HCS Board of Education Meeting – May 8, 2023

Superintendent’s Welcome

The May meeting of the Board of Education began with Superintendent Davis welcoming the Henry County community to the last board meeting of the school year. She acknowledged the district’s graduating seniors, soon to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. She also acknowledged that this is a season to celebrate the district’s rising kindergartners, the 5^th graders rising to middle school, and the 8^th graders rising to high school. Superintendent Davis recognized the district’s talented corps of teachers. She commented that although Teacher Appreciation Week is the time that has been set aside to honor teachers, they are deserving of recognition each and every day. Henry County teachers are to be commended for their hard work and dedication.

May Recognitions

Mental Health Awareness Month

Teacher Appreciation Week

Noteworthy Events:

• • The Alliance of Teacher Leaders (ALT) event was recently held and the McDonough Performing Arts Center. The gathering created an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2023 ALT cohort with supporters across the district. Watch here
  • Future Educators Signing Day was also recently held at Board Office. This annual event allows Henry County students who have expressed an interest in pursuing careers in education, to participate in a ceremony to publicly announce their pledges. 
    
    
  • The Henry County Board of Education sponsored two Safety and Security Community Conversations to share investments made improves safety within district schools, to respond to stakeholder questions, and to solicit feedback about for opportunities for refinement. 
    
    
    
    

Board Member Items

Teacher Appreciation Week

In recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week, the Henry County Board of Education paused to express their gratitude for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by HCS personnel during the 2022-2023 school-year.

During their remarks, members of the Board of Education emphasized that Henry County has assembled the best and most talented staff members around – and their contributions to the lives of students are worthy of recognition. Board Chair Annette Edwards also announced on behalf of the full Board of Education that donations, sponsored by Central Georgia EMC, will be made to each of the district’s 52 schools to enjoy an end-of-year breakfast or luncheon as a small token of appreciation.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

• 1. Strategic Plan

STEM School Planning Update

Chief Learning and Performance Officer Termerion McCrary built off of her April STEM Report to share a few of the specific recommendations that have emerged from the Henry County Schools STEM Advisory. Advisory members represent a cross-section of leaders, educators, industry professionals, and parents who have come together to provide input and insights into various planning aspects of the new school.

Mrs. McCrary began by reminding the Board that in response to community feedback, the Board has made significant STEM investments in elementary, middle, and high schools - which also includes the Academy for Advanced Studies. These investments represent the Board’s wishes to ensure a comprehensive approach to STEM education. As a consequence, wherever a Henry County Schools student is enrolled, there will be a clearly defined STEM opportunity available to explore their interests.

The crux of Mrs. McCrary’s report, however, was focused on the Advisory’s series of pathway recommendations and program of study for the new STEM High School which will launch in 2025. Mrs. McCrary reported that over the past several months, the Advisory has worked to evaluate marketplace needs while also applying general knowledge about the kinds of academic experiences that students will need to be successful. Their pathway recommendations were as follows:

Pathway	Sample of Aligned Courses
Sustainability and Green Energy	AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Materials Science Engineering, etc.
Bio-Technology and Medical Science	AP Biology, Bio-Chemistry, Biotechnology etc.
Aerospace Engineering	Electrical Engineering, AP Physics, Robotics, etc.

Additionally, Mrs. McCrary reported that the Advisory has emphasized the need to implement an academic program that positions students to be well-rounded – to have an awareness of the world that they will inhabit as adults and to develop an appreciation for cultural differences. Based on these considerations, the following courses have been recommended as complementary to the STEM School’s core academic program design: AP Human Geography, AP Macro Economics, Financial Literacy, AP Statistics, and Data Science. Also, fine arts has been suggested as an additional component of the STEM school community. Discussions will continue about how to best implement an orchestra program

As the school’s programmatic infrastructure continues to be planned, the Advisory will evaluate the process by which students will be admitted to the school. Early discussions have centered around “indicators of success”. Indicators of success simply represent the core requisites that are believed to best position students to perform well considering the rigor of the STEM’s school curriculum. Those indicators have not yet been determined. However, the Advisory will consider a variety of factors to reach a final determination. That process is expected to last several months.

Mrs. McCrary concluded her report by acknowledging the Board’s direct contribution to the Advisory – where members who have been recommended have made meaningful contributions reflective of Board Members’ expressed desires for the new STEM High School.

• 2.  Core Business of Student Learning

Finishing 2022-2023 and Starting 2023-2024 Strong

Chief of Leadership Services, Mary Ann Suddeth, updated the Board of Education on several topics related to the district’s efforts to the finish the 2022-2023 school-year on a strong note and to prepare for a strong start to the 2023-2024 school-year.

• • School-Year Preparation

As a follow-up to previous reports regarding new school-year preparation, the Be Ready Day 1 website has been populated with critical information for families to support their readiness and preparation for the upcoming year. The site will continue to be an available family resource throughout the summer – complimenting the utility of the Henry County Welcome Center which can be accessed by both new and returning families. BRD1 website (instructions for returning families to register.

• • Graduation

Mrs. Suddeth also reported that the month of May brings graduation season. She reminded the Board of Education that our first of 11 graduations will begin with McDonough High School on Wednesday, May 17. Continued safety provisions for graduation include clear bags as a requirement for venue entry. End-of-year events will require clear bag for entry and and a check-in process is in place to ensure safety. Of note, visitors may pre-register for events and show identification upon arrival for ease of entrance.

The full 2023 Graduations Schedule is as follows:

HCS Graduation Schedule 2023 – Atlanta Motor Speedway; McDonough Performing Arts Ctr.

Date	School	Time
May 17	McDonough High School	7:30 p.m.
May 18	Ola High School	7:30 p.m.
May 19	Excel Academy *Ceremony will be held at the McDonough Performing Arts Center	2:00 p.m.
May 19	Eagle’s Landing High School	7:30 p.m.
May 20	Luella High School	7:30 p.m.
May 21	Stockbridge High School	7:30 p.m.
May 22	Union Grove High School	7:30 p.m.
May 23	Dutchtown High School	7:30 p.m.
May 24	Hampton High School	7:30 p.m.
May 25	Woodland High School	7:30 p.m.
May 26	Locust Grove High School	7:30 p.m.

Mrs. Suddeth also shared that end-of-year, school-based activities will include 1) a check-in process 2) will require clear bags for entry, 3) and will require a form of personal ID.

• • Safety and Security; Community Conversations focused on Safety and Security

In addition to school-based community conversations, the Board of Education also hosted two public meetings to discuss the investments that have been made to help increase safety within district schools. The gatherings were well attended, and participants heard directly from Superintendent Davis, district safety staff, and SRO Commander Major Maddox and Deputy Lieutenant Militello. Mrs. Suddeth reported that the feedback received during the each of the community conversations is currently being evaluated to identify themes that emerged which may be used to inform future planning efforts.

Superintendent Davis and panelists discuss safety and security during the April 28 Community Conversation focused on Safety and Security held at the Henry County Board of Education.

Additionally, Mrs. Suddeth provided an overview of the district’s upcoming Summer Learning Opportunities. As has been previously shared, there will be opportunities to advance student learning, to allow students to cultivate new skills, and to intervene where extra assistance may be needed – these enhanced learning opportunities include:

• • Summer Bridge for 1^st through 3^rd graders
  • Summer Transition Program for rising 9^th graders
  • Early Kindergarten
  • AP Academy (rising 9^th and 10^th graders)
  • Summer Science Academy (rising 9^th and 10^th graders), and
  • Fine Arts Camp
    • Grade repair and Credit Recovery as needed

Mrs. Suddeth indicated that anyone interested in these learning opportunities should visit the website to register.

• • Strategic Staffing

Mrs. Suddeth continued by sharing with the Board that the HCBOE Strategic Plan calls for a review of the varying complexities within schools while also making certain that they are effective; effective in instructional delivery and effectively led. Although the Board had previously approved the fiscal allocation for Strategic Staffing, Mrs. Suddeth noted the need to determine the targeted supports necessary for certain schools. Student mobility - simply defined as the rate at which students are entering and exiting out of schools was lifted up as the immediate priority.

The first phase of Strategic Staffing will support identified schools and will consider one or more of the following staffing additions specifically to address the associated challenges of student mobility: 1) Additional Social Worker 2) Additional Classified Position 3) Additional Part-Time New Teacher Coach, and 4) Priority Sub-fill.

Starting Strong, 2023-2024

As a concluding note to Mrs. Suddeth’s report, a few key dates were shared regarding the preparations being made for the start of the 2023-2024 school-year.

Event	Date
LAUNCH (for new certified staff)	July 19
Pre-Planning	July 26
Open House	July 31
First Day of School	August 2

 

• 2. Ensuring Operational Effectiveness

April Construction and E-SPLOST Report

Chief of Operations Officer Josh Malcom provided the following report:

• • Security Access Control

Phase 1-5 project phases have been completed. This project will enhance safety measures at schools by limiting access to district facilities. Badges are currently being distributed and final assessments for functionality are being conducted.

• • HVAC Installation for Elementary Gymnasiums 

Installation is complete at Cotton Indian Elementary, Austin Road Elementary, Oakland Elementary, JB Henderson, Excel Academy, Locust Grove Elementary, Hampton Elementary, and Fairview Elementary, Ola Elementary and Smith Barnes Elementary.

The installation of HVAC units has started at Walnut Creek Elementary, Unity Grove Elementary, and Rocky Creek Elementary.

Installation of HVAC units will begin at Dutchtown Elementary, Pates Creek Elementary, Red Oak Elementary, Bethlehem Elementary as a part of the next phase of HVAV installations.

Note: HVAC installation at the district’s remaining elementary schools has not yet begun. 

• • Birch Creek Elementary

The Birch Creek is on schedule and on pace for opening for SY ’24 -’25. The groundbreaking event will be held in June.

• • Electronic Message Signs

Contracts have been sent to the general contractor; notice to proceed has been issued following and the contract has been accepted.

• • Austin Road Middle School and Stockbridge Middle School Athletic Facilities Improvements

Contracts have been sent to the contractor for execution and the Notice to Proceed will be issue following acceptance.

April Financial Report

The financial report for the period ending April 30, 2023, reflects continued positive performance and progress in Fiscal Year 2023. Across all funds, 92% of budgeted receipts were collected, while expenditures stood at 82% when considering completed and obligated expenditures. The General Fund showcased strong performance specifically, with 96% of planned revenue receipts collected and expenditures approaching 80%.

With a strong local economy, the Education SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) collections continue to support critical infrastructure investments. The April financials indicated expenditures of $41,296.04 for SPLOST V and $4.6 million for SPLOST VI. Additionally, the three capital accumulations funds dedicated to critical priorities identified by the board reported expenditures of $711,684.18, advancing efforts around furniture, academic, and athletic equipment growth and replacement.

Overall, the financial report demonstrates continued fiscal stability, with strong revenue collection, controlled spending, and prudent investment strategies to support educational priorities and critical projects.

FY24 Final Budget Recommendation

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay shared the Superintendent’s final FY24 budget recommendation before a recommendation was made during the business session for a final budget adoption.

As a carryover from last month’s tentative budget adoption, Mrs. Clay reminded the Board of the general funding sources that drive the budget proposal. They include the General Fund, the Special Revenue Fund, Capital Projects Fund, and Debt Service Fund - allow separate tracking of revenues and expenses to ensure public resources are aligned towards intended purposes.

In consideration of education investments included in the state’s FY24 Budget and forecasted growth of the local tax digest of 16.5%, the estimate of FY24 budget totals approximately $510.1M.  The improved revenue forecast since the March budget update allows for the Board to:

• • • Adjust for state spending mandates relating to certified salary increases, as well as, invest the funds required for increases in the employer paid share of state health benefits for certified and classified employees.
    • Make historic investments in compensation to position the district to attract and retain talented teachers, leaders, and staff for the students of Henry County Schools. 
    • The adopted budget proposal specifically addresses the following:

 

• Honors steps within the salary schedule
• Improves certified teacher scales by $3,500,
• Improves classified scales by 5%, and
• Improves administrative scales by 3%.

In addition to these comprehensive investments, the recommended budget includes targeted compensation improvements for Bus Drivers, Paraprofessionals, Elementary Clerks, Campus Safety Monitors, Clinic Aides, and School Nutrition Assistants that will yield annual increases ranging from 10% - 14% for these job families.

• • • Allocate additional teachers (45), assistant principals (11), and other school-based/direct service staff (20.5). Next, to continue efforts on supportive and safe learning environment, the budget calls for the addition of an English as a Second Language (ESOL) coordinator, a coordinator to support Henry County online and related services, an employee support coordinator, a cluster nurse, a safety supervisor, an athletic director, 3 custodian leads, 1 PAC administrative support member, 1 Transportation Director and a Strategic Initiatives Leader to support the advancement of this Board’s priorities, including the implementation of the ERP. 

Consistent with the tentative budget proposal presented in April, Mrs. Clay noted that there are no changes to the proposed revenue and expenditure values overall. She indicated further that a clarification was provided on the state health benefit plan increase which will relieve the budget of planned expenditures by approximately $1.5 million. However, the increase in district insurance cost is an immediate offset to that relief.

Mrs. Clay concluded by underscoring that the vast majority of the FY24 budget proposal is targeted for salary and benefits. She noted, in HCS, compensation is typically 88% of our budget and this budget proposal maintains this framework.

The budget also includes investments to advance the strategic action plan. Of particular note is the allocation of general fund and special revenue dollars to provide stipends to school staff members that sponsor activities called for by the community inspired strategic plan. Additionally, the budget will support school-directed implementation of the strategic plan opportunities such as computer science/engineering in middle school or world languages in elementary.

BUSINESS ITEMS

The following agenda items were either heard during the information items portion of the study session or approved as a part of the business items for the evening meeting’s formal actions.

• • FY24 Final Budget Adoption - Pursuant to the Superintendent’s Budget recommendation, the Board approved (4-0) the FY ’24 operational budget. 
  • Henry County Schools – New Administration Office Facility - The Board  approved (4-0) the RMA Administrative Office Facility Bid Tabulation.
  • Data Platform and Analytic Solution – The Board approved (4-0) the purchase of a new data platform to support the district’s enhanced use of analytics to evaluate data.
  • Instructional and Technical Infrastructure – Elementary School STEM Equipment and Supplies – The Board approved (4-0) the purchase elementary school STEM equipment to support STEM instruction withing school-based STEM labs.
  • Instructional and Technical Infrastructure – The Board approved (4-0) the purchase of mechatronics and welding lab equipment to support CTAE programming at the Academy for Advanced Studies.
  • Instructional and Technical Infrastructure - The Board approved (4-0) the purchase of health science equipment to support CTAE instruction at the Academy for Advanced Studies and other schools with health science pathways.
  • Instructional and Technical Infrastructure - The Board approved (4-0) the Facilities Improvements Bid Tabulation for Austin Road Middle School and Stockbridge Middle School.

 

• • Instructional and Technical Infrastructure – The Board approved (4-0) the purchase of graphing calculators for Algebra I classrooms.

 

• • FY23 Budget Adjustment: One-time Pay Supplement to Employees – The Board approved (4-0) a one-time, $500.00 pay supplement for all full-time employees.

 

New Hires

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
*Elyse Durden	Principal, Unity Grove ES	Principal, Cotton Indian ES
*Carrie Edwards	Principal, Ola ES	Director, Innovative Design and Personalized Learning (HCS)
*Dana Flowers	Principal, East Lake ES	Principal, Hickory Flat ES
Holly Williams	Principal, Timber Ridge ES	Asst. Principal, Timber Ridge ES
Dr. Talisa Hill	Principal, EXCEL Academy	Interim Principal, EXCEL Academy
Andre Johnson	Principal, Oakland Elementary	Asst. Principal, Smith Barnes ES

*approved during the May 1 Special Called Board Meeting.

Inspiration

Inspiration for the May Henry County Schools Board Meeting was provided by the New Hope Elementary chorus who performed, “Aloha”, led by chorus teacher, Christie Bailey. New Hope’s principal is Mrs. Micki Foster.

Awards and Recognition 

This month’s Awards and Recognitions celebrate the accomplishments of our students and employees who help make Henry County Schools an exceptional place to lead, learn, and grow.  

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

Henry County Board of Education

The Henry County Board of Education was recognized for being named a finalist for the large district Governance Team of the Year by the Georgia School Boards Association. 

