Board Briefs: Cherokee County School Board Launches Parent Academy Program
The School Board on Thursday, August 17, 2017, held its first meeting in its new auditorium and announced plans to offer a parent academy program this fall in collaboration with the Georgia School Boards Association.
Thursday’s meeting was the first held in the auditorium of the Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility at The Bluffs in Canton and followed a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting.
“Today is a milestone for CCSD,” School Board Member Patsy Jordan said in her Inspiration moment remarks that open the meeting, and then connected the opening with CCSD’s 2017-18 theme of family. “This building is equipped to house part of our CCSD family.”
The Georgia School Boards Association’s parent academy program, VILLA (Volunteer Instructional Leadership Learning Academy), will be piloted in the Cherokee County School District this fall. School Board members on Thursday night reviewed the program application, which will be shared with the community today. Applications are posted online here and due to CCSD by Sept. 5.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said the free program likely will be offered annually, and the first class set for this fall will be open to 24 participants. Beginning on October 9, The class will meet for six sessions; five meetings will be on Monday evenings, and one will be a Monday morning field trip to several schools.
Participants will learn more about CCSD, including an overview of its governance model and the role of School Board members, Major System Priorities and CCSD day-to-day operations. The program will include question-and-answer sessions with School Board members, the Superintendent and senior staff.
School Board Chair Kyla Cromer, who during her last campaign talked about the idea of creating such program, said Thursday she was glad to see this “citizen awareness opportunity” become reality.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for our community to learn more about our award-winning school district,” Dr. Hightower said, adding that community input is integral to the success of CCSD, especially it’s strategic planning and vision casting efforts.
Also on Thursday, the School Board took the first step in constructing additional classrooms at Mill Creek Middle School by sending a request to the State, as the project will be built using Education SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) and State construction funds. The project will add 16 regular classrooms, four science labs, a family consumer science classroom and a Global Learning Theatre; construction is planned to begin next spring.
The School Board also:
• Recognized Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy for winning the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals’ 2017 School Bell Award;
• Recognized CCSD Lead Nurse Gwen Chambers as the Georgia Association of School Nurses’ 2017 Georgia School Nurse Administrative of the Year;
• Recognized CCSD’s Office of Communications for winning three National awards from the National School Public Relations Association;
• Recognized eight CCSD schools for being named 2017 National Beta Schools of Merit;
• Recognized Johnston Elementary School for being named to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s 2017 List of America’s Healthiest Schools;
• Recognized Donna Lloyd, Creekview HS Career Pathway teacher, as the winner of Georgia’s Work-Based Learning “Top Gun WBL Educator” Award’
• Recognized Sequoyah High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC Unit for winning the Silver Star Community Service with Excellence Award;
• Recognized State and Regional champions from Creekview HS for track and field and Woodstock HS for baseball;
• Recognized CCSD’s 2017 Georgia State Summer Aquatics Special Olympic Games Gold Medal recipients;
• Recognized CCSD’s 2017 Special Olympics Bowling Winter Games Gold Medal recipients;
• Recognized CCSD’s 2017 Georgia State Summer Soccer Special Olympics Games Gold Medal recipients;
• Recognized the 2017-18 Student Advisor to School Board and the Student Delegates
• Approved the renewal of Partnership Agreements with the Cherokee Tribune, City Waleska, Delta Kappa Gamma – Gamma ETA Chapter, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and Upper Etowah River Alliance;
• Approved out-of-state and overnight student field trips;
• Approved monthly financial reports;
• Approved the monthly capital outlay projects report;
• Approved special lease agreements;
• Approved monthly personnel recommendations;
• Approved ratifying the millage rate, which is unchanged from last year at 19.45 mills.
Next meeting: 7 p.m. Thursday, September 14, 2017