HCS Board of Education Meeting – September 11, 2023

Superintendent’s Welcome

The September meeting of the Henry County Board of Education began with remembering the September 11^th tragedy. The 9/11 anniversary also provided an opportunity for the Board to express their gratitude for the service of the county’s first responders including Fire and Rescue, the Henry County Police Department including the Henry County Schools School Resource Officers. Present for the meeting were Fire Chief Jonathan Burnette, Henry County Police Chief Mark Ammerman, Deputy Police Chief Mike Ireland, SRO Unit Commander Major Maddox, and several members of each agency. Joining in the recognition were the Luella High School JROTC, who presented the colors at the start of the 4:00 p.m. Study Session, and the McDonough High School JRTOC, who presented the colors during the 7:00 p.m. Business Meeting. We were also fortunate to welcome Lauren Strickland of Eagle’s Landing High School and Kinsley Adsell of Ola High School who opened both meetings with the singing of the national anthem.

First responders from Henry County Fire and Rescue and members of the HCS SRO Unit receive recognition from the Board of Education.

Superintendent Davis also highlighted the round of recent school-based celebrations, where 7 of our high schools (Eagle’s Landing, Woodland, Luella, Dutchtown, Locust Grove, Stockbridge, and Ola) unveiled their new scoreboards along with new cheer mats, wrestling mats, weightroom equipment, and band uniforms thanks to investments made by the Board of Education.

Finally, Dr. Davis shared the Board’s recent investment in weapons technology that will be utilized at major district events. Dr. Davis indicated that this purchase represents a proactive step toward preserving the space and place where community comes together to celebrate our schools.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Strategic Plan

 

1. Partners in Education, Duke Bradley, III, Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff Duke Bradley provided a report on Partners in Education.

Within the Strategic Plan, the Board has called for defining the process by which volunteers, mentors, and other partners will work with the district. Now, pulled together under one umbrella, Partners in Education will be referred to as “Henry Partners” which symbolizes the pulling together of all three components of the partner experience.

 

Dr. Bradley described the Henry Partners structure as one that is based on community members – faith-based, business, and civic organizations who donate their time, talent, or financial resources for the benefit of the schools and the students of our district. The Henry Partners model is designed to accommodate multiple solicitation pathways as well – meaning, a Partner may engage directly with a school or they may engage with the district. But regardless of the point of entry, there will be a managed protocol to ensure proper evaluation of the support request.

Going forward, the new Henry Partners framework will continue to be refined, and staff will be trained on how to effectively implement it. Efforts will also be made to define Henry Partners beyond system design, but to enhance it to become a tool that helps to transform the student experience

2. Literacy Update, Termerion McCrary, Chief Learning and Performance Officer

Chief Learning and Performance Officer Termerion McCrary provided a literacy update. Citing Georgia’s Early Literacy Law (O.C.G.A § 20-2-1-153.1) which was passed during the 2023 legislative session and signed into law by Governor Kemp, Mrs. McCrary described how Henry County investments have prepared Henry County Schools to be aligned with the law.

In light of this new law, Mrs. McCrary reminded the Board that the district’s journey to improve literacy outcomes began during the 2018-2019 school-year and has since informed the practice of HCS teachers, elevated the performance of students, and created infrastructure to ensure a rich literacy experience for the students of Henry County. Furthermore, Mrs. McCrary noted that each of the 6 requirements of Georgia Literacy Act have already been set in motion – many of which actually preceded the new law itself.  

Having studied the Georgia Literacy Act with awareness of the requirements that it carries, we have evaluated its core components and have determined that Henry County Schools is well positioned to comply with the new law.

For example, the Act requires that teachers receive training on the science of reading. Mrs. McCrary reported that in Henry County, we laid the groundwork in 2018 for our early literacy model by conducting literacy summits and professional development aimed at implementing best practices in literacy instruction. The Act also requires the use of high-quality instructional materials where again, we have purchased phonics materials, and several new core aligned resources. Lastly, the Georgia Literacy Act requires the use of universal screeners, balanced assessments, and intervention plans – all of whom are a part our early literacy model which has been in effect for the past several years.

