HCS Board of Education Meeting – June 10, 2024

Posted by Sybil Barkley on 6/12/2024

HCS Board of Education Meeting – June 10, 2024

Board Member Items

Board Chair Sophe Pope provided an update on the Superintendent search. The Board has secured the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) as the search firm to facilitate the search for our next Superintendent, and the search launched on April 1^st. The application window closed on May 12^th, and the application packets received were presented to the Board by the GSBA on May 28, 2024. The Board is now using information received from the community survey analysis to review the applications. There is a website dedicated to sharing updates with the community, and it can be accessed here: Superintendent Search

Superintendent’s Welcome

Dr. Knowlton recognized the graduating class of 2024 and their amazing accomplishments. A video highlighting the graduation ceremonies was shown and can be viewed here.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Core Business of Student Learning

1. Back to School Preparations, Mary Ann Suddeth, Chief School Leadership Officer

Mrs. Suddeth provided an update on preparations for Back to School and began by recognizing end of year events such as the district’s retirement celebration and athletic awards. With many students transitioning to middle or high school, we also recently graduated approximately 3,325 seniors who earned close to $63 million in scholarships. To prepare for next school year, district and school leaders participated in the Summer Leadership Conference and teachers have begun professional development with a focus on literacy. Our students are also engaging in Summer Learning Opportunities, with over 4,000 students participating. Our Be Ready Day One website is available for families to access back to school information, and the Here Comes the Bus app will be available on July 20^th for families to access bus route information. Online registration for the Before and After School Enrichment Program will re-open for families on July 8^th, and Kindergarten registration remains open. As a reminder, meal prices for the new school year is reflected here:

Breakfast at all levels: $1.40

Elementary Lunch: $2.65

Middle and High Lunch: $2.75

We are looking forward to an exciting start of the school year, with Birch Creek Elementary opening their doors as the Blue Jays and Impact Academy transitioning to a standalone school as the Owls.

Go ahead and mark your calendars for Open House on Tuesday, July 30th:

Academy for Advanced Studies: 11:00 am-1:00 pm

High Schools: 1:00-3:00 pm

Middle Schools: 3:00-5:00 pm

Elementary Schools: 4:00-6:00 pm

Ensuring Operational Effectiveness

1. May Construction and E-SPLOST Report, Mr. Josh Malcom, Chief Operations Officer

Birch Creek Elementary

Construction is progressing as scheduled for a 2024-2025 opening, with the playground being installed and punch list activities beginning. Furniture installation is ongoing, and the Certificate of Occupancy will be completed this week.

School Electronic Message Signs

Installation of all electronic signs is completed at 17 elementary schools and 12 secondary schools. Training for school personnel will occur as the project nears completion.

New Administration Office Facility

Installation of exterior window frames is ongoing and setting of the roof-top HVAC units are near completion. Underground fire and water main lines has begun, and steel erection is complete. Exterior brick placement has also begun.

New Transportation Facility & Renovations to Existing Transportation.

Erection of framing and roofing for the main facility is nearing completion, and underground rough-in of plumbing and electrical for the main site is nearing completion.

HVAC Cooling Tower Replacement

This is on schedule for Austin Road Elementary and East Lake Elementary, with installation of the new towers to be completed by the end of June.

1. May 2024 Financial Reports, Mr. Jeff Allie, Acting Chief Financial Officer

May 2024 Financial Report

General Fund Assets and Total Cash on Hand - The total value of general fund’s assets at the close of May totaled $174.5 million, while Cash on Hand across all funds during reporting period totaled $418 million.
E-SPLOST V – There were no expenditures during the month of May.

E-SPLOST VI - There were expenditures of $6.7 million in the month of May.

Capital Accumulation - There were expenditures of $704,939 with investments in Safety and Security infrastructure and furniture growth and replacement being the key drivers in the month of May.
ESSER Funds- There were no expenditures incurred in May.

1. School Calendar for 2025-2026, Mrs. Summer Cox, Chief of Staff

Ms. Cox presented a proposed school calendar for 2025-2026, with 175 instructional days and a school start date of Thursday, July 31, 2025. The calendar is available for public comment here.

