MoCo BOE Proposes Policy Changes
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The Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) completed the first reading of revisions to three policies during the Board’s regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 20.
According to Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Ronda Hightower, the Board recently partnered with the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) and PKKN Law Firm to review the district’s policies one-by-one to determine if any of the policies need to be updated or revised. “I wound up meeting with the team every day last week to make sure – since this is our first run through – that we are doing this exactly right,” Hightower explained. “They pulled out sections A, B, and C of our policy manual – just the first three sections – for us to take a look at.”
Hightower continued, as she told the Board that the experts told her that all but one of the policies listed in Section A – which deals with number of board members, board members’ qualifications, board members’ term of offices, board members’ unexpired term fulfillments, and board members’ removal from office – were addressed in state law and did not require an additional policy in the school district’s manual. Thus, she stated that the team had advised Hightower to suggest that the Board rescind all policies in Section A that were already addressed by state law.
She also stated that the team suggested that a policy be added to Section A delegating who had the authority to determine emergency school closures so that the public could know what to expect and the district could have guidance in how to handle these emergency situations.
In Section B – which deals with board officers, board members’ compensation and expenses, local school councils, special board meetings, board meeting agendas, policy development, board code of ethics, and nepotism – Hightower said that the team had a few changes, the largest of which would take public participation policy out from under the umbrella of board meeting policies and make it its own policy. She informed the Board that GSBA had provided two examples of public participation policy, and that Montgomery County Schools Attorney Daniel O’Connor was reviewing these documents to determine what he felt would best fit the district.
“You will see that the biggest change to that public comment policy is that there is a requirement for the person to sign up to speak by the day before if the topic of the public comment is a non-agenda item,” Hightower told the Board. “It’s easy to sign up – easy as can be. But why do most of the school systems in the state of Georgia adhere to that policy? Because it gives the superintendent time to call that person without being timed on the clock or not being allowed to give feedback. Like currently when they come to a board meeting for public participation, we're not allowed to give feedback. This policy would provide that opportunity ahead of time for the person to have an untimed opportunity to talk through what the issue is and then, of course, still come to the board meeting the next day in public participation. But to me, it has helped and that's why I think a lot of school systems in the state do utilize that policy. That one is probably the most significant change for Section B.”
Hightower also shared that after reviewing Section C, which deals with administrative records, the team agreed that policy should be retained and remain in practice.
The Board unanimously agreed to complete a first reading of these policy changes and updates; the changes will now remain available for review and comment for 30 days before the Board has a final vote on their adoption. “We can make minor changes with some public feedback because the policies are on our website for the public to view and make comments. And then, in February, the plan is for there to be an approval of our updated policies for sections A, B, and C. If there's a major change in any of the policies after this 30-day period between this board meeting in February, then we will take that policy out and put it on the table for an additional 30 days,” Hightower clarified.
These proposed policies may be reviewed online at the Montgomery County BOE website (www.mcboe. net) or by contacting the Board of Education office at (912) 583-2301.
Reports
Human Resources
Assistant Superintendent Scott Barrow gave the Board an update on the district’s participation in the Georgia Registered Teaching Apprenticeship Program, which is a state grant that allows future teachers to work as paraprofessionals within the classroom while earning their degree. Barrow stated that the District had paid around $7,000 to Brewton-Parker Christian University for their three apprentices, all of which maintained a high grade point average and made Dean’s List last semester.
He also explained that the District had received an additional grant that would help to provide apprentices with laptops so that they could complete their work for both the school system and their college classes; these laptops would be utilized while in the apprenticeship program, but later returned to District. Barrow shared that Teacher Apprentice Julie Smith was nearing the end of her program, and had recently completed the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educations (GACE), for which the District had been able to reimburse her.
Safety
Barrow informed the Board that safety drills and precautions were continuing throughout the schools, as he provided each board member with a document that showed all safety operations at each school, including the alternative school and Little Eagle Learning Center, within the district, and their scheduled dates and results.
He provided the board members with a report of the usages of the district’s metal detectors – detailing the usage date, location, and any results. Barrow also told the Board that a K-9 unit came into the school once a month and completed random searches. “That’s more or less a preventative measure than anything,” he clarified.
Barrow explained that door lock audits had been completed at each school with the school’s assigned school resource officer (SRO), but every door had been locked during the random checks.
He told the Board that a bus safety check had been scheduled for the recent week, but due to low temperatures, was being rescheduled.
Facilities
Barrow provided the board members with an artificial intelligence (AI) image of the gazebo that will soon be installed in a picnic area on campus. He stated that the picnic tables were being crafted by Montgomery County Middle and High School agriculture class students, and the area would be completed in the coming months.
He said that flyers had been created promoting the district’s new Wall of Honor program and would soon be distributed to the community to inform them of their opportunity to honor past graduates and teachers.
Superintendent’s Report
Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Ronda Hightower told the Board that she could not share specific information because the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) data had been embargoed, but according to recent results, the district had grown in all ten areas of assessment and had outperformed the state average in nine of those areas. he emphasized that the district’s advanced academic graduation rate is 100%, while the CTAE pathway graduation rate is around 98%.
According to Hightower, the district’s first Aspiring Leaders cohort met recently and learned more about school budgeting and finance – specifically, how school funding was calculated. “It was great to see them just awed [and saying,] ‘I had no idea this is how we determine how many students are in our class or how our school district, any school district in state Georgia, is funded!’” Hightower added.
She informed the Board that Curriculum Director Leigh Anne Helms invited Georgia Department of Education math representatives to learn more about implementing new math strategies and methods into lessons.
Hightower continued, stating that Montgomery County Elementary School Principal Candace Keen had met with several groups of teachers, as these educators worked together to learn ways to collaborate within lessons.
Public Comments
During the public participation section of the meeting, Citizen Linda Page spoke to the Board about her grandson’s planner, asking that they encourage teachers to provide detailed feedback and information on behavior and what is going on within the classroom.
She referenced several “X” marks that had been placed on her granddaughter’s notebook on numerous days. “We had a meeting with the teacher today. She’s not in trouble – she’s doing alright. But we have punished this child time and time again because there’s ‘x’s’ with no explanation,” Page remarked. “What do you all think an X means? What does it mean to you? I mean, I pick them up every day. I help them do homework. I'm adamant about education. I do not want them to be 50-something when they get their doctorate. I do not want them to be forced out of school because they feel like school is not for them because there are things like this that they don't understand. They get an X. They come home. There's nothing to do with the planner.”
Page continued, “My idea of a planner is to get the kids old enough to put down what they're supposed to do. You tell me. We understand that we get it in bits and pieces. But there is no instructions, and so it makes a difference.”
She shared her experience in the classroom and how giving detailed instructions had helped her students to become successful, even if they were not previously on a path to success. “Life comes without the instructions. But as adults, we need to understand that those that we care for most and love the most need instructions. They don't need to have smiley faces that take the whole page,” she concluded.
Personnel
Resignations were accepted for Montgomery County Middle School Teacher Katherine Van Arnsdale, Montgomery County Elementary School Teacher Brianne Jordan, Montgomery County Elementary School Teacher Jennifer Cardinal, and Montgomery County Schools Director of Financial Training and Technical Services Nesbeth Blaxton.
Three substitute teachers were hired – Brandy Lumley, Kenyatta Miller, and Chasity Speakman.
Next Meeting
The next work session of the Montgomery County Board of Education is scheduled at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, and the next board meeting will occur at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 17. These board meetings will be held in the Board Meeting Room at the Board of Education, located at 703 Dobbins Street in Mt. Vernon.