 

Eagle’s Landing High School Boys Basketball

We would like to recognize the Eagle’s Landing High School boys basketball team who made it to the Georgia High School Association state finals in March. Coached by head coach Elliott Montgomery. Team members are:

·       David Thomas

·       Kenneth Brayboy

·       Jaden Davenport

·       Nick Mason

·       Clark Mastin

·       Khylan McKennie

·       Micah Medley

·       Maddox Melancon

• • Tyson Moore
  • Prince Morell
  • Chris Morris
  • Jordan Powell
  • Tylon Redmond
  • Elijah Robinson
  • Hannibal Smith

 

2022-2023 Fall and Winter Sports Players of the Year

 

• • David Thomas, Eagle’s Landing High School ~ 5A Boys Basketball

Dr. Kesha Jones, Principal

 

• • Conner Tolley, Hampton High School ~ 4A Football Offensive POTY

Quinton Ward, Principal

 

• • Skyla Gilbert, Locust Grove High School ~ 5A Volleyball

Anthony Townsend, Principal

 

• • Ariana Dyson, Luella High School ~ 4A Girls Basketball Co-POTY
  • Jace Jackson, Luella High School ~ 4A Softball
  • Milani Smith, Luella High School ~ Girls Flag Football
  • Tyler Moore, Luella High School ~ 4A Football Defensive POTY

Brandi Hardnett, Principal

 

• • Carrington Wilson, Stockbridge High School ~ 4A Girls Basketball Co-POTY
  • Leon Thomas, Stockbridge High School ~ 4A Football Special Teams POTY
  • Shelton Lewis, Stockbridge High School ~ 4A Football Athlete of the Year

Dr. James Thornton, Principal

 

·       John McCarthy, Union Grove High School ~ 5A Cross Country

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal
           

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

2022-2023 Fall and Winter Sports Coaches of the Year

 

Following are the Coaches of the Year:

• • Maliki Battle, Dutchtown High School ~ 5A Football

Nicole Shaw, Principal

 

• • Jaime Henck, Luella High School ~ Girls Flag Football
  • Latoya Brown, Luella High School ~ 4A Girls Basketball

Brandi Hardnett, Principal

 

• • Melissa Kroner, Ola High School ~ 5A Volleyball

Nick Ellis, Principal

 

• • Thomas Clark, Stockbridge High School ~ Football

Dr. James Thornton, Principal

 

• • Denee Allaway, Union Grove High School ~ Cheerleading
  • Thomas Berry, Union Grove High School ~ 5A Boys Basketball

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal

 

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Certified Athletic Administrators (CAA)

The athletics department recently had four athletic directors receive their NIAAA CAA certifications. Recipients included the following:

• • Michelle Ahmad, Luella High School

Brandi Hardnett, Principal

 

• • Greg Shook, McDonough High School

Monica Blasingame, Principal

 

• • Andre Byrd, Stockbridge High School

Dr. James Thornton, Principal

 

·       Ashley Lott, Hampton High School

Quinton Ward, Principal
            

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

2023 Georgia High School Association Athletic Directors of the Year

 Two Athletic Directors were chosen as Georgia High School Association Athletic Directors (AD) of the Year. Pete Mullvain was named AD for area 2-AAAAA. Ashley Lott was named AD for area 5-AAAA. Ashley was later named athletic director of the year over all 8 regions in four A which is a huge honor.

·       Ashley Lott, Hampton High School

Quinton Ward, Principal

 

·       Pete Mullvain, Union Grove High School

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal
           

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

National History Day Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award Nominee

Congratulations to Mr. Dave Mayer from Ola High School, who was selected to represent Georgia as the high school National History Day (NHD) Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award nominee.

• Dave Mayer, Ola High School

Nick Ellis, Principal

 

2023 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program Finalists and Alternates

The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) is a residential summer program for skilled, knowledgeable, and talented high school sophomores and juniors. GHP offers instruction that is significantly different from the typical high school classroom and is designed to provide students with academic, cultural, and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators, and leaders. Henry County Schools finalists are

 

• • Sai Chava, Eagle’s Landing High School
  • Mary Rozier, Eagle’s Landing High School

Dr. Kesha Jones, Principal

 

• • Samantha Frantsen, Ola High School
  • Hannah Mock, Ola High School

Nick Ellis, Principal

 

• • Nathan Johnston, Locust Grove High School
  • Kyla Rhodes, Locust Grove High School
  • Cassidy Stephens, Locust Grove High School

Anthony Townsend, Principal

 

• • Mikylah Charles, Union Grove High School

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal

 

·       Taylor Early, Academy for Advanced Studies

Dr. Douglas Blackwell, Principal

 

Henry County Schools GHP alternates are:

 

• • Mason Rice, Ola High School
  • Makenzie Middlebrooks, Ola High School

Nick Ellis, Principal

 

• • Karrington Taylor, Union Grove High School

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal
            

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

Georgia Music Educators Association Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus Participants

The Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) sponsors the Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus which affords students the opportunity to perform with over 500 other talented students from all over the state of Georgia. Students must rehearse and learn the music prior to the culminating performance. 

Cotton Indian Elementary school participants are:

·       Journee Calloway

·       Ariana Garcia

·       Lianna Hunter

·       Gabrielle Passmore

·       Maleah Shannon

Mercedes Elyse Durden, Principal

Timber Ridge Elementary school participants are:

·       Isaiah Berry

·       Colbie Ann Williams

·       Adisa Wilson

·       Maria Buck

·       Lincoln Colson

Dr. Kristin McRae, Principal
           

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Band, Chorus and Orchestra Nominees

The Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) also sponsors All-State Band, Chorus, and Orchestra annually to showcase the most talented students in the state of Georgia. This is the highest honor a Georgia music student can receive. Students are selected for participation by an extremely competitive audition process. They then participate in a clinic which is conducted by a nationally recognized music educator. This clinic culminates in an unforgettable concert, which is prepared in only a few days! Following are the nominees:

From Dutchtown High School:

·       Nasir Terrell

·       Ryan Lewis

Nicole Shaw, Principal

 

From Locust Grove High School:

·       Mahkel Perrier

·       Nathan Johnston

Anthony Townsend, Principal

 

From Luella High School:

·       Camden Keesey

·       Tristian Pope

Brandi Hardnett, Principal 

 

From Ola High School:

• Chris Turner

·       Dylan Yakel

·       Elena Powell

·       Hayden Elrod

·       Josh Edge

·       Kate Smith

·       Kinsley Asbell

·       Timmy Jones

·       Wesley Bird

Nick Ellis, Principal

 

From Ola Middle School:

• • Addison Phillips
  • Amber Pace
  • Beautyful McGrone
  • Joshua O’Neal
  • Maisie Davis
  • Morgan Lukat

Christine Anderson, Principal

 

From Union Grove High School:

·       Euan Ham

·       Macey McKneely

·       Nina Simmons

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal

 

From Woodland High School:

·       Devin Dalby

Purvis Jackson, Principal
            

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

·       Keara Field, McDonough High School ~ 1^st Place, Stars Event-Entrepreneurship

Monica Blasingame, Principal 

·       Katelyn Williams, Woodland High School ~ 2^nd Place, Advocacy

·       Sonae Means, Woodland High School ~ 2^nd Place, Interpersonal Communication

·       April Washington, Woodland High School ~ 2^nd Place, Interpersonal Communication

·       Anna Wright, Woodland High School ~ 2^nd Place, Interpersonal Communication

Purvis Jackson, Principal 

·       Kaitlynn Hong, Eagles Landing Middle ~ 2^nd Place, Interpersonal Communication

Dr. Malik Douglas, Principal
            

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

From Union Grove High School:

·       Michelle Yi ~ 4^th Place, Intro to Business Communications and 4^th Place, Intro to Business Procedures

·       Euan Ham ~ 1^st Place, Management Information Systems and 5^th Place, Personal Finance

·       Garrett Moore ~ 1^st Place, Management Information Systems

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal
            

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)

·       Alejandra Holgate, Eagles Landing High ~ Top 8, Marketing Communication

·       Love Jones, Eagles Landing High ~ Top 8, Apparel and Accessories Marketing

·       Kaila Wilcox, Ola High ~ Top 8, Restaurant and Food Service Management

·       Robert Jones, Ola High School ~ 2^nd Place, Account Applications

·       Sarah Safrit, Ola High School ~ 9^th Place, Retail Merchandising

·       Emma Ganes, Ola High School ~ 10^th Place, Business Services Marketing

Dr. Kesha Jones, Principal

Nick Ellis, Principal
            

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

Thrive National Campaign Award winners from Ola High School:

• • Jordyn Swancey
  • Lauren Mrvos
  • Alycia Amey
  • William Matney
  • Dana Neaves
  • Divine Agene

Nick Ellis, Principal
          

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC)

2^nd Place NJROTC Area 12 Championships and 19^th Place USA Shooting State Junior Olympics:

• • Kaitlyn Rodriguez
  • Emily Adams
  • Elena Fincher
  • Sade McFarlane
  • Tierra Harris

8^th Place NJROTC Area 12 Championships

• • Imari Tomlin
  • Joanna Seams
  • Layla Combs
  • Madison Hayes
  • Carniyiah Connell

Monica Blasingame, Principal

Purvis Jackson, Principal

Dr. Douglas Blackwell, Principal

Quinton Ward, Principal

 

Technology Student Association (TSA)

4^th Place System Control and 7^th Place Senior Solar Sprint from Ola High School:

·       Sebastian Cedeno

·       Carson Schmitt

·       Conner Middlebrooks

·       Dustin Pouliot

Nick Ellis, Principal

 

From Ola Middle School:

• • Madison Bartlett ~ 1^st Place, Essays on Technology; 1^st Place, VEXIQ; 3^rd Place, Leadership Strategies and 5^th Place, Technology Bowl
  • Nathan Schmitt ~ 1^st Place, VEXIQ and 7^th Place, Mechanical Engineering
  • Gracie Jenkins ~ 1^st Place, VEXIQ and 3^rd Place, Leadership Strategies
  • Morgan Lukat ~ 1^st Place, VEXIQ; 3^rd Place, Leadership Strategies; 5^th Place, Technology Bowl and 7^th Place, Mechanical Engineering
  • Michael Peterson ~ 1^st Place, VEXIQ and 5^th Place, Technology Bowl
  • Evelyn Bowers ~ 1^st Place, VEXIQ

Christine Anderson, Principal
            

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

 Principal Retirements

 

• • The Board recognized Anne Wilson, Principal of Unity Grove Elementary. Ms. Wilson has served Henry County Schools for 34 Years and has been in Education for 39 Years. Ms. Wilson, this “game ball” is awarded for your years of leadership, and unconditional commitment to the students, parents, teachers and staff of Henry County Schools.

 

• • The Board also recognized Dr. Sherri Greene, Principal of Dutchtown Elementary. Dr. Greene has served Henry County Schools for 29 Years. Dr. Greene, this “game ball” is awarded for your years of leadership, and unconditional commitment to the students, parents, teachers and staff of Henry County Schools.

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

 

Board Member Comments

District| Board Member	Comments
District 1, Pam Nutt	Congratulations to Ola Middle School 8th Grade Volleyball County Champions. Congratulations to the Ola High School Lacrosse team for their State appearance. Unity Grove Elementary received a grant from Home Depot to refurbish their school garden. Team members from Home Depot helped create beds for planting and a shed to provide shelter for their school goat and pig. Congratulations to Maddie Reardanz, National History Day Georgia State Level 1st place winner. She moves on to Nationals. Congratulations to the Locust Grove Baseball team for advancing to state play; and the new score boards look marvelous! Congratulations to Mrs. Anne Wilson on her retirement.
District 2, Annette Edwards (Chair)	Congratulations to the Stockbridge High School Girls Track Team for their Region 5-AAAA Championship. Congratulations to Dutchtown High School Boys Track Team on their Region 2-AAAAA Championship.
District 3, Holly Cobb	Congratulations to the Boys Tennis Team from Union Grove High School for their Elite 8 State appearance. Congratulations to the McDonough High School Lacrosse Team on their State Playoff bid. Congratulations to the Union Grove High School Girls Track Team on their 2-AAAAA championship. Acknowledged and thanked Teachers in honor of Teacher Appreciation week. Acknowledged and thanked Principals in honor of School Principal’s Day. Acknowledged and recognized Dr. Nutt as an educator and thanked her for her wisdom.
District 4, Sophe Pope (Vice Chair)	Congratulations to the Woodland High School Lacrosse Team for their state playoff appearance. Congratulations to Keely Johnson, Union Grove High, she won low medalist in 5A Golf and advances to State. Congratulations to the Union Grove Baseball Team on their Sweet 16 appearance.
District 5, Makenzie McDaniel	Acknowledged and thanked Mr. Malcom, Dr. Bradley, and Dr. Knowlton for accompanying him on 10 school visits. Acknowledged and thanked principals, teachers, and school nurses for their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to Nathariya Phimsoutham of McDonough High School for winning the Area 4A Golf Tournament. She is advancing to state. Congratulations to Dave Mayer, teacher at Ola High School for being named the National Behring Teacher of the Year finalist for Georgia. Congratulations to Ola High School for being named the Most Positive School for the Atlanta South Region. Congratulations to the Vex Robotics team from Ola High School on their quarter finals appearance in world competition in Dallas, TX. Congratulations to the Ola High School Baseball Team for their Sweet 16 state appearance. Congratulations to Trey Dean, III of Dutchtown High School for being signed and drafted by the NY Jets. Congratulations to 2018 Ola High School graduate Chris Rodriguez, Jr. for being drafted to the Washington Commanders. Congratulations to Dutchtown High School’s Will Anderson for being drafted to the Houston Texans. Congratulations to Ola graduate Taylor Thompson for being named the Sun Conference Freshmen of the Year. Acknowledged and thanked the school council of Luella High School for allowing him to be the speaker at their Baccalaureate.

 

 

SY 2022-2023

HCS Board of Education Meeting – April 17, 2023

The April 2023 Meeting of the Henry County Board of Education began with a share-out by each of the Superintendent’s 5 Advisories. The Advisories are intended to provide helpful insights to the Superintendent about various matters of importance. Below is a list of each advisory and their respective areas of focus for the 2022-2023 school-year.

Advisory Group	Focus Area
Middle School Student Advisory	Student Engagement; Positive School Environment
High School Student Advisory	Engaging Classroom Instruction; Counseling Support; Post-Secondary Planning
Elementary Teacher Advisory	Teacher Support; Balancing Teacher Workload
Secondary Teacher Advisory	Teacher Support; Balancing Teacher Workload
Teacher of the Year Advisory	Design for Tomorrow’s Teachers Today
	H.E.A.T . Elementary & Secondary School Overview: K-8 program to start in September Elementary HEAT Ambassador activities include: Duties, Materials Management, Facilitating Events, Peer Tutoring, Teacher Helper, and Bulletin Board Creation. Secondary HEAT Ambassador activities include:  Duties, Materials Management, Facilitating Events, Peer Tutoring, and Teacher Helper. High School HEAT Ambassador activities include:  Duties, Materials Management, Facilitating Events, Peer Tutoring, and Teacher Helper.

Pictured: Middle & High School Student Advisory


Pictured: Elementary Teacher Advisory


Pictured: Secondary Teacher Advisory


Pictured: District Teacher of the Year (TOTY) Advisory: Janae Cohen, 2019; James Forsyth, 2020; Jennifer Brown, 2021; Amanda Malette, 2022

Superintendent’s Welcome

During the Superintendent’s welcome, Dr. Davis specifically acknowledged the district’s Assistant Principals. She mentioned the vital role that they play in the success of schools, and by extension, the success of the principal. 

April Annual Recognitions

Assistant Principal Appreciation Week

National School Library Month

Month of the Military Child

Henry County Board members are pictured wearing Purple in honor of children of our service men and women. Pictured: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

Noteworthy Events

• • The 2023 ESPY Awards event was recently held – where the district’s Support Specialists of the Year were honored. This year’s event was held at the Fairview Performing Arts Center. Watch the video here | Photo Gallery
    Livestream Linked here in case you missed it.  
    
    
  • The 3^rd Annual Henry County Schools State of Schools event was also held on Friday, April 14. Highlights of this event can be found here | Photo Gallery
    Livestream Linked here in case you missed it.

Board Member Items

Consortium of State School Board Association (COSSBA) Conference

Members of the Henry County Board of Education presented at the inaugural Consortium of State School Board Association Conference (COSSBA) in Tampa, Florida. The presentation, facilitated by Board Chair Annette Edwards, Vice Chair Sophe Pope,  Board Member Makenzie, McDaniel and Superintendent Davis was largely focused on the Board’s Governance journey – where alignment, common vision, and a strategy for honoring the hopes, drams, and aspirations of our community are reflected through our Community Inspired Strategic Plan and through an established set of common commitments.

In their remarks, Board Members Edwards, Pope, and McDaniel emphasized the notion that an effective school district begins with an effective school board – and the extent to which Henry County Schools will continue to progress and provide quality education experiences for students will result from a commitment to this ideal.

Pictured (l-r): Dr. Donna Hinton (representing the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) and  Henry County Board Members Makenzie McDaniel, Chair Annette Edwards, and Vice Chair Sophe Pope following their presentation at the inaugural COSSBA Conference in Tampa, Florida.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan - Year 2, Quarter 3 Quarterly Report

To view the full report, click here (add youtube link to website)

The March Board Meeting study session began with Chief of Staff Dr. Duke Bradley providing an overview of the Year 2, Quarter 3 Quarterly Report. Dr. Bradley indicated at the onset of his report that the work conducted during the 3^rd quarter has been vast – and the productivity of the district in executing the work priorities within each strategic action has been significant. Most notably, Dr. Bradley indicated that many of the investments made by the Board of Education have begun to make their way into classrooms and are important the impacting student learning and the overall student experience.

Some of the highlights within the strategic plan are as follows:

Strategic Action 1: Advancing Learning Opportunities for Students

• • Our Advanced Mathematics Advisory spent the past few months developing the criteria for the third-grade advanced math cohort which will debut next school-year. This work, although still in Research and Design, is timely because it allows for considerations to made for the new math standards that have been adopted by this board and are required by the state Department of Education.
  • Henry County Schools has been engaged more deeply with the district’s STEM Advisory, which, as was reported last quarter, consists of a collective of local educators, practitioners, and business professionals. Their expertise – captured through a cycle of regular meetings will help to inform academic programs and the overall student experience for students will attend the forthcoming STEM High School. 