1. HCBOE Policies, Mrs. Summer Cox, Chief of Staff
  1. 1. HCBOE Policy JCAC: Sexual Harassment of Students
    2. HCBOE Policy JAA: Equal Educational Opportunities
    3. HCBOE Policy GAAA: Equal Opportunity Employment
    4. HCBOE Policy GAEB: Sexual Harassment of Employees

Ms. Cox presented information on proposed revisions to Board Policy JCAC: Sex-Based Harassment, Board Policy JAA: Equal Educational Opportunities, Board Policy GAAA: Equal Opportunity Employment, and Board Policy GAEB: Sex-Based Harassment of Employees. These proposed revisions are recommended to align with the new federal rules regarding Title IX, and are available for public review and comment here. The Board will take action on the proposed revisions at the July board meeting.

BUSINESS ITEMS

HCBOE Collective Commitment to Code of Ethics (Policy BH) and GSBA Georgia State Standards for Effective School Boards

The Board of Education adopted the HCBOE Code of Ethics, GSBA Georgia State Standards for Effective School Boards, and the Superintendent-Board Norms and Protocols with a vote of 5 to 0.

HCBOE Policy GAE: Complaints and Grievances

The Board of Education approved the recommended changes to Policy GAE with a vote of 5 to 0.

Worker’s Compensation Panel of Physicians

The Board of Education approved the worker’s compensation panel of physicians with a vote of 5 to 0.

FY24 Defeasement of Bond Debt

The Board of Education approved the FY24 Defeasement of Bond Debt with a vote of 5 to 0.

FY25 Procurement Contracts

The Board of Education approved the FY25 Procurement contracts with a vote of 5 to 0.

Addition to Ola Middle School Bid Tabulation

The Board of Education approved the addition to Ola Middle School bid tabulation with a vote of 5 to 0.

New Transportation Facility/Renovation of Existing Furniture Purchase

The Board of Education approved the furniture purchase for the new transportation facility and renovation of existing furniture with a vote of 5 to 0.

INSPIRATION

Inspiration for the June Board Meeting was provided by Dutchtown High School Students: Michael Armstrong and Joshua Peek. The students performed the song, “Lovely Day”. Dutchtown High School’s principal is Ms. Nicole Shaw.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

View full photo album

Georgia Department of Education Poster Contest

Henry County Schools has a 3^rd place winner for Division 2 of the GaDOE poster contest.

Cooper Erwin

- Dana Flowers, Principal

Cooper Erwin

New York City Transportation Bureau Challenge Coin

Lailah Metallo is a 3^rd year Graphic Design Student at the Academy for Advanced Studies. Within the last year Lailah has produced a stunning portfolio of work which includes designs that have placed her 3^rd in the State for Graphic Design and 2^ndin the Regionals of Georgia Skills USA. Her designs have also been featured through the rebranding of the seal of the Henry County Police Department. Recently her work caught the attention of the New York City Police Department who reached out to the Academy to have her design a challenge coin for their Transportation Bureau. Lailah is a true definition of the outstanding work that comes out of the Academy for Advanced Studies and a true definition of what it means to be exceptional at Henry County Schools.

· Lailah Metallo

- Douglas Blackwell, Principal

NY City Transportation

Georgia Council on Economic Education’s Stock Market Game

The Georgia Council on Economic Education coordinates the Stock Market Game every fall and spring for students in grades 4-12 throughout all of Georgia. The Stock Market Game is a simulation which challenges students to invest a virtual $100,000.00 in real stocks for 10 weeks. The team that earns the most equity in each grade level (Elementary, Middle or High) at the end of 10 weeks is declared the winner. A team of students from Woodland Middle School were the spring Middle School Winners. Led by coach Angela Murphy, team members are:

Randy Jones

· Celina Gibson

· Payton Poythress

· Darius McDonald

· Henry Dearing

- Michelle Wilkerson, Principal

- Angela Murphy, Coach

2024 High School VEX Robotics World Championship

Ola’s VEX Robotics Team had an outstanding performance at the 2024 High School VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas in April. The team was one of 820 that qualified out of over 13,000 teams from more than 45 countries. In match play, Ola paired with a team from Ohio to win the Math Division, earning them a spot to compete against nine other teams in the Championship Dome Arena. This is the first time in the district’s history that a team has won their division at worlds and competed in the dome. The team also posted a Skills Score that put them in the top 3% of competitors and they won the Math Division Amaze Award.