While Henry County Schools is well positioned to comply with state expectations around literacy instruction, materials, and programming, there is more work to do. We will be working to systematize our process for sharing out the results of universal screeners and we will focus on building stronger parent and family connection points regarding student progress.

Altogether, this work has been about creating a community of powerful readers and writers, and today, there is growing evidence of how the prioritization of literacy skills development is showing up in classroom and resulting in better outcomes for students.

2. Ensuring Operational Effectiveness

1. August Construction and E-SPLOST Report

Chief of Operations Officer Josh Malcom provide the following report:

 

• Birch Creek Elementary School

Construction on the new Birch Creek Elementary is making consistent progress, with the grading of the front entrance parking lot and bus loop proceeding as planned and on schedule. The schools is scheduled to open in Fall 2024 and provide relief to the Wesley Lakes Elementary and Oakland Elementary Schools.

 

• School Electronic Message Signs

The installation schedule for electronic signage at school entrances is nearing completion.

• ARMS & SMS Athletic Facilities Improvement

• Stockbridge Middle School – Bleacher demolition has been completed, scoring tower footings have been poured, and scoring tower placement has begun.
• Austin Road Middle School – Bleacher demolition has been completed, trees have been removed for the new parking lot, and scoring tower footings have been poured. Placement for the scoring tower and grading of the parking lot will begin soon.

• New Administration Office Facility of Existing Administration Office Facility

 

• Demolition of existing bleachers, trailer, and concrete has been completed. Demolition to the homes on identified land will be demolished in the coming weeks.

 

• New Transportation Facility & Renovations to Existing Transportation Facility

 

• A second transportation facility to support transportation operations on the west side of Interstate 75 is scheduled to open in February, 2025.

 

 

2. August Financial Report, Shanika Clay, Chief Financial Officer

 

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided the following report for the second month of the fiscal year:

Across all funds, we’ve collected 9.6% of budgeted receipts this fiscal year and we’ve expended 12.6% of anticipated expenditures. Obligations for the period – which represents funds committed to items ordered but not received – totaled $24.6 million

• Cash on Hand - The total value of general fund’s assets at the close of August totaled $283.1 million. This fund balance will support general fund operations until the receipts of property tax receipts in November.

 

• SPLOST V - There were expenditures of $823,364.89 as shown in the month of August; particularly in the categories of technology and personalized learning renovations.

 

• SPLOST VI – There were expenditures of $5.3 million      in the month of August; particularly in the categories of construction projections (e.g. Birch Creek Elementary, exterior modifications to Fairview Elementary, elementary school playground enhancements, and new transportation construction activity.

 

• Capital Accumulation: There were expenditures of $3.5 million in the month of August.  The primary expenditures for this month are the settled invoices associated with the furniture and fixture growth replacement for the three pilot elementary schools.

 

Mrs. Clay concluded her report by indicating that ESSER 2 expenditures for the month totaled $201,732.08 and pertained to the progress achieved on the Elementary HVAC system completed over the summer.

3. 2024 Board Meeting Time and Place, Duke Bradley, III, Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff Duke Bradley presented as an informational item the 2024 Board Meeting Time and Place schedule. He noted that the meetings are set for the second Monday of each month except for the month of April due to Spring Break - and also for the month of July due to the Fourth of July holiday. The election of Board Officers will also be held during the January 4 Special Called meeting at 4:30 p.m. The proposed schedule has been placed out to the public for review and comment, and we will return in October for Board action. For Public Review and Comment

 

BUSINESS ITEMS

1. Board Governance Training Plan 2023-2024

The Board adopted, by a unanimous vote (4-0), the 2024 Board Governance Training Plan, which, if completed as scheduled, will exceed the state’s training requirement.