Strategic Action 2: Advance Effective School Leadership & Classroom Instruction

• • The Henry County Schools Highly Effective Leader Framework was finalized this quarter and is being prepared for roll-out this spring and into the summer months. The framework is informed by research-based best practices and will be utilized to support professional development for the district’s school leaders. 
  • Our Human Resources team continue to prioritize the acquisition of talent by conducting the certified job fair. This fair welcomed over 100 prospective employees and resulted in several pre-contracts being extended to applicants. In addition to the job fair, we continue to cultivate a pool of prospective hires so that they can be quickly processed and made readily available to fill vacancies throughout the district.

Strategic Action 3: Advance Connectivity to Value & Engage all Students, Employees, Families, and Partners in Our Growing Community 

• • We are thoughtfully responding to the growing diversity within our community, a process has been initiated to ensure that all district-wide communication is also prepared in Spanish – the second most prevalent language spoken in our district.
  • We’ve begun the process of launching the Henry County Schools Foundation. Research into local school district Foundations has been conducted, the job description for the Foundation’s Lead has been prepared and posted, and we are currently revising early drafts of Foundation bylaws to inform operational practices and procedures.

Strategic Action 4: Advance Student and Employee Health, Wellness, and Support Structures

• • Members of our district Health Advisory were named during Quarter 3. This is a group of community members who will come together and offer ideas on how to better meet the wellness needs of our district. This effort allows the district to draw from the advisory, the ideas, and the expertise of people from within our very own county.
  • Through our ongoing partnership with Southside Medical Center, preparations were made during Quarter 3 to open the district’s first TeleHealth service site at the Henry County Learning and Support Center. Through this strategic partnership, students will have access to a fully credentialed and accredited healthcare provider through the use of video conferencing and specialized equipment throughout the school year. Also, in the fall of 2023, as a complement to our telehealth services, Southside Medical will be launching a site-based health center which will also be located at the Learning and Support Center. The site will have a full medical staff and among other things will provide a wide range of medical and support services for our students and our staff members as well. 

Strategic Action 5: Advance a High Performing Organizational Culture 

• • Growth and Replacement has been prioritized. During the 3^rd quarter, schools received new STEM lab equipment, the pilot for furniture replacement at elementary schools will begin this summer at Fairview Elementary, Locust Grove Elementary, and Oakland Elementary – and scoreboards, weight room equipment, and wrestling and cheer mats are all in the process of being replaced at our middle and high schools. This asset management and replacement work has expanded significantly over the course of this year, and the result of a focused effort to evaluate and replenish furniture and equipment is positively impacting the student experience.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Update, Termerion McCrary began by underscoring the fact that there are multiple opportunities for students to receive and participate in quality STEM education throughout Henry County Schools. Notwithstanding the forthcoming STEM school - which will be a specialty school complemented by a customized curriculum, Mrs. McCrary shared that all Henry County High Schools will offer STEM-based CTAE pathways, Math and Science Advanced Placement courses, and continued dual enrollment opportunities.

For example, a Henry County student experience may include the following:

Academy for Advanced Studies	All High Schools	STEM High School
STEM Career Pathways Logistics; Networking; Programming; Pharmacy; Phlebotomy; Veterinary Science; Electronics; Mechatronics; Mechanical Engineering; Power and Energy; Welding; Cyber Security	School-Based STEM Courses CTAE Pathways; Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment	Advanced Specialized Study AP Biology; AP Chemistry; AP Environmental Science; AP Physics 1; AP Physics 2; AP Physics C: Mechanics; AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC; AP Computer Science A; AP Computer Science Principles; AP Statistics
Middle Schools
Summer STEM Experiences | Comp. Science & Engineering Connections | Robotics & Coding
Elementary Schools
Summer STEM Experiences | STEM Special | Coding and Robotics for All | Highly Effective Math Instruction | Algebra Readiness

Mrs. McCrary also reported that Henry County Schools is currently working closely with our newly organized STEM Advisory – a group of local and regional practitioners, business leaders, educators, and STEM experts who are helping to cultivate our vision for STEM education by sharing real-world experiences and unique industry insights. The Advisory consists of a broad and diverse member-group, including a representative appointed by each board member. Representatives from Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, the Henry County Development Authority are all a part of the Advisory. They are also joined district principals, teachers, parents, and various other stakeholders.

Additionally, Mrs. McCrary emphasized that the Board of Education’s efforts to elevate STEM is in direct response to the community’s desire for more student exposure STEM education – which is reflected in our Community Inspired Strategic Plan. Additional assurances were made that at every grade level, and regardless of where a student attends school – STEM opportunities will be available.

2. Ensuring Operational Effectiveness

March Construction and E-SPLOST Report

Chief of Operations Officer Josh Malcom provided the following report:

• • Security Access Control

Phase 1-5 project phases have been completed. This project will enhance safety measures at schools by limiting access to district facilities. Badges are currently being distributed and final assessments for functionality are being conducted.

• • Fairview Elementary Exterior Modifications

The Fairview Elementary project is currently on schedule and approaching completion. Training and issuance of cards is nearing substantial completion. The ribbon cutting event is scheduled for May 16 at 4:00 p.m.

• • HVAC Installation for Elementary Gymnasiums 
    • Installation is complete at Cotton Indian Elementary, Austin Road Elementary, Oakland Elementary, JB Henderson, Excel Academy, Locust Grove Elementary, Hampton Elementary, and Fairview Elementary.
    • The installation of HVAC units has started at Ola Elementary, Smith Barnes Elementary, Rock Spring Elementary, and New Hope Elementary.
    • Installation of HVAC units will begin at Unity Grove Elementary, Rocky Creek Elementary, Mount Carmel Elementary, Luella Elementary, and Bethlehem Elementary in May, 2023.

Note: HVAC installation at the district’s remaining elementary schools has not yet begun.

• • Birch Creek Elementary

The Birch Creek is on schedule and on pace for opening for SY ’24 -’25. The groundbreaking event will be held in June.

• • Electronic Message Signs

Contracts have been sent to the general contractor; notice to proceed will soon be issued following after contract acceptance; the pre-construction meeting with general contractor will be scheduled after Notice to Proceed.

• Dutchtown HS Extension was completed and the ribbon cutting ceremony was conducted on Thursday, April 20. The new 26,000 square foot addition will house the school’s 9^th grade academy and features several new classrooms, science labs, work spaces, and administrative offices.

February Financial Report

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay reviewed financial activity for the month of March and reported that to date, we’ve collected almost 85% of budgeted receipts and expenditures are at 69.9%. With regard to our General Fund, we have collected nearly 89% of planned revenue receipts. Going forward, we will continue to see the local revenue outpace the initial planning for the duration of this fiscal year due to the performance of the local digest.

FY’24 Tentative Budget Overview

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay shared the final report regarding the FY 24 budget before a recommendation was made during the business session to approve a tentative budget.

In consideration of education investments included in the state’s FY24 Budget and forecasted growth of the local tax digest of 16.5%, the estimate of FY24 revenues totals $517.9M.  The improved revenue forecast since the March budget update allows for the Board to:

• • Adjust for state spending mandates relating to certified salary increases, as well as, invest the funds required for increases in the employer paid share of state health benefits for certified and classified employees.
  • Make historic investments in compensation to position the district to attract and retain talented teachers, leaders, and staff for the students of Henry County Schools. 
  • The tentatively adopted budget proposal honors steps within the salary schedule, improves certified teacher scales by $3,500, improves classified scales by 5%, and improves administrative scales by 3%. In addition to these comprehensive investments, the recommended budget includes targeted compensation improvements for bus drivers, paraprofessionals, elementary clerks, campus monitors, clinic aides, and school nutrition assistants that will yield annual increases ranging from 10% - 14% for these job families.
  • Hire additional teachers (45), assistant principals (11), and other school-based/direct service staff (20.5). Next, to continue efforts on supportive and safe learning environment, the budget calls for the addition of an English as a Second Language (ESOL) coordinator, a coordinator to support Henry County online and related services, an employee support coordinator, a cluster nurse, a safety supervisor, an athletic director, 3 custodian leads, 1 PAC administrative support member, 1 Transportation Director and a Strategic Initiatives Leader to support the advancement of this Board’s priorities, including the implementation of the ERP. 

School-Based and Direct Service Personnel:

Total Number	Position
45	Teacher allotments (including 6 middle school orchestra allotments)
11	Assistant Principals
5.5	Media Paraprofessionals
1	Cluster Nurse
10	Strategic School Staffing Allotments and Supplements
3	Birch Creek (new school) staff including principal, AP, Counselor, SSF, and 2 office assistants
1	Henry County Online Supervisor

Central Office Support Personnel:

Total Number	Position
1	ERP/Strategic Plan Leader
1	IT Coordinator – Technical Operations
1	ESOL Coordinator
1	Athletic Director
1	Employee Support Coordinator
1	Supervisor of Safety
1	Transportation Director
3	Custodian Leads
1	PAC Administrative Assistant
2	Communications Specialists (budget neutral investment)

Altogether, the FY 24 budget allows deeper investments to be made consistent with the Board’s priorities and in direct alignment with our Community Inspired Strategic Plan – and thanks to the Board’s steadfast belief that we should constantly be evaluating how best to improve compensation – this budget accomplishes that objective without compromising our reserves and while maintaining a strong fund balance.

Mrs. Clay concluded by underscoring that the vast majority of the FY 24 budget proposal is earmarked for salary and benefits, it clearly distributes resources across every division – which includes maintenance and operations, transportation, and other support services.

Legislative Update

Chief of Staff Dr. Duke Bradley provided a Legislative Update – summarizing key takeaways from the 2023 Legislative Session. In his report, Dr. Bradley shared that the 2023 Legislative Session was successful and resulted in the advancement of many of the Board’s expressed interests and priorities. Dr. Bradley began by expressing thanks for the leadership of our 8-person delegation and clarified their roles and relationship with Board of Education during the session. He specifically noted that among other things, the delegation advocates for issues important to the Henry County Board of Education, engages with the Board and Superintendent to communicate new developments. Dr. Bradley also shared that the delegation is also mindful of the district’s annual priorities during the fulfillment of their public service duties.

With regard to the session, the Board was provided guidance on two primary topics. The first was the Governor’s FY ’24 budget priorities and noteworthy legislation.

Rep. Demetrius Douglas (far right) discusses the year’s legislative priorities with (l-r) Josh Fenn, Executive Director of the Henry County Economic Development Authority, Chair Annette Edwards, Superintendent Davis, and Vice Chair Sophe Pope.

Key Legislation included the following:

• • HB 147: Among other things, requires school safety plans to be submitted to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; requires intruder alert drills (also known as hard lockdown drills) in all public schools in this state; requires public schools to report completion of such drills to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; provides for parents and guardians to opt their children out of such drills.
  • HB 211: Establishes the “Georgia Council on Literacy”. The council would be administratively attached to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) and have a variety of duties, including but not limited to providing a literacy outcomes report to the Governor and legislators, evaluating best practices, creating a common metric for K-12 literacy scores, and making recommendations to improve literacy outcomes.
  • HB 538: The "Georgia Early Literacy Act"; requires the State Board of Education to approve high-quality instructional materials to be used for teaching students in kindergarten through third grade.

While mentioning these bills, Dr. Bradley expressed to the Board that no substantial programmatic or policy changes will be necessary for Henry County Schools upon final passage. He explained that this is because of two things – the first is that Henry County has been a key contributor in the development and crafting of the 211 and 538 based on practices already in place, and regarding 147, Henry County has already adopted much of what the bill now requires of all districts.

In closing, Dr. Bradley shared with the Board that while Senate Bill 233 (The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act) did not pass during this legislative session.

BUSINESS ITEMS

The following agenda items were either heard during the information items portion of the study session or approved as a part of the business items for the evening meeting’s formal actions.

• • FY 24 Tentative Budget Adoption - Pursuant to the Superintendent’s Budget recommendation, the Board unanimously approved (5-0) the FY ’24 tentative budget. 
  • District Printer Lease Renewal - The Board unanimously approved (5-0) the district printer lease renewal agreement. 
  • Instructional and Technical Infrastructure – The Board unanimously approved (5-0) the purchase of middle school chorus equipment.
  • Instructional and Technical Infrastructure - World Languages Resources (Spanish and French) – The Board unanimously approved (5-0) the purchase of new world language resources for Spanish and French - for middle and high schools.
  • 2023-2024 Student Code of Conduct – The Board unanimously approved (5-0) the Superintendent’s recommendation to adopt the 2023-2024 Code of Conduct, inclusive of board recommended modifications.
  • Replacement of Student Materials Lost During Remote Learning - The Board unanimously approved (5-0) the purchase of student learning devices for the purpose of growth and replacement. 
  • Renovations, Modifications, and Additions (RMA) for Henry County Schools – The Board unanimously approved (5-0) the Facilities Improvements Bid Tabulation for Austin Road Middle School and Stockbridge Middle School. 
  • Athletic Equipment Growth and Replacement – The Board of Education unanimously approved (5-0) the purchase of wrestling and cheer mats for the purpose athletic equipment growth and replacement. 
  • Furniture/Equipment Growth and Replacement – The Board unanimously approved (5-0) the purchase of new furniture and equipment as a part of the elementary furniture Basic Equipment List Pilot for Fairview ES, Locust Grove ES, Oakland ES. 
  • Amended School Calendars for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 –  The Board of Education unanimously voted (5-0) to table the action on the Superintendent’s amended SY 23-24 and SY 24-25 calendar recommendation. As a result, the already adopted school-year calendars will remain in effect, unchanged.
    SY 23-24 | SY 24-25 

New Hires

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
Sugunda Jackson	Asst. Principal, Timber Ridge ES	Asst. Principal, Wesley Lakes ES
Kristen McCrae	Director, Leadership Development	Principal, Timber Ridge ES
April Robinson	Asst. Principal, Woodland HS	Principal, Timber Ridge Elementary
Brittany Sutton	ELA, Professional Learning Specialist (HCS)	Asst. Principal, Locust Grove ES

Retirements

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
Anne Wilson		Principal, Unity Grove ES
Sherri Green		Principal, Dutchtown ES

Inspiration

Inspiration for the April Henry County Schools Board Meeting was provided by the Hickory Flat Orfestra under the direction of Jacquelyn Iden. Hickory Flat Elementary is led by Principal Dana Flowers.

 


Awards and Recognition 

This month’s Awards and Recognitions celebrate the accomplishments of our students and employees who help make Henry County Schools an exceptional place to lead, learn, and grow.

Griffin RESA 2022-2023 Regional High School Math Contest

Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, WHS Coach Maruthi Rampally, Team Members: Aidan Nguyen, Emmanuel Gardner, Cameron Barnard, Jaylin Wright, and Jose-Julian Borrero, Principal Purvis Jackson, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, LHS Coach Jamie Henck, Team Members: Jamar Taylor, Sharon Sirare, Camden Keesey, Heather Bos, and Grace Perez, Principal Brandi Hardnett, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.


Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards,Team members include Kayla Dang, Leric Franco, LeMy Dang, Palash Patel, and Landon Dang, DHS Coach Rajeswari Harasimhan, Assistant Principal, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

Griffin RESA 2023 Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition

 
Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards,1^st grader - Naomi Wright - NHE, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.


Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Principal Purvis Jackson, 12^th grader, Cameron Barnard - WHS, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.


Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Principal Jermaine Ausmore, 2^nd grader, Dera Ezeike - ROE, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

2023 Georgia Department of Education Scholar Program Recognition

Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Assistant Principal, Eleanor Ratmeyer - DHS, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

2022-2023 Model Atlanta Regional Commission (MARC) Youth Leadership Program

Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Principal Purvis Jackson, Kylie Johnson - WHS, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.


Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Principal Purvis Jackson, Alexa Roberts - UGHS, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

2022-2023 Leadership Cohorts

Henry County Schools is proud to recognize four leadership cohorts which are led by Dr. Cynthia McCray, Director of Leadership Development.


Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Dr. Cynthia McCray, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

Leadership Cohort: Pictured (l-r): Sarah Bass - UGMS, Holly Williams - TRE, Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Dr. Cynthia McCray, Michael Teti - TRE, Corletha Varian - ELE, Eldread Nunnally - SHS, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

Leadership Cohort: Pictured (l-r): Sarah Bass - UGMS, Holly Williams - TRE, Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

ASPIRE: Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Dr. Cynthia McCray, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel. (r2.) Aisha Evans - OES, Amanda Hanie - SMS, Angela Dennis - LES, Carey Tooke - HFES, Christy Collier - UGMS, Cynteria Bandele -District Office/Leadership, Dawn Anderson - TES, Diane Robinson - District Office/Professional Learning, Dr. Anna Watson - WLE, Dr. Tiffany Wheeler - ELHS, Erin Sears - District Office/Compliance, Ja’net Lovelace - WCE, Jennifer Vainio - WLE, Jeremy Sellersntary - ARE, Kimberly Jones - RSE,  Rojini Lazarus - DMS, Sheryl Matthews - District Office/Family Services,   Shirell Neal - District Office/Human Resources, Stefon Plummer - District Office/Chief of Staff’s Office, Sugunda Jackson - WLE, Susie Waterbury - District Office/Learning & Performance, Valerie Hodge - UGHS, Vanetta Vincent-Richard - IA

ASPIRE: Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Sugunda Jackson - WLE, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel.

