J. New Business to be Placed on the Table
1. Tentative Board Meeting Schedule for 2025
The schedule will be voted on at the next meeting is January 9, 2025, where new members will also be sworn in.
APPROVED 1. Personnel Recommendations for December 12, 2024