Bulloch County Schools Superintendent Charles Wilson addressed members of the Kiwanis Club on April 17, sharing updates on school safety, student behavior expectations, literacy initiatives, financial planning, and facility growth.
With nearly 30 years of service to the district, Wilson gave a broad overview of progress and challenges facing the school system, emphasizing the importance of community partnerships and long-term planning.
Wilson opened by thanking the Kiwanis Club for their support of Project EAGLET, a hands-on learning initiative that continues to provide meaningful connections between classroom instruction and real-world experience. “Teachers are seeing light bulb moments,” he said, describing how field trips and project-based learning are helping students make lasting connections, especially with career and college pathways.
A major theme of Wilson’s talk was consistency across schools. “We’re trying to make sure we’re a school district, not a district of schools,” he said, referencing a systemwide push for aligned pacing, curriculum clarity, and cross-curricular teaching. That alignment is especially crucial, Wilson said, for students who move between schools and can easily fall behind when schools are operating in silos.
He also discussed the district’s renewed focus on student behavior and discipline. With increased concerns from parents, the Board of Education has drawn a firmer line on what behavior is and isn’t acceptable in school settings. “School needs to be a protective place for learning. People need to know their kids can go to school, not get bullied, not in danger of this, not having to put up with nonsense and disruptions.” The district’s alternative school serves as a second chance for some students, but Wilson emphasized that it is a privilege, not a guarantee.
On school safety, Wilson praised partnerships with local law enforcement agencies. While the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office provides school resource officers (SROs) throughout the county, the Statesboro Police Department has struggled with staffing. As a result, discussions are underway for the Sheriff's Office to potentially take over SRO duties in city schools. If finalized, the plan would place officers at Statesboro High School and the remaining city elementary schools.
Wilson also explained the Board’s decision to support a new statewide homestead exemption law (House Bill 581) aimed at curbing property tax increases for primary homeowners. Though beneficial to taxpayers, the change could reduce school district tax collections by an estimated $1 million annually.
“It’s good for the community,” Wilson said, “but we have to figure out how to adjust on our end.”
The district’s largest financial hurdle, Wilson explained, remains the rising cost of employee benefits. The district is facing a $5 million increase in expenditures this year, including $3.7 million due to state-mandated health insurance contributions and another $1.2 million from increased retirement costs. With salaries and benefits consuming nearly 88% of the district’s $155 million budget, he noted that flexibility is limited elsewhere.
Facility growth is also on the horizon. The new Southeast Bulloch High School is in the design phase, with construction tentatively set to begin mid-2026. The estimated $160 million project would be funded through the current and proposed future ESPLOST. Wilson noted the importance of voter support for the next ESPLOST cycle to secure enough revenue to move forward.
“We’re not going to start building until we know we have the money,” he said.
On the topic of student cell phones, Wilson acknowledged their growing role as distractions. While outright bans are unlikely, the district is awaiting further state guidance before implementing new restrictions, especially for grades K-8.
Wilson also answered questions about teacher recruitment, saying Bulloch County has become more competitive after raising base salaries by about $7,500 over recent years. He credited Georgia Southern’s College of Education and Ogeechee Technical College for helping produce more qualified candidates and spoke highly of the dual enrollment program, which allows students to earn college credit—and sometimes even credentials—before graduation.
In response to a question about male educators, Wilson said the district is working to recruit a diverse group of teachers and administrators. “We try to cast a wide net,” he said. “It’s about finding people who have the heart to do this work.”
Wilson ended by expressing appreciation for the Board of Education, calling them focused, supportive, and committed to balancing student needs with taxpayer accountability. He stayed after the meeting to answer additional questions from attendees.
Also in the meeting, Damascus Rehab were awarded tickets to attend this year's Kiwanis Rodeo.