MODEL: Pictured (l-r): Monica Blasingame - MHS, Dr. Kimberly Kessinger - MMS, Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Sugunda Jackson - WLE, Superintendent Davis, Holly Cobb, and Makenzie McDaniel, Melissa Thomas - LGMS, Makisha Williams - WES, Brandi Hardnett - LHS, Dr. Cynthia McCray, Quinton Ward - HHS, Sparkle Smith - LGES, and Julie Mosley - RSE


APIP: Pictured (l-r): Henry County Board Members: Dr. Pam Nutt, Vice Chair Sophe Pope, Chair Annette Edwards, Janine Madaffari - LGMS, Edtwon Myree - LHS, Hilary Rogers - WHS, Charles Hight- UGHS, Kristen Tilson - UGHS, Allison Randall - ELMS, Renee Prior - FES, Emory Arnold - ELHS, DMS, Danielle Barnes - HMS, SeTia Freeman - PCES, Sarah Waugh - RCES, Kristen Bibb - HHS, Jamilla Martin - DHS, Shirley Tarver - HHS, Lydia Powell - LHS, Tiffany Castillo - MHS, and Ashlee Addison - ARMS.

Board Member Comments

District | Board Member	Comments
District 1, Dr. Pam Nutt	Congratulations to the Ola Middle School’s 7th and 8th Grade Volleyball teams for their County Championships. Congratulations to the Luella Girls Tennis team for advancing to the state playoffs. Congratulations to the Ola Girls Soccer team, they are advancing to the State Sweet 16 and to the Locust Grove High School Girls and Boys Soccer teams for their state appearance.
District 2, Annette Edwards (Chair)	Acknowledged and thanked the audience for attending the meeting and asked that they come back next month. Congratulations to Mayra Martines-Atunez from Smith Barnes Elementary, she was the 4th Grade Reader of the Year of the Heritage Reading Council for 2023. Congratulations to the Dutchtown Middle School Girls Track Team for the county championship. Congratulations to the Woodland High School Boys & Girls Soccer teams for advancing to state play as well as the Stockbridge High School Boys Soccer team for advancing to state action. Acknowledged Media Specialist Day to the Media Specialists in the district. Acknowledged we are almost at the end of the 2022-23 school year. · Acknowledged that the Board shares concerns regarding safety, security, and discipline. Acknowledged that the Board looks forward to seeing everyone at one of the two Safety and Security Community Conversations.
District 3, Holly Cobb	Congratulations to Ola High School Gymnastics for their County Championship. Congratulations to the Ola High School Girls Soccer team as they move on to the Sweet 16 state play and congratulations to the Eagles Landing High School Boys Soccer Team on their state appearance. Congratulations to the Ola Boys Tennis Team as they advance to state competition.
District 4, Sophe Pope (Vice Chair)	Congratulations to the Union Grove High Girls and Boys Region 2-AAAAA tennis championships. Congratulations to the Union Grove High Girls and Boys Soccer teams; they are Region Champs and advance to state playoffs. Congratulations to the Dutchtown High School Girls Soccer as they move on to Sweet 16 state tournament. Congratulations to the McDonough High School Boys Tennis team for advancing to the state playoffs. · Acknowledged Mary Rozier of Eagle’s Landing High School as the GHP finalist – Mechanical Engineering. Acknowledged State of Our Schools – Students & Teachers STEM event. · Acknowledged our Safety and Security Community Conversations scheduled for April 20, 2023 and April 25, 2023.
District 5, Makenzie McDaniel	Acknowledged and thanked Superior Court Judge Danielle Roberts for acknowledging the accomplishments of the Stockbridge High School athletics. Congratulations to Ashley Lott, Athletic Director at Hampton High School. She was named the Athletic Director of the Year for 4-AAAA. Congratulations to Kim Lunn of Hampton Elementary. She is the Henry County Schools District 2022 ESPY winner. Congratulations to David Quintanar from Luella High School, who received the GENIUS Olympiad Recommendation for his project entitled, Green Buildings: Dryer Rooms for No-Cost Laundry, at the 75th Georgia Science & Engineering Fair which took place in Athens, Georgia. Congratulations to the Hampton High School Girls and Boys Tennis teams for advancing to state play. Acknowledged Real Dad’s Read at Eagle’s Landing Middle School with Keynote Speaker Chelsey McNeil from 11 Alive Weather. Acknowledged our Safety and Security Community Conversations scheduled for April 20, 2023 and April 25, 2023. Congratulations to Jake Pearson of Locust Grove High School for signing with Valdosta State University. Congratulations to the McDonough High School Baseball team; 1st Team All Region - Da’Avion Thomas, Avante Nichols, and Amon McDowell and 2nd Team All Region, Keenan Gray Acknowledged the Fairview Youth Athletic Association for hosting a Braves Softball Clinic on June 5, 2023, at J.P. Moseley Park.

 

 

SY 2022-2023

HCS Board of Education Meeting – March 13, 2023

Watch the video here.

Welcome

March is a month of celebrations and acknowledgements. The district welcomes the opportunity to bring awareness and recognition to many special groups of individuals and causes that help contribute to our success. During her introductory remarks, Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis recognized the following:

March Annual Recognitions

Women’s History Month

School Social Worker Month

Exceptional Students Education Month

National Maintenance Worker Month

In addition to these acknowledgments, March is also National School Board Member Month, and Superintendent Davis also took a moment to specifically share anecdotes of what makes the Henry County Board of Education so special. This five-member Board is deserving of recognition, not only because of its commitment to the tenets and best practices of unified governance, but also because of its determined focus to prioritize the needs of students while reflecting the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of the community that it represents. It is worth noting that the Henry County Board of Education’s collective leadership has served as a model for our state and our region ­– and as a result, has received well-earned recognition including being named an Exemplary Board by GSBA for three consecutive years (SY 2019-2020, SY 2020-2021, and SY 2021-2022) and for having been recognized as a Governance Team of the Year finalist (SY 2020-2021 and SY 2021-2022). While the best evidence of its effectiveness as a Board is illustrated by improved student outcomes, the conditions that Board Members have established to ensure organizational excellence have put Henry County Schools on a positive trajectory. You can view the Board of Education tribute video here.

L to R: Dr. Pam Nutt (District 1), Sophe Pope - Vice Chair (District 4), Annette Edwards - Chair (District 2), Holly Cobb (District 3), and Makenzie McDaniel (District 5). 

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

The March Board Meeting study session began with a report regarding the HCS Code of Conduct by Executive Director School Operational Systems Effectiveness & Support Eric Watson. Annually, the Board reviews the Code of Conduct and makes determinations about whether refinements are necessary. In order to make informed decisions about the potential need for changes to the Code of Conduct, Mr. Watson shared with the Board a months-long process of engagement that began with meetings with each Board Member to set the priorities. It is clear that this Board of Education has high expectations for student conduct, wants clarity in aligned consequences, and is serious about ensuring safe schools. As such, the Board had consensus around three key Code of Conduct areas needing elevated expectations. Those three areas included 1) fighting, 2) bus conduct, and 3) terroristic threats. These three areas of focus became the basis for meeting with a variety of stakeholders, including Student Advisory Councils, school administrators, bus drivers, teachers, and parents, all in efforts to gather their feedback and perceptions about improvements that may be needed.

The collective feedback generated from these focus groups underscored a clear interest in elevating the consequences for these specific categories of student misconduct. As a result of this feedback, Mr. Watson presented for the Board’s consideration several modifications that reflected the Board’s priorities. The revised HCS Conduct recommendations can be found in their entirety here.

Mr. Watson concluded his report by sharing that the Henry County Schools Code of Conduct will be reformatted next year to ensure greater clarity and consistency – thereby eliminating redundancies and to ensure simpler, more accurate reporting.

• Core Business of Student Learning – Preparing for the 2023-2024 School Year

Chief School Leadership Officer Mary Ann Suddeth provided a report to the Board focused on end-of-year closeout efforts, summer learning, and various upcoming activities in preparation for SY 2023-2024.

Mrs. Suddeth began by announcing that another round of cluster community conversations will take place in March and April. These events will provide an opportunity to share updates on work happening throughout the cluster and to solicit feedback, once again, from the community. The full schedule of the spring Cluster Community Conversations is listed below:

 

McDonough - March 2, 6:30 p.m. @MHS	Stockbridge – March 27, 6 p.m. @SHS
Hampton – March 21, 6:00 p.m., @HHS	Locust Grove – March 28, 7:00 p.m. @LGH
Eagle’s Landing – March 22, 5:30 p.m. @ELH	Luella – April 12, 9:30 a.m. @LHS
Dutchtown – March 23, 9:00 a.m. @PCE	Ola – April 19, 5:30 p.m. @OES
Woodland – March 24, 9:00 a.m. @WHS	Union Grove – April 20, 9:00 a.m. @TRE

As we near the end of the school year, Mrs. Suddeth also reminded the Board that there are a variety of exams that students must take – all of which are reflected in the spring assessment schedule – including MAP, Milestones, End of Course testing, AP Exams and ACCESS. See the chart below for reference:

Assessment	Testing Window
MAP	February 27 – March 21
Georgia End-of-Grade Milestones (Grades 3-8)	April 25 – May 1
Georgia End-of-Course Milestones (Grades 9-12	May 1 - May 5
Georgia Alternative Assessment (Grades 3-8	May 1- May 10
Advanced Placement Exams (Grades 9-12)	May 1- May 12
End-of-Pathway Assessments (Grades 9-12)	April 10- April 21

Additionally, Henry County Schools believes that a strong finish to the school year better positions the district for a strong start to the year ahead, and Mrs. Suddeth presented to the Board several activities that will position the district to have a seamless transition from spring to summer and into the new school year.

With regard to advisement and scheduling, requests will be completed by March 31. This deadline allows for student schedules to be properly evaluated and for classes to be assigned to students that correspond with their particular needs and interests. The March 31 deadline also provides adequate time prior to the end of the year to make important school-based decisions based on scheduling determinations.

Mrs. Suddeth also shared with the Board that grades and attendance used for end-of-year awards will be decided based on the 13.5-week progress reports. Final grades will be finalized by May 8, and Valedictorian and Salutatorian announcements will be made on May 12. These dates will allow consistency among schools.

Additionally, as the district prepares for end-of year closeout activities, the symbolic conclusion of the school year remains high school graduation. This year, we are fortunate to remain in partnership with the Atlanta Motor Speedway, which will once again host graduation for our 10 high schools. The 2023 graduation schedule is as follows:

HCS Graduation Schedule 2023 – Atlanta Motor Speedway; McDonough Performing Arts Ctr.

Date	School	Time
May 17	McDonough High School	7:30 p.m.
May 18	Ola High School	7:30 p.m.
May 19	Excel Academy *Ceremony will be held at the McDonough Performing Arts Center	2:00 p.m.
May 19	Eagle’s Landing High School	7:30 p.m.
May 20	Luella High School	7:30 p.m.
May 21	Stockbridge High School	7:30 p.m.
May 22	Union Grove High School	7:30 p.m.
May 23	Dutchtown High School	7:30 p.m.
May 24	Hampton High School	7:30 p.m.
May 25	Woodland High School	7:30 p.m.
May 26	Locust Grove High School	7:30 p.m.

 

Although the traditional school year ends in May, student learning persists throughout the summer months. Mrs. Suddeth’s report included an overview of the wide-ranging summer learning opportunities that will be made available for Henry County students.

 

Mrs. Suddeth reported that this year there will be a focus on three core summer programs. The first is Early Kindergarten, which will expose rising Kindergarten students to core curriculum in ELA and Math. The second is Summer Bridge which will be for rising 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd grade students, and the third will be for rising 9^th grade students – supporting their transition to high school from middle school. Mrs. Suddeth also indicated that there are several more program available to students as – but made special note of the Board’s interest of ensuring that summer enrichment opportunities are available to compliment intervention and remediation experiences. One such program is the Summer STEM Camp for rising 3^rd to 8^th grade students. These will be three one-week camps with space for 100 students per session. The full list of summer learning opportunities for students of all grade levels is included in the charts below.

 

 Summer Learning Opportunities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Summer Learning Opportunities for High School Students

As is the case for students, the summer months also provide an opportunity for adults to enhance their skills. This year, there will be a wide variety of professional development options for teachers and leaders to participate in – all in the effort of honoring our organizational belief in continuous improvement.

Mrs. Suddeth announced that the Henry County Schools Be Ready Day 1 campaign will once again be launched this spring as it has over the past few years. This campaign is inspired by the district’s desire to make navigating the early-year school process simple and convenient for parents. We advance this belief through the development of a comprehensive website that serves as a “one-stop shop” for critical information. The website, www.bereadydayonehenry.com, will allow parents to register new students and receive valuable information updates, among other things. The website will also provide important dates, information and guidance for how to enroll in Before School (MS) and After School (ES) enrichment programming. Mrs. Suddeth emphasized that although this resource should be used by parents, the Henry County Schools Welcome Center will also be an additional resource available to help parents navigate the early-year school enrollment process.

Mrs. Suddeth provided a summary of new instructional and operational updates for the 2023-2024 school year. Please see the diagram below for reference:

Instructional Updates

Elementary School	Middle School	High School
New Mathematics Standards* Talent Development 3rd Grade Advanced Math Coursework Robotics and Coding Algebra I Readiness Instructional Supports *Department of Education Requirement	New Mathematics Standards* Robotics and Coding Algebra I Readiness Instructional Supports Orchestra Multi-year Implementation Dedicated teacher prep and planning time     *Department of Education Requirement	New Mathematics Standards* Computer Science Robotics and Coding                                                         *Department of Education Requirement

Operational Updates

Elementary School	Middle School	High School
Security Controlled Access System New Electronic Message Signage HVAC in Gymnasiums New STEM Lab Furniture and Equipment Growth and Replacement Furniture Pilot	Security Controlled Access System New Electronic Message Signage New Scoreboards New Track and Field Equipment	Security Controlled Access System New Electronic Message Signage New Scoreboards New Track and Field Equipment Weight Room Enhancements
New Buses	New Buses	New Buses

Mrs. Suddeth also shared that there will be improvements and new efficiencies to the process by which food and nutrition payments will be transacted along with updated procedures for how to transfer unused balances.

There will also be a few new changes to our specialty schools, Impact Academy, Excel Academy, and The Academy for Advanced Studies. The following changes are reflective of the district’s efforts to refine these school models to ensure greater efficiency and to elevate the student experience.

Specialty School	Forthcoming Changes
Impact Academy	Elementary School: Blended Learning for Grades 3-5 Middle School: Blended or Fully-Virtual Learning for Grades 6-8 High School: Fully-Virtual Learning with Café Days for Grades 9-12 Registration Window Closed February 24
Excel Academy	Middle School: In-Person Only High School: In-Person or Virtual Learning Options
Academy for Advanced Studies	New School Hours: 7:45 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. Three, 90-minute instructional blocks Customized transportation solutions to AAS Transportation provided from AAS to home schools provided

Altogether, these updates represent the district’s efforts to prepare for a phenomenal start to the 2023-2024 school year, where new certified employees will return on July 19, and returning staff will arrive for pre-planning on July 26.

• Ensuring Operational Effectiveness

February Construction and E-SPLOST Report

Chief of Operations Officer Josh Malcom provided the following report:

• Security Access Control

Phase 1-5 have been completed for this project, which will enhance safety measures at schools limiting direct access to district facilities.

• Fairview Elementary Exterior Modifications

Project is currently on schedule and approaching completion.

• HVAC Installation for Elementary Gymnasiums

Installation is complete at Cotton Indian Elementary, Austin Road Elementary, Oakland Elementary, and JB Henderson; HVAC installation has started at Excel Academy, Oakland Elementary, Locust Grove Elementary, Hampton Elementary, and Smith-Barnes Elementary

• Birch Creek Elementary

Project is on schedule and on pace for completion for SY 2024-25.

• Dutchtown High School Extension

Project is near completion. Closeout documents are being prepared. Certificate of occupancy was received on March 3, 2023. Ribbon-cutting event is scheduled for April 20, 2023, at 4 p.m.

February Financial Report

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay reviewed financial activity for the period ending Feb. 28, 2023, reporting that total revenues by the end of February (the eighth month of the fiscal year) had reached nearly 79%, while expenditures reached 63% (increases to 66% when considering the obligated funds).

FY ’24 Budget Overview

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided an overview of the FY ’24 Budget. The report began by reminding the Board of the effort to prioritize employee compensation as a part of Superintendent Davis’ budget recommendation.

Mrs. Clay indicated that the process of arriving at a final budget recommendation has involved the consideration of multiple evolving factors, including results from the current legislative session, local tax indicators, and the impact of mandates stemming from the Governor’s statewide budget. Of particular note, the Governor’s FY ’24 budget has included $2,000 pay increases for teachers and a substantial, unplanned contribution to the State Health Benefit Plan – both of which will have an impact on the district’s FY ’24 budget outlook.

Mrs. Clay also updated the Board on the budget’s key funding sources – including the areas from which primary revenue-driving resources are generated. Altogether, the current budget projects to be approximately $491 million dollars – a 10.3% increase from FY ’23. However, 88% of that increase is already obligated in state mandates and requirements.

 

With state and local funding showing favorable projections for the upcoming year, Mrs. Clay cautioned the Board that while the district is projected to receive increased revenues for the upcoming year, much of those revenues has already been accounted for in an effort to advance the Board’s shared priorities. These include a 2% salary increase for classified and administrative staff and targeted investments to improve starting bus driver pay by $2.00 – raising it from $17.79 to 19.79 per hour. Others include a 2% salary increase for classified and administrative personnel and accounts for expected student enrollment growth – both of which come at a cost for the district.