 

2. FY24 Budget Amendment

The Board approved, by unanimous vote (4-0), an FY24 budget amendment to advance organizational enhancements regarding the district’s ERP system coupled as well as identified safety and security infrastructure needs. Specifically, the Board approved two new budget analyst positions along with funding to advance a new event safety strategy.

 

3. Instructional and Technical Infrastructure: K-12 Visual Arts

The Board approved, by a unanimous vote (4-0), the purchase of standard art equipment for all K-12 visual arts classrooms in alignment with Strategic Action 1 of the Henry County Schools Community Inspired Strategic Plan.

 

4. Athletic Growth and Replacement (Basketball, Baseball, and Soccer)

The Board approved, by a unanimous vote (4-0), the purchase of equipment for the sports of basketball, baseball, and soccer pursuant to the district’s growth and replacement initiative. The funds were allotted through the capital accumulation fund which was approved in August 2022 and this investment follows cheer and wrestling mats, track and field equipment, volleyball, softball, football, and weight room equipment and scoreboards.

 

5. Elementary School Security Camera Additions

The Board approved, by a unanimous vote (4-0), the purchase and installation of additional security cameras for elementary school exterior door locations out of capital reserves which were allotted for safety and security enhancements during the July 21, 2022 and June 12, 2023 board meetings.

 

6. Addition to Dutchtown High School

The Board accepted, by a unanimous vote (4-0), funds from the Georgia Department of Education as a part of the district’s Five-Year Facilities Plan for the completion of the addition to Dutchtown High School which was completed in May, 2023.

 

7. Access Control: Door Ajar Alarms Additional Scope Change Order

The Board approved, by a unanimous vote (4-0), the purchase of new door ajar alarms for high traffic entrances and exits as a part of safety enhancements included in the June and July Back to School Update provided by Chief School Leadership Officer, Mary Ann Suddeth.

 

INSPIRATION

Inspiration for the September Board Meeting was provided by the Timber Ridge Elementary 5^th Grade Chorus who performed excerpts from “Tres Canciones de Los Elementos.” Timber Ridge’s music teacher is Krista Firkus and their principal is Holly Williams.

 

 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Superintendent’s Art Gallery – 2023-2024 – Elementary Artists

Each year, exemplary student artwork is placed on display at the Henry County School’s district office. Prior to the start of the September meeting of the Board of Education, students whose art was selected were share their inspiration, describe their art, and engage with the Superintendent, Board Members, and other visiting community members.

 

Board Member Holly Cobb, Vice Chair (Top Left))  Sophe Pope (Top Right), Dr. Pam Nutt (Bottom Left), and Chair Annette Edwards (Bottom Right) spend time with a few student who were recognized for their exemplary artwork.

From Austin Road Elementary: 

• Lindsey Torres 
• Deanna James 

• Lois Barney, Principal 

 

From Bethlehem Elementary: 

• Lauryn Morris 
• Caelyn Francis 
• Zoie Sutton 
• Brooks Pierce 

• Jessalyn Askew, Principal 

 

From Cotton Indian Elementary: 

• Amare Perry-Mobley 
• Ruby Howland 
• Andrew Austin 

• Mahoganey Jackson, Principal 

 

From Dutchtown Elementary: 

• Yareli Mares 
• Gracyn Harris 

• Douglas Fletcher, Principal 

 

From East Lake Elementary: 

• Trisha Patel 
• Dash Kaio 

• Dana Flowers, Principal 

 

From Flippen Elementary: 

• Ethan Beauge 
• Kylie Chesson 

• Victoria Grubbs, Principal 

 

From Fairview Elementary: 

• Johnathan Desouza 
• Joscelyn Welch 

• Vaneisa Benjamin, Principal 

 

From Hampton Elementary: 

• Da’Vea Freeman 
• Zoey Jones 
• Kingston McHurin 

• Johane St. Aime, Principal 

 

