Elizabeth Williams Chairman has called the Bullock County Board of Education's April 11, 2024 meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Joshua TalvaA member of the Langston Chapel boys basketball team, he led the Pledge of Allegiance, after which the meeting's agenda was adopted as written.
D. Comments from Board Members
Board Member Donna Clifton We're asking parents to increase parent involvement, especially as state tests approach, and to view their child's online literacy dashboard to see what their child is doing in the classroom. Masu.
Director Glennella Martin He thanked community members for attending the meeting and encouraged them to continue participating.
E. General Participation – No Sign Up
F. Superintendent's Report
1. Langston Chapel Middle Basketball Team Recognition
LCMS Principal Willie Robinson He introduced the men's basketball team and praised their talent and hard work. The team posted a perfect season record of 21-0 after its final game against Effingham this spring, winning the Coastal Empire Region Playoff Championship title for the first time in more than a decade.
Robinson thanked his parents for their sacrifices during practices and games, and once again applause filled the room to congratulate the team.
2. School Spotlight: Langston Chapel Middle School
Dr. Robinson introduced 8th grade student Savannah Smith. Her sister is in her 7th grade and her mother is her special education teacher at LCMS. She talked about her love for LCMS and featured her spotlight presentation.
The presentation referred to the teacher clarification efforts that have been implemented. The foundation is understanding learning intentions and assessing individual student success.
The iReady program led to the highest growth in math diagnostics at LCMS of any middle school in the county, and teachers credited this success to a 45-minute block of intervention at the beginning of the day using iReady and other tools. That's what I think.
“This year has been the most rewarding year of my career,” says 8th grade teacher. Tammy Deloach Expressed emotionally. She received her first Read 180 award from her remediation program as a teacher in Georgia.
The presentation included video testimonials from students about improving their reading, writing, and speaking skills. Many said they felt more prepared for high school and were no longer afraid to read in public.
Teachers report that having children track their own learning progress daily through standard worksheets allows children to take ownership of their own learning and has seen greater success and improvement. did.
mary jacksonA seventh-grade math teacher who has worked at LCMS for two years says the school is a safe and orderly environment.
Through mantras like “Blue Devils do right” and “pulse checks” by SEL specialists who check for behaviors that indicate potential negative patterns, destructive behaviors are discouraged and positive engagement encouraged. Bullying prevention education and emotional control are also cultivated at school.
Prizes are awarded for good behavior in the classroom, including snacks, swivel chairs, computer time, and celebrations. LCMS reports behavioral referrals are down 6% year-to-date.
This year's LCMS climate and culture highlights:
- Teacher, Student, and Staff of the Month Award Winner
- Reserved recipe tasting day
- Dot Day and media center diversification
- PBIS students who achieved standards participated in GSU basketball games
- After school staff party
Robinson thanked district leaders, students, teachers and administrators, saying, “We have come a long way.”
Chairman Williams emphasized the importance of Read180 and said it had a lot of potential to help the school get back to where it was meant to be.
She also takes pride in leveraging data to meet student needs. This allows them to “move fast”. “As a result, the school will make tremendous progress,” Williams said.
Director Glennella Martin He praised the “passion shown by today's teachers” and thanked Principal Robinson for being a great leader and balancing academics and sports.
Superintendent Charles Wilson “It's great to see the fire…You've all really stepped up this year and come a long way.” He appreciates the courage of teachers to challenge themselves.
3. LEAP program updates
This year is LEAP’s first full year and a soft start.
LEAP is a highly specialized program that places students with extreme behavioral issues in a separate classroom environment where they receive a high level of individualized support. These students pose a significant risk to the learning environment and may exceed the ability of multi-layered support systems to curb such behavior. Program coordinators emphasize how important it is to ensure that the right students participate in the program, as most students do not benefit from being removed from their classrooms, peers, teachers, and daily routines.
All children are evaluated using the same criteria.
- Students cause significant disruption to themselves and others in the learning environment
- It's not just one teacher or a personality mismatch.
- Not eligible for special education: There are other programs for this
- Most supportive behavioral intervention plans have already been in place for at least 4 to 6 weeks, with data collected on a near-daily basis.
- Parents and schools discussed options one-on-one
- All other resources have been exhausted and children will benefit from LEAP.
If your child is accepted, there will be an extensive intake process and transportation to and from the LEAP facility will be arranged.
Administrators of small programs marty holderis thrilled to have been called to this job and proud to be a part of a program like no other in Georgia.
The purpose, he says, is to help children discipline themselves to return to the learning environment. Children participate in the program for approximately nine weeks at a time, and when children are not in the program, staff members assist with behavior management at other schools.
Administrator Holder praised the compassion, professionalism and ability of the program's staff to “educate students of all levels anytime, anywhere.” The staff is trained in trauma-informed practices, with each staff member receiving over 200 hours of her training before opening.
Currently, four students from four schools are participating in the program.
One parent of a kindergartner in the nine-week program said that while previously these tasks were nearly impossible due to the child's outbursts, now she can take her child to the grocery store and get a haircut. He said he was now able to do so. Holder said the program is life-changing for families and helps parents feel less alone in these challenges.
The program allows children to continue to participate in their school community, allowing teachers, administrators, and counselors from their “home” school to come into LEAP classrooms and implement the same interventions when students return to school. will do so.
Reintroducing students is one of the big challenges. Holder said the program doesn't require perfection, but rather aims to teach new behaviors and teach children how to use coping skills independently.
The program's priorities are to build capacity among teachers to deal with extreme behavior and to help students acquire the necessary skills.
4. 2023 Independent Audit Report Update
Alison Boatwrightthe CFO submitted an audit report.
She said the Georgia Office of the Auditor-General completed an audit of the financial statements and federal awards, and the department received the highest audit opinion, but made no findings regarding the statements or awards. Recommendations have been made and will be implemented.
5. FY2025 budget (other than general revenue)
Boatwright also presented a budget based on estimates that will be finalized in the 2025 budget.
There was extensive discussion on nutrition budgets, emphasizing the importance of cost-effectiveness. The new freezer will allow for bulk orders. Ordering ingredients reduces food costs because you're not ordering the final food.
A menu and recipe accounting program is used that regulates how to order so as not to exceed the budget. The board does not subsidize the program and seeks to make it self-sufficient.
The Board emphasizes the need to keep wages competitive to retain employees to support children.
G. Consent Agenda – Unanimously Approved
1. Board of Directors minutes
a. Regular meeting on March 14, 2024
b. March 28, 2024 Work Session
2. Executive salaries for March 2024
3. Financial results report for February 2024
H. Approval of new business
1. Reclassify SFS freezers to Esplost in the school nutrition budget.
This is separate from the budget item issue and the $548,000 cost will be reclassified from the school nutrition budget to Esprost.
After the Board of Directors met and returned to public session, the Board of Directors unanimously resolved to approve the following personnel recommendations.
K. Personnel recommendation
1. Regarding personnel recommendations for April 11, 2024
2. Personnel contract recommendations for FY2015
The board then voted to postpone the meeting. The complete livestream of the Thursday, April 11th meeting can be viewed here.