 

Mrs. Clay’s report concluded with the sharing of key timelines within the budget calendar, including the addition of a Board Budget Workshop on March 27 at 5 p.m.

Modifications to School Calendars for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025

Chief of Staff Dr. Duke Bradley presented calendar modifications for SY 2023-2024 and SY 2024-2025, respectively. Dr. Bradley shared with the Board that the modifications reflect the Board’s interest in ensuring that teachers have additional uninterrupted planning time to increase their effectiveness for students. Specifically, two existing PD days were repurposed as planning days, and an additional planning day was added. Additionally, five early release days were added to the calendar to allow for designated, uninterrupted planning time.

SY 2023-2024

Recommended PD Days	Recommended Early Release Days
July 26-27; Jan. 4 (1/2 day); May 28	Aug. 18; Sep. 15; Jan. 19; Feb. 16; Apr. 19

SY 2024-2025

Recommended PD Days	Recommended Early Release Days
July 25-26; Jan. 6 (1/2 day); May 27	Aug. 16; Sep. 13; Jan. 17; Feb. 14; Apr. 25

Both modified calendars will be held out for public review.

 

BUSINESS ITEMS

The following agenda items were either heard during the information items portion of the study session or approved as a part of the business items for the evening meeting’s formal actions:

• Instructional and Technical Infrastructure – Middle and High School Band Equipment

The Board approved (4-0) the purchase of band equipment for every middle and high school as a part of E-SPLOST 6 and pursuant to Strategic Action 5 of the HCS Community Inspired Strategic Plan. 

• Henry Teaching and Learning Standards – K-12 Math Standards Adoption

The Board adopted (4-0) the final version of the Henry Teaching and Learning Standards for Mathematics as aligned to the Georgia Department of Education requirements, which had previously been held out for public review. 

• GSBA Delegate Assembly – The Board approved (4-0) Board Member Makenzie McDaniel to be the Henry County Board of Education representative for the GSBA Delegate Assembly at the GSBA Conference in Savannah, GA.

• School Electronic Signs Bid Tabulation

The Board approved (4-0) purchase and installation of new electronic school signs as a part of E-SPLOST 6.

 

• Instructional and Technical Infrastructure – Growth and Replacement of Student Learning Devices

The Board approved (4-0) the purchase of student learning devices for the purpose of growth and replacement. The funding will come from E-SPLOST 6.

• Instructional and Technical Infrastructure – Growth and Replacement of Protective Cases for Student Learning Devices.

The Board approved (4-0) the purchase of protective cases for student learning devices for the purpose of growth and replacement. The funding will come from E-SPLOST 6.

New Administrative Hires

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
Jennifer McCrary	Principal, Pates Creek ES	Associate Principal, Impact Academy
Dr. Cedric Peeples	Principal, Stockbridge ES	Assistant Principal, Austin Road MS

Resignations

Name	Position
Dr. April Madden	Chief, Family and Student Support Services
Amanda Cavin	Principal, Ola ES
Martha Janes	Coordinator, Assessment and Performance
Jennifer Laughridge	Principal, East Lake ES
Dr, Cynthia McCray	Director, Leadership Development (retirement holdover from 2/23)

Inspiration

Inspiration for the March Henry County Schools Board Meeting was provided by the East Lake Elementary chorus. The choral group sang, “Music Changes the World,” led by Mr. Darren Turner, teacher. East Lake Elementary is led by principal Jennifer Laughridge.

Awards and Recognition 

This month’s Awards and Recognitions celebrate the accomplishments of our students and employees who help make Henry County Schools an exceptional place to lead, learn, and grow.

Griffin RESA 2022-2023 Regional Middle School Math Contest

The Griffin RESA Middle School Math Contest is a regional competition among middle schools in the Griffin RESA region. The Luella Middle School math team placed 3rd in Division II, led by coach Karon Gamble. Team members include: Marcus Perkins, Kerrington Brown, Lillian Knight, and Zamique Kitson.



Griffin RESA 2022-2023 Regional Literacy Days Competition, Grades 3-5

The Griffin RESA Literacy Days Competition is a regional competition among elementary and middle schools in the Griffin RESA region. For grades 3-5, three Henry County students placed among the top three in their grade for Poetry Recitation. Harper Kaiser from Rocky Creek Elementary came in 2nd place amongst 3rd graders. Gabriel Washington from Fairview Elementary School placed 2nd amongst 4th graders, and Dabrielle Lominy placed 1st amongst 5^th graders.

 
 
 

Griffin RESA 2022-2023 Regional Literacy Days Competition, Grades 6-8

For grades 6-8, four Henry County students placed among the top three in their grade for Poetry Recitation and Ready Writing. Cameron Bell placed 3rd amongst 6th graders, Tessa Tutuwan placed 2nd amongst 7th graders, and Houleymatou Diallo placed 1st amongst 8th graders for Poetry Recitation. Harper Cafferty placed 1st amongst 7th graders for Ready Writing.

Griffin RESA 2022-2023 Regional Academic Bowl

Congratulations to the Hampton Middle School team for placing 4th in the Academic Bowl for middle schools, led by coach Jessica Letze. Team members include: Essence Bobo; Willow Harris; Alexis Coleman; Jett Sketo; Tyler Weathersby; Messiah Frazier; Laila Smith; Imani Harris; Amber Linowski; Jonathan Bell; Avery Carter; Aadi Mehta; Carter Pierce; Jayden Ayometzi-Cuebas; Na’Sean Chisholm; Abigail Stewart; Tyler Ysa; and Carson Smith.

Henry County Water Authority “Why Do You Love Water Contest”

The contest is a collaboration between the Henry County Water Authority, Science and Fine Arts. Congratulations to the students who won the art contest in their grade level. Student winners include: Harper Johnson, Locust Grove Elementary ~ K-2; Trisha Patel, East Lake Elementary School ~ 3–5; Brooklyn Mevissen, Locust Grove Middle School ~ 6–8; Charlize Brown, McDonough High School ~ 9–12; Riya Puri, Stockbridge Middle School ~ Overall People’s Choice Award.

 
 

McDonough High School Navy JROTC Orienteering Team

Congratulations to the McDonough High School Navy JROTC Orienteering Team, who was crowned as the 1st place Varsity team at the U.S. Junior-Interscholastic-All Services National Orienteering Championships 2023. For male Varsity runners, Roman Colley placed 1st, Gabriel DeGracia placed 2nd and Ethan Adams placed 5th. For female Varsity runners, Chelsea Colley placed 2nd and Sahara Brewington placed 5th. The team is led by Senior Chief David Moss.

Dutchtown High School Air Force JROTC “Exceeds Standards” Rating

Congratulations to the Dutchtown High School Air Force JROTC cadets and instructors on earning an “Exceeds Standards” rating on their formal unit evaluation in January. The cadets displayed exemplary pride in their unit. Achieving an ‘exceeds standards’ rating is no small feat and takes a team effort and a lot of hard work. Their program defines the term “successful unit” and established the benchmark for others to follow. Accepting recognition on behalf of the unit were Faith Lamodi; Luna Sanchez; and Ryland Miller.

Board Member and Superintendent Comments

District | Board Member	Comments
District 1, Dr. Pam Nutt	Recognized the presence of Ms. Donna McBride, former school board member. Congratulations to the McDonough HS basketball team. Congratulations to the McDonough HS Orienteering team for winning the national championship. Congratulations to the Locust Grove High School wrestling team for their two state runner-up competitors. Congratulations to Locust Grove HS for being named an AP expansion school by the Georgia Department of Education. Congratulations to Ola High on being named an AP STEM school by the Georgia Department of Education. Thanks to East Lake Elementary for the flowers given in honor of School Board Appreciation Week.
District 2, Annette Edwards (Chair)	Congratulations to Hampton High School for their Region 5 Literary Championship. Congratulations to Eagle’s Landing HS for being named an AP STEM School by the Georgia Department of Education. Congratulations to the Luella HS girls’ basketball team for their Elite 8 playoff appearance. Congratulations to Dutchtown High School for their 3rd place finish at the Griffin RESA Math Competition. Congratulations to the following students on their college commitments: Tyrone Tomblin, Point University; Dejuan Brown, Notre Dame; Cameron Goggins, Georgia Military College Acknowledged Women’s History Month and the accomplishments of women from the past, present, and future.
District 3, Holly Cobb	Congratulations to Union Grove HS for being named an AP Humanities Achievement and STEM School by the GADOE. Congratulations to the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams both from Union Grove HS who had an Elite 8 appearance in state playoff competition. Recognition of the Woodland High School boys’ basketball team for their appearance in the Elite 8 state playoff competition. Congratulations to Ola High School’s Lily Harris, who made the state finals in the girls’ division in wrestling. Congratulations to Ola’s wrestling team, who placed third in the state with nine overall state placers.
District 4, Sophe Pope (Vice Chair)	Congratulations to Woodland HS for being named an AP STEM School by the Georgia Department of Education Congratulations to the Eagle’s Landing High School boys’ basketball team for their state championship appearance Congratulations to Henry County Schools’ Media Specialist of the Year Dr. Tina Graham of Union Grove HS Congratulations to the McDonough HS rifle team who qualified for sectionals. Thanks to Flippen ES, Red Oak ES, and East Lake ES for allowing me to read to students during Read Across America Week.
District 5, Makenzie McDaniel	Acknowledged Hampton High School’s Roaring 20s event with the Bear Creek Senior Citizens Group. Thanked Hampton High School for thinking of our seniors. Acknowledged Women’s History Month and recognized former President Jimmy Carter for his vision of raising national awareness to this month in honor of women.

 

 

 

Watch the full meeting video here.

WELCOME

A new addition to February’s Study Session was Student Ambassador Hannon Grimwood Moss. Hannon is a ninth-grader from Impact Academy who was elected by his peers to serve as president of the Superintendent’s High School Student Advisory Council. Hannon served in a similar role last school year while in middle school. Hannon has been asked to join Board Meeting study sessions because of his demonstrated leadership and to also provide student perspective on various matters raised for discussion during Board Meetings. His presence honors the Board’s interest in ensuring that there is a mechanism in place to ensure that student voice is intentionally solicited and considered.

February’s Board Meeting began with a video celebrating Black History Month featuring local change agents expressing their hopes and dreams for education. They included Board Chair Mrs. Annette Edwards (Dist. 2), Henry County NAACP officer and former educator Rufus Johnson, Henry County Board of Commissioners Chair Carlotta Harrell, and Southern Crescent Technical College President Dr. Irvin Clark.

Michael Harris Sr., Dr. LaTaucha Harris and the Hon. Neat Robinson next joined the board to watch a video recapping Michael Harris II Day in Henry County Schools. The Stockbridge High alumnus, who was named Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Atlanta Braves, was honored district-wide on Feb. 7 before leaving for Spring Training. During the February 7 event, students and staff members from nearly every one of our schools donned their Braves paraphernalia and shared out on social media as a collective show of support for Michael. Several others gathered on the very field where Michael honed his skills and emerged as a standout student and baseball star while attending Stockbridge High School. In fact, a roadway leading into the front entrance of the school, thanks to the generosity of the Henry County Commission a roadway leading into the front entrance of the school was also dedicated to Michael. These expressions merely reflect the pride that our community has in Michael’s achievements.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Strategic Plan - In Pursuit Exceptional

Fall 2022 Community Conversations 

Dr. April Madden, Chief of Family and Student Support Services, provided an update on Student and Employee Health and Wellness.

Dr. Madden’s February Board Report served to follow up to a November Board Report that provided information on the district’s foundation for wellness, comprehensive system of supports for students unified through an integrated, comprehensive framework, and system of monitoring the personal health and well-being of employees and students through Henry Cares Check-ins.

In line with Community Inspired Strategic Plan Strategic Action No. 4 to advance student and employee health, wellness and support structures, the board has begun research to examine existing wellness policies throughout the nation in an effort to develop a revised policy that extends beyond federal and state requirements of nutrition.

Additionally, Dr. Madden updated progress being made toward Strategic Action No. 4, Initiative No. 3 to establish an employee wellness framework and wellness commitment. Wellness initiatives that provide health information and fitness strategies to inspire healthy lifestyles and lower health risks are being administered through the Human Resource Services Division led by Dr. Carl Knowlton and his team. These initiatives include an Employee Flu Shot Program, Employee Assistance Program, Henry Cares District Wellness Campaigns and Health Providers Wellness Platform.

In the coming months, the board will continue work on the district’s wellness policy with a goal to set forth visionary yet measurable and achievable goals that encourage continual progress and advancement of a long-term sustainable culture of improved health and wellness through Henry County Schools. Additional work will be done toward the continued development of mentoring programs and telehealth services.

Core Business of Student Learning

New K-12 Mathematics Standards Implementation Update

Mrs. Termerion McCrary, Chief Learning and Performance Officer next updated the board on the development of the Georgia Department of Education’s new K-12 Mathematics Standards and the incorporation of those standards into the Henry Teaching and Learning Standards (HTLS) and HenryConnects platform, as required by Policy BAB.

The work of the board has allowed the district to be deliberate about implementing the required standards while also providing flexibility to align what teachers teach and students learn with the state adopted standards, and as necessary to go above and beyond state requirements. One example is in the offering of advanced math options in grades 3-7, which is no longer provided by the state’s changes. Another is using the new state course codes but retaining the previously used, familiar names for the benefit of students and teachers. An additional improvement, previously discussed at the January Board Meeting, is the state’s new standards for multiplication and division, which continues to allow students to solve problems in multiple ways but gives them the flexibility to choose the strategy that makes most sense to them.

Success in math requires ensuring that gaps are not present throughout the curriculum, and the HTLS empowers the district to make additions to state requirements. For instance, HTLS goes beyond state standards in requiring students to commit single-digit multiplication facts to memory, recognizing this as a foundational understanding critical to future coursework.

Through March 10, the revised HTLS to reflect GADOE’s required changes and Companion Guides are available for public review and comment on the district’s website.

With this feedback in hand, a recommendation for board adoption will be made at the March Board Meeting, with distribution of the HTLS to follow. Optional teacher trainings will begin in March, with required training to follow during May’s post-planning period. Teachers will also participate in paid summer training, pre-planning professional development (PD) and ongoing PD throughout next school year.

 

Ensuring Operational Effectiveness

January Construction and E-SPLOST Report

Mr. Josh Malcom, Chief Operations Officer, next provided the January Construction and E-SPLOST Report on the following projects:

• The Dutchtown High School addition is nearing substantial completion with a Certificate of Occupancy anticipated this spring.
• HCS Security Access Control systems have gone live in several schools. Panel installation has been completed at all facilities, while door device installation and programming of new systems are ongoing. Security cards have begun to be issued to schools, and training is being set up.
• Fairview Elementary School exterior modification is nearing completion with sidewalk installation and brick work underway. Finished panels on canopies have been delayed but are expected soon.
• Elementary School Gym HVAC installation has begun at four schools with more schools coming online in the days ahead and expected completion over the summer.
• Birch Creek Elementary School construction has been impacted by weather but is in the early logging and grading stages of the project.
• The School Electronic Message Sign project is out for bid through March 2.

December 2022 and January 2023 Financial Reports

Mrs. Shanika Clay, Chief Financial Services Officer, reviewed financial activity for the periods ending Dec. 31, 2022, and Jan. 31, 2023, reporting that total revenues by the end of January (the seventh month of the fiscal year) had reached nearly 73%, while expenditures reached 56%.

FY24 Budget Outlook

Mrs. Shanika Clay, Chief Financial Services Officer, provided an update on the current legislative cycle and its impact on the current fiscal year and outlook for FY24 budget development.

Planning FY24 first requires an understanding of FY23. Legislative impact affecting the current fiscal year (FY23) includes a proposed state amendment to increase the employer share of State Health Benefit Program (SHBP) cost to $1,580 per certified employee, beginning Jan. 1, 2023. The district will unexpectedly incur an additional $600,000 in costs above what was allocated for the FY23 budget. Additionally, the State House recommended increasing proposed school safety grants by the Governor from $50,000 to $60,000 per school. If approved, the Georgia Department of Education will provide guidance on the allowable use of those funds.

Primarily due to the health of the local tax digest and pacing of HCS expenditures, FY23 year-end projections show an expected $13.9 million investment into reserved funds despite the added SHBP cost. This figure stands in contrast to an expected $4.5 million use of reserved funds that was originally anticipated when the FY23 budget was adopted last year. This boost to reserved funds will allow the district added flexibility to accomplish FY24 budget priorities and to plan for the sunset of pandemic-related federal funds.

Looking ahead to FY24, positive state revenue indicators include a relatively stable assessment of statewide economic trends, increase in the equalization grant forecast, anticipated increase in Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding due to enrollment growth, and no change in Teacher Retirement System (TRS) rates. Added costs are anticipated from proposed increase in the state teacher salary schedule, proposed increase in the employer share of health insurance cost of certified and classified employees, and an increase in the local five-mill share contribution for QBE, as well as continued inflationary pressure. Specifically, the increase in the local five-mill share contribution, an indicator of local economic growth, effectively results in fewer revenues being received from the state.

Moving forward, an FY24 Budget Overview will be provided at the March Board Meeting. The board will participate in an FY24 Budget Workshop on March 27 and required FY24 Budget Hearings will be held April 17 and May 8, with final budget adoption on May 8.

FY24 budget development is tracked out the Financial Services website at bit.ly/HCSBudgetInformation.