· Carson Schmitt

· Dustin Pouliot

· Jayla Brown

· Sebastian Cedeno

· Katherine Mangual

· Conner Middlebrooks

· Makenzie Middlebrooks

· Asha Pandya

· Karina Pandya

- Nick Ellis, Principal

- Christie Schmitt, Coach

VEX Robotics

2024 National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) State Award of Merit

Kelli Hutcheson, CAA, District Director of Athletics at Henry County Schools, received the 2024 NIAAA State Award of Merit. Kelli has completed 12 NIAAA Leadership Training Courses, displaying her commitment to professional development. She serves on the Georgia Athletic Director’s Association Board as 1st Vice President and is on the National Athletic Director Conference Advisory Committee. She is in service to the Georgia High School Association as a member of the Board of Trustees. In her home state, Kelli was a founding member of the Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association. She stayed involved and served on the board for 15 years. She also authored the Cheerleader and Coach of the Year recognition programs and developed funding to provide scholarships and gifts for the recipients.

· Kelli Hutcheson

Kelli Hutcheson

2023-2024 Winter Sports Player of the Year

Following are the Winter sports Players of the Year:

Dutchtown High School

· Joah Chappelle - 5A Boys Basketball Region Player of the Year

- Nicole Shaw, Principal

J Chappelle

Union Grove High School

Jordan Brooks - 5A Girls Basketball Region Player of the Year

Ryan Meeks, Principal

Woodland High School

· Mason Lewis - 5A Boys Basketball Player of the Year

- Purvis Jackson, Principal

M Lewis

2023-2024 Winter Sports Coach of the Year

Following are the Winter sports Coaches of the Year:

Dutchtown High School

Wallace Corker - Boys Basketball Coach of the Year

- Nicole Shaw, Principal

Luella High School

· Jaime Henck - County Swim Coach of the Year

- Brandi Hardnett, Principal

J Henck

Stockbridge High School

· Demarcus Acree - 5A Girls Basketball Coach of the Year

- James Thornton, Principal

Union Grove High School

· Dock Gammage - 5A Girls Basketball Region Coach of the Year.

**also the recipient of the 2024 Chuck Miller Legacy Award.*

- Ryan Meeks, Principal

Dock Gammage

2023-2024 Spring Sports Player of the Year

Following are the Spring sports Players of the Year.

Dutchtown High School

· Savannah Callaway - 5A Girls Soccer Offensive Player of the Year

· Briana Hill - 5A Girls Soccer Midfielder Player of the Year

· Caleb Cousins - 5A Boys Soccer Midfielder Player of the Year

· Averie Shamsid-Deen - 5A Girls Soccer Defensive Player of the Year

· Zoe Lavender - 5A Girls Soccer Co-Goalkeeper Player of the Year

· Kasaun Simpson - 5A Boys Soccer Forward Player of the Year

- Nicole Shaw, Principal

S Callaway
B Hill

C Cousins
A S-Deen
Z Lavender

K Simpson

Eagle’s Landing High School

· Zacklee Pheng - 5A Boys Tennis Player of the Year

- Kesha Jones, Principal

Z Pheng

Locust Grove High School

· Logan Seigle - 5A Girls Soccer Co-Goalkeeper Player of the Year

· Phillip Perry - 5A Boys Soccer Defensive Player of the Year

- Tony Townsend, Principal

L Seigle
P. Perry

Ola High School

· James McGee - 5A Baseball Player of the Year

· Braden Pourron - 5A Pitcher Player of the Year