The Bulloch County Board of Education held its regular meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2025. The evening opened with a special recognition of local students committed to pursuing careers in education, followed by a spotlight on Brooklet Elementary School, which shared its academic achievements and strategies for success.
The board also reviewed updates on instructional initiatives and discussed the nutrition and special revenue budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.
Future Educator Signing Ceremony
The meeting began with a celebration of high school seniors who have signed commitments to become future educators. Students from Statesboro High, Southeast Bulloch, and Portal High Schools participated in the ceremony, each receiving a certificate and a commemorative pin.
Representatives from Georgia Southern University and East Georgia State College were also present to celebrate the students and share supportive remarks. The board emphasized the critical need for new teachers in Georgia, where over 5,300 vacancies were reported in December 2024.
Board members praised the students' commitment to the teaching profession, with encouragement to return and teach within the district in the future.
Brooklet Elementary School Spotlight
Brooklet Elementary School was the featured school spotlight for the meeting. The BES administration team, led by Principal Krista Branch, delivered a data-driven presentation showcasing the school’s academic growth over the past several years.
Highlights included:
-
A 95.5 CCRPI score for the 2023–2024 school year.
-
Continuous improvement in content mastery, with significant gains in math and science.
-
Implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), which allow teachers to meet regularly and use student data to drive instruction and group students by skill level.
-
The “What I Need” (WIN) time for targeted remediation and enrichment.
-
Use of the UFLI phonics program and morphology instruction to improve reading and vocabulary outcomes.
-
Integration of writing rubrics and progression charts to strengthen literacy instruction.
Staff members attributed the school’s success to collaboration, flexible grouping, and a shared commitment to student growth.
Instructional Updates and Teacher Clarity Work
District officials presented ongoing efforts related to the districtwide teacher clarity initiative. The project focuses on developing consistent learning targets, success criteria, and common assessments across schools. Teachers have participated in professional development sessions throughout the year, which are now being supported through district-level PLCs.
There were also updates on literacy support programs, including the continued rollout of the UFLI Foundations phonics program through second grade, with a third-grade component to be added next school year. The district plans to monitor implementation through classroom walkthroughs and coaching support.
School Nutrition and Special Revenue Budgets
Chief Financial Officer Alison Boatright provided an in-depth review of the school nutrition budget for fiscal year 2026. Key points included:
-
A projected decrease in fund balance from $1.3 million to $598,000 by the end of FY26.
-
Factors affecting the budget include increased health insurance costs, food inflation, and the impact of 14 weather-related school closures in FY25.
-
Efforts to reduce costs through efficient operations and software systems were highlighted.
-
Participation in the Smart Mouth Pizza program and other menu enhancements are being used to increase student participation and revenue.
Special revenue funds were also reviewed, including federal grants and programs like JROTC and Pre-K. Questions from board members centered on funding gaps and the impact of local support for these programs.
Calendar and Other Business
The board approved the 2026–2027 school calendar, which included updated weather make-up days.
They also approved a resolution to withdraw a previous capital funding application for Southeast Bulloch High and plan to submit a revised application due to updated cost estimates.
Executive Session and Adjournment
To close the meeting, Superintendent Charles Wilson recommended the board enter executive session to discuss personnel matters. The board reconvened briefly before adjourning.