BUSINESS ITEMS

The following items were recommended to the board for approval during the study session. All items were approved with a 5-0 vote.

• Purchase of robotics equipment for grades 9-12
• Wireless access hardware replacement throughout the district schools, leadership offices and facilities
• Systematic replacement of the district’s data center networking hardware
• Weight room equipment supply and/or replacement for nine high schools as part of the Athletic Equipment Growth and Replacement Plan
• A proclamation officially declaring the first Tuesday in February 2023 as Michael M. Harris II Day in Henry County Schools
• Athletic training services for four high schools not currently covered under a partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Resolution for the sale of Land Lot 129 of the 7^th District, which is a surplus property connected to the property on which Birch Creek Elementary will be built.

OTHER AGENDA ITEMS

New District and School Leaders

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
Alero Afejuku	Director, Legal Compliance	Staff Attorney, Clayton County
Jermaine Ausmore	Principal, Red Oak Elementary	Principal, Stockbridge Elementary
Arthur Blevins Jr.	Director, Federal Programs	Principal, Pates Creek Elementary
Christy Collier	Assistant Principal, Union Grove Middle	Instruction and Personalized Learning Lead, Locust Grove Middle
Alecia Westbrooks	Assistant Principal, Walnut Creek Elementary	Teacher, Atlanta Public Schools
Lydia Williams	Principal, Hampton Middle	Assistant Principal, Woodland High
Renita Williams	Recruitment and Retention Facilitator – Transportation	Administrative Assistant, Human Resource Services

Inspiration

In recognition of Black History Month, Fairview Elementary presented “That’s My Dream,” a performance of spoken word and song over a digital presentation that showcased prominent African-Americans throughout history, higher education institutions, and organizations that have helped pave the way for today’s youth.

The students were led by teacher Fallon Lowery, and Principal Vaneisa Benjamin who inspired the production.

Awards and Recognition

This month’s Awards and Recognition featured excellent work by students, teachers, leaders and community partners who help set and maintain the conditions for exceptional learning.  

First up, the Georgia School Boards Association offers local boards of education the opportunity to recognize organizations and individuals in the community who have supported public education through the GSBA Partnership Commendation Process. Henry County Board of Education recognized 10 organizations with GSBA Partnership Awards for their work in our community. They included Clayton State University, Connecting Henry, Georgia State University, Gordon State College, Grace Community Development Initiative, Mercer University, Operation Lunchbox, Raise Me Up Foundation, Southside Medical Center, and Southern Crescent Technical College.

The annual Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers Don Cargill STEM Scholarship recognizes outstanding educators for their thoughtful engagement with their students which, over the last year, resulted in imaginative classroom lessons that taught and support science, technology, engineering and math education. Natasha Berry, STEM Lab teacher at Timber Ridge Elementary, was one of only 23 recipients of the award statewide in 2023.

The 21st annual Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Middle School Essay Contest had over 600 student participants whose essays focused on impacts to water quality and quantity in the metro Atlanta region in the face of more intense cycles of droughts and floods. Two students were selected as regional winners in the contest, one of whom was Sidney Spencer from Union Grove Middle.

Emmanuel Gardner of Woodland High tied for the top SAT score among public and private high school students across Henry County and was named district-wide STAR Student during a ceremony hosted by the Henry County Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 24. Emmanuel will now move on to the regional competition for a chance to advance to the state STAR Student and Teacher Program.

 

The top four spellers from Henry County Schools 2022-23 district-wide Spelling Bee will represent the district in the GAE Region 5 Spelling Bee. They include winner Carter Whiteside, a fifth-grader at Impact Academy; Alexis Walker, a seventh-grader at Stockbridge Middle; Josiah Thompson, a fifth-grader at East Lake Elementary; and Abisak Lian, a fourth-grader at Ola Elementary.

The Henry Regional Science and Engineering Fair, organized by Coordinator of STEM/Science Kaneice Bembry and her team, was held on Jan. 18 to showcase scientific research, engineering design, and STEM.

Nine elementary school students received First Honors: Chief Amankwah, Hudson Heath, and Bryce Divens from Locust Grove Elementary; Raiyan Ahmed and Rupanshi Bhambani from Hickory Flat Elementary; Manav Rao from Flippen Elementary; Emmanuel Paggett from Ola Elementary; Lola Watkins-Pye from Wesley Lakes Elementary; and Logan Whitfield from Oakland Elementary.

Six middle school students advanced to the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair: Monica Ngo, Hannah Tran, and Adriana Lowery from Woodland Middle School; and Grant Sharp, Drake Malette, and Walker Snyder from Union Grove Middle School.

Eleven high school students advanced to the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair: David Quintanar from Luella High School; Aubrey Adrine and Jaden Cherisien from Dutchtown High School; and Dalila Harris, Dylan Mingledorff, Noah Seelhammer, Ananya Augustine, Zachary Quintero, Alyssa Vo, Jordi Silva, and Brooke Mason from Union Grove High School.

Board Member Comments

Dr. Pam Nutt (Dist. 1) congratulated the Ola Middle wrestling team for its duals and traditional championships, as well as the seventh-grade boys’ basketball team from McDonough Middle and eighth-grade boys’ basketball team from Hampton Middle for their county championships. She congratulated the McDonough High Navy JROTC Orienteering team for being named USA Junior National Champions and the McDonough High Navy JROTC Air Rifle team for advancing to nationals. She thanked all the district’s counselors for their work in recognition of National Counselors Week, as well as the district’s School Resource Officers in recognition of SRO Week. Dr. Nutt concluded by expressing her pride in the community’s response to the January severe weather by organizing events to provide food and cleanup.

Mr. Makenzie McDaniel (Dist. 5) congratulated the Ola High boys’ swim team and Locust Grove ninth-grade boys’ basketball team for their county championships. He also congratulated the Dutchtown Middle Reading Bowl Team for its recent first-place victory. He noted the Georgia Music Foundation Board of Directors awarding a $5,000 grant to the McDonough High Mighty Warhawks marching band. He congratulated Locust Grove High’s seven state qualifiers and Ola High’s 11 state qualifiers and four region champions in wrestling. He recognized Dutchtown High’s Nora Ratmeyer for committing to swim for Davidson College. He congratulated the Luella High girls’ basketball team for its 13^th-straight undefeated regular-season region schedule. He remarked that he had a great ride on one of the district’s school buses earlier that morning and thanked Superintendent Davis and Mr. Malcom coordinating the ride. He concluded by thanking community members for lifting their voices at tonight’s meeting and congratulated and thanked Mrs. Edwards for being the first African American chairwoman of the Board of Education.

Mrs. Holly Cobb (Dist. 3) congratulated the Hickory Flat Elementary Reading Bowl team for its first-place victory. She also congratulated Timber Ridge Elementary STEM teacher Natasha Berry for receiving the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center’s Don Cargill STEM Scholars Award and remarked on the opportunity to step inside Mrs. Berry’s classroom and experience her dynamic lessons. She congratulated Ola High’s wrestling team for winning the region championship, as well as wrestlers countywide who were moving on the state championship. She congratulated the district’s winter graduates and wished them the best moving forward. She remarked on her visit to the State Capitol as chair of the Georgia Education Coalition, along with Superintendent Davis, Mrs. Edwards, and Dr. Bradley to fellowship with statewide school leaders, including State Superintendent Richard Woods. She also congratulated and thanked Ola High for its Women in Sports Day recognition breakfast, which she attended. She concluded by recognizing and thanking the district SROs.

Vice Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4) congratulated the Eagle’s Landing girls’ swim team and JV boys’ basketball teams for county championships. She also congratulated Nora Ratmeyer from Dutchtown and the girls’ free relay team from Union Grove High for being the first swimmers in HCS history to qualify for state finals. She also commented on an emotional and exciting experience at winter graduation, as well as her visit to the district’s STAR Student reception, where STAR Student Emmanuel Gardner and STAR Teacher Kelly Vigon were recognized. She thanked the district’s counselors and congratulated Dr. Renee Williams from Eagle’s Landing Middle School for being named HCS Counselor of the Year. Mrs. Pope also thanked the district’s SROs. She remarked on her incredible experience attending Union Grove Middle’s performance of “Frozen Jr.” and thanked the staff and students who were involved. She concluded by thanking Fairview Elementary for a moving and incredible tribute to Black History Month earlier in the meeting and provided well wishes for a safe and enjoyable winter break.

Chair Annette Edwards (Dist. 2) congratulated the Dutchtown Middle seventh-grade girls, Austin Road Middle eighth-grade girls, and Dutchtown High JV girls’ basketball teams for their county championships. She also congratulated the Dutchtown High Reading Bowl team for its first-place finish. She thanked all the schools who represented the district in Henry County’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade. She also recognized those who participated in winter graduation, counselor’s appreciation breakfast, lunch at the State Capitol, and STAR Student and Teacher recognition. She thanked the district’s SROs for keeping our children and staff safe and concluded by saying Happy Black History Month, Happy Valentine’s Day and have a wonderful winter break.

Strategic Plan - In Pursuit Exceptional

The January Board Meeting began by recognizing the newly sworn-in board members. The Board unanimously voted to elect Board Chair Annette Edwards (Dist. 2) and Vice-Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4) to leadership posts at the January 5 Special Called Meeting for the purpose of electing officers. Congratulations to both board members for their continued leadership roles in the new year!

HCS ELECTS OFFICERS

L to R: Dr. Pam Nutt (District 1), Sophe Pope - Vice Chair (District 4), Annette Edwards - Chair (District 2), Superintendent, Mary Elizabeth Davis, Holly Cobb (District 3), and Makenzie McDaniel (District 5). 

The HCS Governance Team experienced redistricting due to the legislative-driven changes following the 2020 statewide census. Annette Edwards and Makenzie McDaniel experienced changes to the numbers of their respective districts. Edwards’ post will now represent District 2 and McDaniel’s post is now labeled as District 5. The redistricting resulted in other geographic boundary changes for Pope (4), Nutt (1) and Cobb (3) as well. The schools falling within each board member's geographic district are listed below:

Specialty Schools will continue to be served by all Governance Team members.

• Academy of Advanced Studies
• EXCEL Academy
• Impact Academy
• JB Henderson Center

Pictured Below: Swearing-In Ceremony held on January 5, 2022. Annette Edwards stands with her family while being issued the oath of office. Mrs. Edwards will be starting her third term on the Henry County Schools Board of Education which was preceded by several more as a teacher.

L to R: Judge Chaundra Lewis, Mrs. Annette Edwards
- Chair (District 2) and family

Pictured Below: Swearing-In Ceremony held on January 5, 2022. Sophe Pope is issued the oath of office, with family standing alongside her. Henry County Probate Court Judge Kelley Powell led the proceeding as Mrs. Pope will soon begin her second term on the Board.

 

 

 

 

 

L to R: Judge Kelley Powell, 
Mrs. Sophe Pope - Vice Chair (District 4) and family

Ensuring Operational Effectiveness

Fall 2022 Community Conversations 

Dr. Duke Bradley, Chief of Staff, recapped the rounds of Community Conversations that were conducted during the fall semester.  

Last month, Superintendent Davis and board members, concluded this year’s round of community conversations. These cluster specific gatherings, hosted at each of our district’s 10 high schools, were aimed at accomplishing four specific objectives:

• The first was to reconnect and reengage with families. 
• The second was to share the current standing our district – informed mostly by the academic performance of our students today when compared to pre-pandemic numbers. 
• Third, to solicit feedback relative to the progress currently being made on our 5-year community-inspired strategic plan. 
• And to solicit the community’s perception of progress being made on work objectives that have emerged over the past year— including 1) safety and security 2) Student and Staff Wellness 3) Academics and 4) Strategic Plan. 

Perhaps most importantly, these convenings allowed the district to collect data on key inquiries that would be important for some of the district’s work.  

Dr. Bradley assured the Board that every remark from every community conversation participant is important and will be given due consideration as the district remains in a cycle of internal evaluation based on community feedback, but it was also recognized that a few key themes emerged more prominently than others.  

In terms of Academic Planning, we learned that our community desires more strategic and early support to help students discern between the many academic pathways and options available to them. For school-to-home connection, we’ve learned that although tools like Henry Connects Family View has been created to bridge the gap between the classroom and the home, more work may be necessary in that regard. We also learned that our parents have passion around pushing even more aggressively for advanced course options for students, particularly around STEM. 

Going forward, our work will be to collect and organize this data and to evaluate the most appropriate course corrections that may be necessary to move our district forward, strategies which I remind you will be specifically informed by the perspective, interest, and feedback of our community. If you were unable to attend one of the help Community Cluster Conversations, please visit the HCS website for more information.

Our team has already begun the process of categorizing the data and assessing emerging themes – and while we are also currently preparing to develop our 2024 Annual Budget, consideration will be given to work that may require specific investments and financial appropriations.

Henry County Schools also has partners who are equally committed to supporting the district. Most notably, Publix Supermarkets made a $32,000 donation to the district, resulting in $500.00 for each school, which was awarded to each principal – thereby providing resources for school supplies.

    

Year 2, Quarter 2 Quarterly Report

Dr. Duke Bradley, Chief of Staff, under this item brought by the Board of Education, discussed the Strategic Plan Year 2, Quarter 2 Report.

Outlined in each of the 5 Strategic Actions of the Community Inspired 5-Year Strategic Plan, Dr. Bradley shared with the Board of Education the progress of the work that was undertaken during the second quarter. A few key highlights under each Strategic Action include the following:

Strategic Action 1; Advancing Learning Opportunities and Experiences for All Students

• Our team has produced an Early Learning Newsletter designed specifically for our early care provider contacts. This newsletter, we believe, is a powerful tool that can help influence and inform the student experience prior to young people showing up in our schools.

Strategic Action 2; Advance Effective School Leadership and Classroom Instruction

• The highly effective leader leadership framework is under development – and the final stages of completion are expected by early spring of this year. Upon completion, the framework will be introduced to our school-based leaders and will be foundational to creating minimum expectations for leadership at the school level.

Strategic Action 3; Advance Connectivity to Value and Engage all Students, Employees, Families, and Partners in our Growing Community

• Our multi-language advisory came together for its second meeting to brainstorm ways to scale our work around community engagement specifically to elevate the family experience.

Strategic Action 4; Advance Student and Employee Wellness, Health, and Support Structures

• With all the activity and expansive, multi-purpose utilization of our elementary gymnasiums taking place, this board’s commitment to install HVAC in those spaces is making progress. We expect the first of several school installations to be completed in early spring, and all elementary gymnasium HVAC installation projects to be complete by the end of July

Strategic Action 5; Advance a High Performing Operational Culture

• Our district data team has begun the process of creating a reporting repository that will allow quick access to performance data around these priority outcomes to review the highlights of the Y2Q2 report, visit the HCS website and look for the Quarterly Reports navigation link on the left side of the page.

Planning for the 2023-2024 School Year

Mrs. Mary Ann Suddeth, Chief School Leadership Officer brought this item where she discussed preparations that are being made for the 2023-2024 HCS school year.

For context, Mrs. Suddeth shared that a significant part of the district’s planning has been informed by learnings from the COVID-19 Pandemic – that is, considerations of what we should continue, what we should abandon, and what practices that were in place prior to the pandemic should be reinstated. The goal, as reported, is to return to effective and efficient operations.

Mrs. Suddeth also provided important timelines, windows, and deadlines – all of which will be critical for families as they begin to plan. Among them include:

• School Choice Window (January 23 – February 24)
  Office of Family Services webpage.
• MS/HS Student Advisement & Course Registration (January - February)
• Student Scheduling (February - April)
• Be Ready Day One
• The site will be available to families in April for purposes of providing a central location for information and resources in order to prepare for the upcoming school-year. Additionally, the Be Ready Day One Website will also be available for online updates and for returning families to complete the verification process.
• Registration for Summer Learning Opportunities for students (April - May)
• Professional Development (May - July)

In addition, Mrs. Suddeth reported that there will also be several student-based summer enrichment opportunities to help prepare students for the upcoming year. To name a few, there will be Summer Bridge for elementary and middle school students, high school credit recovery, STEM Camp, and variety of school-led athletic development opportunities.

Families should also expect several new and exciting learning opportunities for students at every level. Among them include:

Note: Items with an asterisk denotes Georgia Department of Education mandate

Elementary School	Middle School	High School
Financial Literacy Standards *New State Mathematics Standards Talent Development 3rd Grade Advanced Math Coursework Robotics and Coding Algebra I Readiness Instructional Supports	Financial Literacy Standards *New State Mathematics Standards Talent Development Orchestra Robotics and Coding Algebra I Readiness Instructional Supports	Financial Literacy Standards *New State Mathematics Standards Talent Development Computer Science Robotics and Coding

From an operations perspective, Mrs. Suddeth reported that the district is also planning for several other activities that are critical to ensuring a smooth and efficient start to the year. A list of important operations and facilities updates for SY ’23-’24 are below:

Elementary School	Middle School	High School
Security Controlled Access System New Electronic Signage HVAC in Gymnasiums New Stem Lab Furniture Growth and Replacement Furniture (anticipated)	Security Controlled Access System New Electronic Signage New Scoreboards New Track and Field Equipment	Security Controlled Access System New Electronic Signage New Scoreboards New Track and Field Equipment New Weightroom Equipment

Notwithstanding the numerous academic and curricular changes that will be arriving next school-year, among the most significant updates were related to changes that will be made to Impact Academy, and improvement plans that will be explored for Excel Academy and the Academy for Advanced Studies.

Impact Academy

• Impact Academy, the district’s virtual school option will no longer serve K-2 students. Mrs. Suddeth reminded the Board that the K-2 virtual only option was only added to Impact during COVID, but that the time has come to sunset this configuration – a decision informed research and the lack of observed evidence of effectiveness. Also, grades 3-5 at Impact Academy will be conducted under a blended learning model and enrollment will be limited to 330 students, 110 at each grade level. Again, Mrs. Suddeth reminded the Board that the 3-5 virtual only model was only added during COVID, but current conditions no longer necessitate its continuation.

For middle school grades (6-8), Impact will continue to offer both the blended model and the fully virtual model. Middle School enrollment will also be limited to 540 students, 180 at each grade level, and for high school grades (9-12), Impact will offer a virtual model with optional on-site days for students to meet with their teachers as may be necessary.

• Note: New students interested in joining the Impact family may complete the registration process starting January 23. The application will be available on the Impact Academy website. https://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/ia. A lottery will be used if the number of interested students exceed the number of available seats.

Academy for Advanced Studies

• The district will be exploring modifications to scheduling and transportation to improve the effectiveness of AAS course programming, increase work-based learning opportunities, and improve coordination with high schools.

Excel Academy

• An assessment will be made on the most appropriate and effective model for Excel Academy – with consideration of virtual, blended, or on-campus learning opportunities for students.

Lastly, in SY ’23, the district will continue its emphasis on strengthening ties with the community and enhancing connections with families. Through the new Partners in Education initiative, people and organizations will be able to provide support for schools and the district through a prescribed framework related to 1) financial donations 2) service offerings and/or 3) sharing intellectual expertise.

Altogether, Mrs. Suddeth reported that preparations for the upcoming year are beginning to allow for thoughtful planning to ensure quality execution and plan implementation around a variety of specific work objectives while also keeping or community well informed.

Informational Items

December Construction and E-SPLOST Report, Mr. Josh Malcom, Chief Operations Officer A construction report was given to the Board on the following projects:

• HCS Security Access Control (an E-SPLOST 6 Project): Nearing completion so that all 52 schools and programs will have a buzzer entry system at the front entrance.
• HVAC Installations for HCS Elementary Schools Gym Buildings: Will be completed for all 28 elementary school gymnasiums by Fall 2023.
• Birch Creek Elementary School (An E-SPLOST 6 Growth Project): Ground clearing has begun for this new school scheduled to open in Fall 2024. The school will be located on Willow Lane in McDonough.
• Dutchtown High School Addition: Nearing substantial completion. Roofing and flooring is currently being installed and a certificate of occupancy is expected to be provided in the coming weeks.

FY24 Budget Priorities, Mrs. Shanika Clay - Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided an update on the FY24 Budget Development Calendar after kicking off the annual budget process in December. State law requires Boards of Education to adopt a final budget by June of each year and this calendar will ensure the HCBOE does just that.

The process to develop a budget that supports student learning and employee effectiveness will begin with each board member discussing their priorities in the January 2023 board meeting.

The January Board Report sets the table for the Board to discuss their priorities as the budget process begins. She also emphasized that the 2023-2024 HCS budget will be driven by our 5-year community-inspired strategic plan and informed by the districts Fall Community Conversations held in each cluster to ensure that long-range financial planning remains in place.

Mrs. Clay finally reminded the Board that the strategic plan serves as the driver of all work in the district – and proper funding coupled with the prioritization of key initiatives remain central to the development process. Mrs. Clay concluded by mentioning how the long-range planning that the Board of Education has done will help to create additional structure to the budget development process for the future.

Click here to view the Board Report and stay informed on the website as the budget development season progresses.

Core Business of Student Learning

Georgia Department of Education New K-12 Mathematics Standards

Mrs. Termerion McCrary, Chief Learning and Performance Officer provided updates about new mathematics standards that will be implemented during the 2023-2024 school year.

Mrs. McCrary shared with the board that new math standards were adopted by the State Board of Education in August, 2021 - and per state guidance, implementation must begin in the 2023-2024 school-year. As presented, the district has organized a teacher advisory who has studied the standards and noted that the changes are best described as “moderate”. It was also noted that the new standards help students understand why they're doing the math and to apply their thinking to real world problems. Mrs. McCrary reported that the new math standards are intended to simplify the process by which students solve problems.

Mrs. McCrary also shared that the standards will be incorporated into the Henry Teaching and Learning Standards – a process that will be shepherded by the district’s math team coupled by the input of select math teachers from across the district. The report emphasized that since our teachers will be responsible for delivering instruction in alignment with the new standards, they should be centrally involved in the process of planning and training leading up to full implementation. This approach is collaborative and consistent with the district’s culture of making sure that multiple stakeholders are involved in the introduction of new work.

The board will review the standards in February, place out for public review in the February-March window, and adopt the required state required standards in to the HTLS in the March Business meeting.

Mrs. McCrary concluded by providing a timeline of key deliverables and actions that will begin in February and are expected to extend into the summer months. Some of which include 1) training for school-based personnel 2) providing opportunities for public review and feedback, and 3) summer professional development for teachers.

Business Items

The following items were submitted to the board for approval during the study session for approval:

• Athletic Equipment Growth and Replacement (Track and Field Equipment) - 11 Middle Schools & 10 High Schools. This new and exciting effort (funded by Capital Accumulation Fund 1 which was approved at the August Board Meeting) will upgrade the track and field equipment that HCS middle and high school students will use to compete. Additionally, the growth and replacement process will ensure that this equipment and athletic fields will be evaluated and upgraded at regular intervals.
• Henry County Water Authority General Water Line Easement (North Ola Road)

New District and School Leaders

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
Shaakira Akbar-Anthony	Director, Teaching & Learning	Principal, Red Oak ES
Shevy Glenn	Assistant Principal, Stockbridge MS	Walnut Creek ES
Creseda Hawk	Executive Director, Student Services	Director, Federal Programs
James Thornton	Principal, Stockbridge HS	Principal, Hampton MS

Inspiration

The Ola Middle School 6th - 8th graders provided inspiration by performing the opening number for their spring musical - Junie B. Jones Jr., titled - "Top Secret Personal Beeswax".

The students were led by their teacher, Zoya Johnson - Theatre Director & Kyla Gwyn - Orchestra Director. Principal Christine Anderson was also in attendance.

 

 

Watch video recap here!

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GSBA /GSSA Conference

The December Board Meeting began with Board Chair Holly Cobb, Vice Chair Annette Edwards, and Board Member Sophe Pope sharing their experiences at the recent GSBA/GSSA joint Annual Conference held in Atlanta. During the conference, Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Edwards, and Mrs. Pope attended workshops that focused on providing critical updates about various education and policy-related topics. Among the topics covered included ESSER and identified priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

The GSBA/GSSA Conference is the largest and most substantial gathering of education leaders across the state of Georgia. Governor Brian Kemp and State Superintendent Richard Woods were both in attendance and shared their vision for education in Georgia while also celebrating the contributions of local boards of education and their members.

Henry County Schools was prominently featured during the conference. The HCS Board of Education received two awards; the Leading Edge Award, which recognizes innovative practices that yield positive results for students, and the Exemplary Board Award, which recognizes excellence from boards of education pursuant to the GSBA Standards for effective governance. Henry County Schools has received both of these awards for consecutive years, resulting in the HCS Board of Education being invited to apply for Governance Team of the Year.

Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, Henry County Schools' very own Jenna Fabien, a senior at Luella High School, was invited as a featured student speaker. Jenna spoke specifically about the role of public education in her life and how teachers throughout her time in Henry County Schools have supported and nurtured her to become a successful, high performing student.

Jenna was also in attendance at the board meeting and was invited to redeliver her speech for attendees. Click here to watch Jenna's inspiring speech.

L to R: Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis, Vice Chair Annette Edwards, Chair Holly Cobb, and Sophe Pope.


L to R: Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis, State Superintendent Richard Woods, Mrs. Fabien, and LHS student - Jenna Fabien.

L to R: Dr. Pam Nutt, Board Chair - Holly Cobb, LHS Senior - Jenna Fabien, Makenzie McDaniel, Mrs. Sophe Pope, and Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis

Operational Effectiveness

November Construction and E-SPLOST Report, Mr. Josh Malcom, Chief Operations Officer – A construction report was given to the Board on the following projects:

  - HCS Addition to Dutchtown High School: Installation of precast masonry has been completed.
  - HCS Security Access Control: Nearing completion so that all 52 schools and programs will have a buzzer entry system at the front entrance.
  - HCS Fairview ES Exterior Modifications: Side and front canopies have been completed. 
  - HVAC Installations for HCS Elementary Schools Gym Buildings: Will be completed for all 28 elementary schools gyms by Fall 2023.
  - Birch Creek Elementary School: Ground clearing has begun.
Post Construction:
  - HVAC Modifications (Bi-Polar Ionization) - Completed.

November Financial Reports, Mrs. Shanika Clay, Chief Finance Officer - Mrs. Clay reviewed financial activity for the periods ending November 30, 2022, and reported that both revenues and expenditures are on pace for this time of year, including review of construction related funding from E-SPLOST and ESSER sources. 

F24 Budget Calendar Update, Mrs. Shanika Clay - Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided an update on the FY24 Budget Development Calendar to kick off the annual budget process. State law requires Boards of Education to adopt a final budget by June of each year and this calendar will ensure the HCBOE does just that.

The process to develop a budget that supports student learning and employee effectiveness will begin with each board member discussing their priorities in the January 2023 board meeting.

This practice ensures that the Board is engaged first to help set priorities for the budget development season. Mrs. Clay emphasized that the 2023-2024 HCS budget will be driven by the district’s 5-year community-inspired strategic plan and informed by the districts Fall Community Conversations held in each cluster to ensure that long-range financial planning remains in place. If you were unable to attend one of the help Community Cluster Conversations, please visit the HCS website for more information.

Mrs. Clay reminded the Board that the strategic plan serves as the driver of all work in the district – and proper funding coupled with the prioritization of key initiatives remain central to the development process. Mrs. Clay also reported that the long-range planning that the Board of Education has done will help to create additional structure to the budget development process for the future. 


Click here to view the Board Report and stay informed on the website as the budget development season progresses.

Business Items

HCBOE Partnership Recognitions

Dr. Duke Bradley, Chief of Staff, under this item brought by the Board of Education discussed the Georgia School Boards Association Community Partner Recognition Program which positions school boards to submit key community partners to the GSBA for recognition. Dr. Bradley explained further that the program enables organizations who meaningfully partner with school districts to receive an endorsement – which amounts to a formal acknowledgement by a reputable statewide association of their relationship with a local board of education. The Board of Education unanimously approved the partnership list and the selected organizations will be recognized at the January Board Meeting.

Dr. Bradley reported that the Board of Education and the Superintendent have together arrived at a consensus to recognize our partnering post-secondary institutions and organizations that provide a variety of wraparound services.

Post-Secondary Partners: Gordon State College, Mercer University, Southern Crescent Technical College, Clayton State University and Georgia State University have all been vital to enhancing the learning experience and career development process for our students as they are among the leaders for providing dual enrollment opportunities for our young people. Select institutions have also recently engaged in a multi-year agreement to support our efforts around cultivating a pipeline of development for future teachers and for aspiring healthcare workers.

Wraparound Services: Several partner organizations have focused on the needs of the whole child – addressing wide ranging issues that support our families and keep our students well positioned to succeed in school.

· Operation Lunchbox provides meals for families experiencing food insecurity.
· The Grace Community Development Initiative offers a range of services that help to stabilize the homes of our students and their families.
· Southside Medical provides critical wellness support – especially around the provision of telehealth services and immunizations.
· Raise Me Up Foundation helped to donate essential materials and supplies that help to offset student needs.
· Connecting Henry works with families to support job readiness through the provision of Adult Education Services.

These organizations have been critical to our work over the years – but more importantly, their efforts align to our community-inspired strategic plan. The Board unanimously adopted this item 5-0.

Sick Leave Bank Committee 2023

Dr. Carl Knowlton, Chief Officer Human Resources - The Board of Education unanimously approved the proposed list of employees for the 2023 Sick Leave Bank Committee. The Board unanimously adopted this item 5-0.

Business Infrastructure: Enterprise Resource Planning Solution

Shanika Clay, Chief Financial Officer, submitted for Board approval the Enterprise Resource Planning Solution (ERP). Mrs. Clay explained that an ERP is a type of software system that helps an organization automate and manage core business processes for optimal performance. It is the core infrastructure for financial practices like accounting and purchasing, as well as the system of record to manage human relations activity around staffing assignments and compensation. Mrs. Clay noted that the Board’s engagement and exposure to the ERP selection process over several months has resulted in intimate knowledge and awareness of the potential impact that a new ERP will have on the district.

The ERP solicitation as reported by Mrs. Clay, opened in June and closed in September, and yielded several respondents. She added that a several months-long screening process led to multiple candidates being invited to participate in virtual and on-site presentations. Mrs. Clay emphasized that the evaluation team was not only assessing for fit, but for value as well.

The Board was also briefed on the cost and duration of the potential vendor relationship. For a 5-year agreement, the cost will be approximately $10.9 million dollars. The cost of the system will be covered by two different sources. Approximately $1.25 million will be covered by the Capital Accumulation Fund I, and the remaining cost will be covered by ESSER funds set aside for technology.

Mrs. Clay also shared with the Board that the vendor, High Street IT Solutions, LLC was selected by the committee following a rigorous process of review. High Street, as was explained, offers a fully integrated solution which prioritizes business functions in the areas of finance, human resources, and document management.

Mrs. Clay also shared with the Board that the new ERP platform will be flexible enough to grow with the district, thereby enabling normal operating procedures accompanied with the necessary technical and operational infrastructure to remain efficient. High Street will also support the district in reducing paper-based processes, assist in staff recruitment, and enable more self-serve functionality – all of which will improve business function and enhance the employee experience.

HCBOE Policy IFBC: Media Programs

Placed on public review since the November Board Meeting, the Board of Education unanimously approved Board Policy IFBC, Media Programs.
Policy IFBC

HCBOE Policy IFA: Instructional Materials and Content

Placed on public review since the November Board Meeting, the Board of Education unanimously approved Board Policy IFA, Instructional Materials and Content. This policy, along with regulation, ensures the district’s compliance with the O.C.G.A..

Policy IFA

Other Agenda Items

New District and School Leaders

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
Kyle Sears	Executive Director - Media & Public relations - Chief of Staff	Senior Director - Communications, Mercer University
Sean Thompson	Director - Performance & Accountability - L&P	Principal - Union Grove Middle School

Inspiration

The Stockbridge Elementary School 2nd & 3rd Graders provided inspiration by performing a song titled, "December in Our Town". The students were led by their teacher, Ms. Thompson and SES Principal, Jermaine Ausmore. 

Awards and Recognitions

This month's Awards & Recognitions celebrates the accomplishments of our employees and students who make Henry County Schools an exceptional school system.

We are celebrating the School Bus Safety Poster Contest Winners, who
are all heading to the State competition.






Henry County Water Authority 2022 Model Water Tower Competition - 1st Place Winners



Henry County Water Authority 2022 Model Water Tower Competition - 2nd Place Winners



Henry County Water Authority 2022 Model Water Tower Competition - 3rd Place Winners



Henry County Water Authority 2022 Model Water Tower Competition - Best Presentation Judges Award Winner



Henry County Water Authority 2022 Model Water Tower Competition - Best Engineering Design Winner



2022 GHSA Cooperative Spirit Spotsmanship Award  was bestowed upon Woodland HS - Principal Purvis Jackson | AD Dion Stokes

Celebrating 25 Years of Service to Henry County Schools - Dr. Toni Obenaif



Our Board of Education was recognized by the GSBA as the 2022 Exemplary Board and Leading Edge Award recipient.

Veterans Day Recognitions & Kindness Week

The November meeting of the Henry County Board of Education began with the presentation of colors by the McDonough High School JROTC Naval Cadets. Superintendent Davis recognized the Board's very own Makenzie McDaniel along with other veterans in attendance who were recognized for their service. The color blue was worn at this month’s meeting in recognition of National Kindness Week. 

Inspiration
The Woodland Elementary School Pre-K and Kindergarten classes provided inspiration by performing a song titled, "Music Has A Steady Beat", along with great visual props and smiles. The students were led by their teacher, Mr. Seibert and WES Principal, Makisha Williams. 

Awards and Recognitions
This month's Awards & Recognitions celebrates the accomplishments of our employees and students who make Henry County Schools an exceptional school system. We are celebrating the 8 schools who participate in the Georgia Department of Education's Postive Behavior Intervention Support program, better known as PBIS. PBIS is an approach that schools use to promote school safety and good behavior. These schools were identified by the Georgia Department of Education and were selected as a "Distinguished PBIS" school in the areas of school climate, behavior, and school culture. This is the first time that HCS has received this particular recognition from the GaDOE.


Austin Road Elementary School - Principal Lois Barney | PBIS Youth Ambassador Laila Daniels
Dutchtown Elementary School - Principal Dr. Sherri Greene | PBIS Youth Ambassador Ava Guice


Fairview Elementary School - Principal Dr. Vaneisa Benjamin | PBIS Youth Ambassador Maximus Chivers
Flippen Elementary School - Principal Dr. Toni Obenauf | PBIS Youth Ambassador Jona Martinez


Hampton Elementary School - Principal Dr. Johane St. Aime | PBIS Youth Ambassador Sebastian Cornacchia
Pate's Creek Elementary - Principal Arthur Blevins | PBIS Youth Ambassador Lyrica Rose Lowery


Red Oak Elementary - Principal Dr. Shaakira Akbar | PBIS Youth Ambassador Parker Bowden
Stockbridge Elementary School - Principal Jermaine T. Ausmore Sr. | PBIS Youth Ambassador Alexis Soto


Director of Mental Health and Wellness - Fred Latschar - Student Services
Intervention Specialist - Yolanda Reid Wheeler - Student Services 

GACTE MENTOR TEACHER AWARD
Erica O’Neal - Hampton High School received The Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (GACTE) Mentor Teacher Award for the Metro Atlanta Collaborative. This award honors those outstanding educators who also serve as mentors to the upcoming generation of Georgia teachers by modeling, coaching, instructing, and investing in their development at the highest possible levels.

2022 NATIONAL EDUCATION EQUITY EDUCATOR LEADERSHIP AWARD
David Chapa Perez (Principal Eric Watson pictured) - Stockbridge High School received the 2022 National Education Equity Educator Leadership Award. Mr. Perez was selected out of hundreds of teachers across the nation based on his extraordinary performance with the Education Equity Lab.

CARNEGIE HALL PERFORMANCE
Mindy Forehand - Ola High School was the selected Conductor from Mid-America Productions. She was recommended by a professor from graduate school. Very few are invited to conduct at Carnegie Hall. She asked that her students be a part of it. 75 current and former students performed a student-written poem that went with the music.

RISING STAR EDUCATOR AWARD
Erin Pringle - Union Grove Elementary received the Rising Star Educator Award. The Georgia Educational Technology Consortium Rising Star Educator Award recognizes an emerging leader in Georgia K-12 schools whose record reflects ongoing and exceptional growth in the field of education and a passion for technology integration that transforms learning for students, fellow teachers, and/or the community of educators at large.

Core Business of Student Learning – Informational Items

Strategic Plan - In Pursuit of Exceptional

Dr. Madden, Chief Family & Support Officer, provided an update on Student and Employee Wellness. Her report began by reminding the board of the district’s goal of ensuring that students graduate ready for life; equipped with soft skills, strong health, and strong personal well-being – all of which will better position them to pursue their respective post-secondary ambitions.

It was explained that our efforts to support student and employee well-being is reflected through the district’s community-inspired strategic plan, specifically Strategic Action #4. The work under this strategic action allows for the development of a continuum of services that ensures the availability of resources within our schools – an effort that is consistent with the Board’s general vision of person-to-person connectivity.

Dr. Madden explained further that the seeds of this work were initially planted in 2019 when a wellness committee was first initiated. Through the counsel and advisement of this committee, safety-nets for student and staff wellbeing have materialized – namely through the placement of Mental Health and Wellness Facilitators who are now present in each of our schools. The Mental Health and Wellness Facilitators are reliable human resources that have been implemented specifically to respond to a clear and urgent need that has emerged in our schools in recent years.

Dr. Madden also clarified that the Board’s continued investment in wellness has been punctuated by the investment in a system called Henry Cares Check-ins – a process that ensures students have a caring adult available to them at school. Through this investment, the district has cultivated a comprehensive system of support – where every school provides immediate access to a variety of support through a ‘CARE’ Team, an acronym that stands for “Caring and Responding Everyday”. The CARE Team consists of counselors, psychologists, social workers, mental health facilitators, nurses, clinic aides, and graduation coaches – a proverbial ecosystem of support that seeks to intervene, respond, or support any student or staff in need.

Dr. Madden concluded her report by mentioning the underlying philosophy of the district's work around wellness, which is that when students receive appropriate support, then their prospects for learning are substantially improved.

Termerion McCrary, Chief Learning & Performance Officer, provided a Writing Update. In alignment with the Board adopted and Priority Outcomes, the Henry County Schools writing model and learning plan advances PreK-12 learning opportunities and experiences for all students.

It is evident that literacy matters to this Board and has been a focus since before the implementation of the Strategic Plan. As outlined in the update, Mrs. McCrary outlined the journey to create a community of powerful readers that began in 2018. Our Board made reading a clear priority for this district, and the expectations for improved outcomes are embedded within our core beliefs, the district's community-inspired Strategic Plan, and establishes Priority Outcomes. These efforts were coupled with investments in classroom libraries, explicit early literacy instruction, and handwriting resources. The focus now is to build on the reading focus and create a community of powerful readers. Termerion McCrary reported we have implemented a research-based writing model that focuses on skills development.

Dr. Brian Blanton, Chief Information Services Officer, provided a brief update regarding Board Policy IFA and the corresponding regulation IFA-R1. As was explained, Policy IFA prescribes the procedures that parents and families may follow in efforts to call into review certain instructional materials that they would rather not have their child(ren) exposed to while in school.

Dr. Blanton explained that this policy is critically important, insofar as it brings the district into compliance with Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A 20-2-324.6.

Based on the Superintendent’s recommendation, the Board of Education took action to place both the policy and the regulation out for public review for a period of time leading up to the December Board Meeting.

Dr. Brian Blanton, Chief Information Services Officer, also provided a brief update regarding Board Policy IFBC. Dr. Blanton shared that IFBC is substantively not a new district policy, but was given a new heading to better align with the title, “Media Programs.”

The Board of Education took action to place this policy out for public review for a period leading up to the December Board Meeting.

Operational Effectiveness

November Construction and E-SPLOST Report, Mr. Josh Malcom, Chief Operations Officer – A construction report was given to the Board on the following projects:
  - HCS Addition to Dutchtown High School. 
  - HCS Security Access Control
  - HCS Fairview ES Exterior Modifications
  - HVAC Installations for HCS Elementary Schools Gym Buildings
  - Birch Creek Elementary School
Post Construction:
  - HVAC Modifications (Bi-Polar Ionization) - Completed.

Each of these projects are either well underway or nearing substantial completion. Mr. Malcom reported further that HVAC installations will begin in the spring and are expected to be complete by summer.

November Financial Reports, Mrs. Shanika Clay, Chief Finance Officer - Mrs. Clay reviewed financial activity for the period ending October 31, 2022, including review of construction related funding from SPLOST and ESSER sources. 

Read more - ESSER Information 
Please be sure to take the
Henry County Schools’ ESSER III Community Survey

Other Agenda Items

The following agenda items were either heard during the informational portion of the study session or approved as a part of the business items requiring formal actions:

2023 Legislative Priorities, Dr. Duke Bradley, Chief of Staff 
Dr. Bradley presented the Henry County Schools 2023 Legislative Priorities. These priorities represent the collective interests of the Board of Education and are aimed at improving the daily experience of students, the work environment for professionals, and advancing the interests of the public education in Henry County and the surrounding region.

The priorities as presented by Dr. Bradley corresponds with the following themes:

• Supportive, Safe and Secure Learning Environments
• Student and Staff Wellness, and 
• Funding, Flexibility, and Support for Educator Pipeline Development.

Altogether, these priorities reflect the general need and expressed desire to elevate funding in a way that allows for a critical and timely response to the most pressing contemporary needs of schools and school districts.

Business Items approved 4-0 include:

-E-SPLOST VI Year Two Bus Purchase: To enhance the bus fleet with the purchase of 26 buses. This is the second iteration of bus investments as we approach our goal of 125 new buses over 5 years.

-Athletic Equipment Growth and Replacement (Phase 1 Scoreboard Replacement): Through this capital accumulation fund, a total of 26  scoreboards will be replaced at MS and HS facilities.

-Instructional and Technical Infrastructure - Visual Arts Equipment:
-CTAE Instructional and Technical Infrastructure -Audio, Video, Technology and Film (AVTF)Computers and iPads: The school library media programs of Henry County Schools support all areas of instruction, with the purpose of providing media resources, related equipment, facilities, and services for students and school staff. Each school shall provide a library media center staffed by personnel in accordance with Georgia State Board of Education Rule Number 160-5-1-22 (CGB). The facility, staff, and resources shall be flexibly scheduled and accessible to both student and staff throughout each instructional day. The superintendent or designee shall appoint a district media contact person to serve as a liaison with the Georgia Department of Education, the local library system, and community agencies. 

New District and School Leaders

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
Victoria Grubbs	Principal – Flippen Elementary	Asst. Principal – Oakland Elementary
Ashley Addison	Asst. Principal – Austin Road Middle School
Erin Sears	Investigator - Title IX, Legal Compliance	Walnut Creek Elementary School - Student Support Facilitator
Jessica Stormer	Executive Director - HR	Executive Director - Student Support Services
Desean Thomas	Coordinator - Exceptional Student Education	Principal - Union Grove Middle School
Eric Watson	Executive Director - School Operation Systems Effectiveness & Support	Principal - Stockbridge High School
Frederick Christopher	Purchasing Supervisor - Financial Services

 

 

 

Patriot's Day Recognition - 9/11 and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Music and spirit provided by the DHS Drumline and OHS cheerleaders greeted all in attendance at the September Board Meeting. This month’s meeting was opened with Superintendent Davis's reflection of Patriots Day. Some of our very own Patriots - Police, Fire & First Responders were applauded and thanked for their service to this community.

The color Gold is being worn at this month’s meeting by our Board Members & Superintendent in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. 

Inspiration

The Maestro Choir of OLA Elementary School led by Fine Arts Teacher Mr. McDuffy, provided a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem and received a standing ovation after their performance. What a fantastic kick-off to our first in-person Inspiration since the pandemic! 

 

Core Business of Student Learning – Informational Items

K-8 Revised Financial Literacy Standards

Chief Learning & Performance Officer Termerion McCrary provided a progress update on the Strategic Plan initiative to enhance the Henry Teaching and Learning Standards to include Financial Literacy Standards at every level. The Board has once again paved the way for our standards to go beyond state requirements in response to the needs of our students.

As outlined in the update, the newly developed standards are the result of the partnership between the community, schools, and district teams working together to build upon the policies created in the Strategic Plan. Working teams comprised of elementary, middle, and high school teachers analyzed feedback to form the new Financial Literacy Standards. Her report also outlined the Four Financial Literacy domains: Income, Budgeting and Management of Money, Credit and Debt, and Savings and Investment. As envisioned by the Board of Education and the community, every Henry County graduate will be exposed to this education in elementary school, middle school, and high school. Not only has Financial Literacy been prioritized by the US Department of Education, it has been called for by our community and we are excited to deliver on our promise of putting students on the road toward being financially literate citizens.

Read more here - Financial Literacy Standards.


Operational Effectiveness

August Construction and E-SPLOST Report, Mr. Josh Malcom, Chief Operations Officer – A construction report was given to the Board on the following projects:
  - HCS Addition to Dutchtown High School.
  - HCS Security Access Control
  - HCS Fairview ES Exterior Modifications
  - HVAC Installations for HCS Elementary Schools Gym Buildings
  - Birch Creek Elementary School
Post Construction:
  - HVAC Modifications (Cooling Tower Replacement at ARMS and UGHS)
  - HVAC Modifications (Bi-Polar Ionization)

August Financial Reports, Mrs. Shanika Clay, Chief Finance Officer 
Mrs. Clay reviewed financial activity for the periods ending August 31, 2022, including review of construction related funding from SPLOST and ESSER sources.

2023 Board Meeting Time and Place, Dr. Duke Bradley, Chief of Staff 
Dr. Bradley presented the 2023 Calendar Year Board Meeting Time and Place.  This item will be placed out for review and then will be presented as a Business Item at the October 10, 2022 Board Meeting.

Unanimous Approval - The Board voted 5-0 to pass these important business items.


Other Agenda Items

The following agenda items were either heard during the informational portion of the study session or approved as a part of the business items for the evening meeting’s formal actions:

Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) National Presentation, Governance Team Actions that Lead to Student Achievement, Mrs. Holly Cobb and Mrs. Annette Edwards

Henry County School Board Members - Mrs. Holly Cobb, Mrs. Annette Edwards, along with Superintendent Davis were all invited to present at the National Inaugural Conference of the Consortium of State School Boards Association (COSSBA) last week in Downtown Atlanta. The presentation shined a light on the hard work that our Board Members have done to provide opportunities and access to a world-class education to produce exceptional educational outcomes for our students and community.

 “Year of Extraordinary Results for Children in Henry County Schools”   – Proclamation signed by the Henry County Board of Education making 2021-22 the “Year of Extraordinary Results for Children in Henry County Schools - Recognizing Henry County Schools Teachers, Employees, And Students For Their Extraordinary Academic Results And Demonstrated Resilience!”

Presented by Duke Bradley, HCS Chief of Staff, the three-part proclamation 1) honors and commemorates the academic results earned by students and made possible by Henry County School teachers, administrators, staff, and employees representing all job families; 2) celebrates the achievements of students despite unprecedented challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and 3) acknowledges supportive parents and families who helped to make the 2021-2022 school year possible.



FY23 Perkins Grant Funds – Each year, in accordance with the Perkins Act of 2006 that federally funds vocational and technical education, we develop and submit to the state our local plan to support CTAE programming.  We are seeking approval to apply for and receive the funds necessary to support CTAE through these federal and state grants.  The SY 2022 – 2023 allocation is $335,644, an increase of $23,137 from SY 2021 – 2022.  Vocational and technical education remains a priority for Henry County Schools and continued investment reflect its importance to our district.

Schedule Analysis to Advance Access – In alignment with Strategic Action 1 - Advance PreK-12 learning opportunities and experiences for all students, initiative 1 - increase exploration of, access to, and participation in advanced content coursework and experiences, the Superintendent recommends conducting schedule and course offering audits at each school to assess opportunities and access for advanced, honors, gifted, and/or advanced placement course offerings. Cost: Not to exceed $1,102,700 Funding Source: ARPA - Reviewed by: Termerion McCrary, Chief Learning and Performance Officer, Megan Rittle, Board Attorney 

• Board Governance Training Plan 2022-23 – Dr. Bradley presented the Board Governance Training Plan for 2022-23 for individual board member training and whole board training resulting from an assessment identifying areas of board governance improvement.  
• School Nutrition Operations Technology – To optimize school nutrition point of sale and inventory management practices, it is recommended to award EMS Linq, LLC for Titan to be the provider of Hardware, Software, and an Online Payment platform for school nutrition operations.  Through a competitive solicitation process, the District has identified EMS Linq LLC to be the most capable provider for the School Nutrition Operations Technology, to include updated devices and equipment supporting our schools and nutrition staff members. This vendor will provide new functionality to support back-of-the-house operations with a standardized methodology for accuracy and improved end-user experience for POS integration and online payments. Cost: $242,080.00 Funding Source: School Nutrition General Operating Fund
  Reviewed by: Shanika Clay, Brian Blanton, Kantrell Brown, Marlina Smith, David Flynn, Kim Jackson, David Carter, Chris Davis, Charles Bowen,  and Lynn Lewis 
• Henry County Permanent Construction Easement (North Ola Road) - the board voted to pass this business item.

 

New District and School Leaders

Name	New Position/Location	Former Position/Location
Madaffari, Janine	Asst. Principal – LGM
Myree, Edtwon	Asst. Principal – LHS
Sherfield, Trekinia	School Improvement Facilitator, Leadership Services
Crerie, Gabe		Executive Director, School Leadership & Operations - Retiring

 

Awards and Recognitions
The celebration of Fine Arts continued with Superintendent Davis & the Board Members greeting elementary students who were recognized for their participation in the Superintendent's Art Gallery, as well as commending art teachers and principals who supported them. The students’ artwork can be found displayed throughout the hallways of the District building.

 

2022-2023 Cluster Lead Principals
Each year, principals may apply to serve as Cluster Lead Principals. The purpose of the Cluster Lead role is to lead the alignment of culture, systems, and work within clusters of schools to ensure consistency of experience for families, students, and staff. Specific areas of focus include improving communication, academic articulation, culture, climate, and belonging, wellness, family engagement, and operational systems. Cluster Lead Principals attend board meetings and monthly professional development meetings, coordinate cluster meetings and events, and most importantly lead the development and implementation of a cluster improvement plan that is aligned to our community-inspired strategic plan.

Griffin RESA Educational Leadership Graduates
Griffin RESA’s Georgia Alternative Preparation for Educational Leadership (APEL) program is designed for educators with a Master’s degree or higher who are looking for leadership certification. APEL is designed to instruct, guide, and support employed leaders, helping them build the confidence, skills, and presence needed to lead.

Griffin RESA Local Board Governance Training
Our organization has been built on the premise of continuous improvement and continuous learning and they serve as role models for us. Their most recent collective ongoing professional development was the completion of a training at GRESA entitled, Local Board Governance Training Legal Issues in Education: Pitfalls to Avoid. Each board member completed this full three-hour course this summer, demonstrating their collective commitment to continuous improvement as they lead our organization through effective School Governance. Congratulations Board!


Middle & High School Algebra I teachers for their outstanding performance on the Milestones assessment
Following two years of focused instruction despite the distractions caused by the pandemic, no one could have imagined it would be possible to have significantly higher performance than before the pandemic disrupted public education like never before.  With the latest release of Georgia Milestones scores, our Algebra I performance can only be described as remarkable. Compared to metro-area districts, Henry County students not only showed growth, but their growth outpaced all other large districts in the region. “The credit really goes to our teachers who did the hard work of planning, teaching with rigor, assessing, and monitoring student performance. That’s truly how we did it,” said McCrary.