From Hickory Flat Elementary: 

• Kylin Jones 
• Joshua Ross-Starks 

• Lindsay Boyle, Principal 

 

From IMPACT Academy: 

• Lindbergh Brewington 
• Aubrey Slater 

• Delphine Patterson, Principal 

 

From Luella Elementary: 

• Peyton Hamilton 
• Jessa Freeman 

• Twyla Barkley, Principal 

 

From Locust Grove Elementary: 

 

• Phylissa Harden 
• Lily Ford 

• Sparkle Smith, Principal 

 

From Mt. Carmel Elementary: 

• Eric Burrowes 
• Kinley Howsia 

• Allison Van Tone-Files, Principal 

 

From New Hope Elementary: 

• Evelyn Waller 
• Leighton Foster 
• Zoey Cox 
• Harper Palmer 
• Maddison Dobzynski 

• Micki Foster, Principal 

 

From Ola Elementary: 

• Dallas Tippens 
• Cuyler Campbell 

• Carrie Edwards, Principal 

 

From Oakland Elementary: 

• Aaliyah Henderson 
• Nasira Janiyah 
• Logan Davis 

• Andre Johnson, Principal 

 

From Pate’s Creek Elementary: 

• MacKenzie Willis 
• Gilianys Rodriguez 

• Jennifer McCrary, Principal 

 

From Rocky Creek Elementary: 

• Olive Hubner 
• Cadance Coleman 

• Sonya Ayannuga, Principal 

 

 

From Red Oak Elementary: 

• Kennedi Stanciel 
• Marley McFarlane 

• Jermaine Ausmore, Principal 

 

From Rock Spring Elementary: 

• Audasea Payne 
• Mya Shelton 
• Aaron Browning 
• Briella Stokes 
• Hamedd Perez 
• Easton Stone 

• Julie Mosley, Principal 

 

From Stockbridge Elementary: 

• Tirth Patel 
• Merab Nabi 

• Cedric Peeples, Principal 

 

From Tussahaw Elementary: 

• Jaylenn Martinez Rosales 
• Chaise Davis 

• Jocelyn Lakani-Jones, Principal 

 

From Timber Ridge Elementary: 

• Ansley Jane Troutt 
• Michelle Adebayo 

• Holly Williams, Principal 

 

From Unity Grove Elementary: 

• Charlee Clark 
• Arielle Amouzou 

• Elyse Durden, Principal 

 

From Walnut Creek Elementary: 

• Grayson Akinlotan 
• Adam Murray 

• Tamika Knighton, Principal 

 

From Woodland Elementary: 

• Michael Thomas III 
• Mia Square 
• Ryan Pham 
• Natalie Cowart 

• Makisha Williams, Principal 

 

From Wesley Lakes Elementary: 

• CJ Robinson 
• Jailyn Benjamin Rook 

• Jodye Callaway, Principal

 

Go Be Great Foundation ‘We Are Go Be Great’ Award

• The GoBeGreat Foundation celebrates difference makers and overcomers, those who serve with kindness and selflessness while sharing their gifts, talents and opportunities with others. Congratulations to Kelli Smith, Athletic Director of Henry County Schools, on being awarded the Go Be Great Award for her Leadership in Scholastic/Sport/Spirit in Georgia.

 

• • Kelli Smith, Athletic Director

Union Grove High School – Highest Student Athlete GPA for all Student Athletes for the 2022-2023 School Year

• Union Grove High School’s athletic department marked the highest GPA for all student-athletes combined for the 2022-23 school year. We are extremely proud of their academic and athletic accomplishments: boasting 5 region championships, 19 state play-off appearances and 4 Elite Eight State Finishes. Additionally, Union Grove posted a state runner up golfer and the cheer team placed 6^th in the state. Union Grove High School had a combined GPA of 3.54 with 24 athletic scholarship signings. Union Grove’s coaches and athletic director were celebrated for their accomplishments being home to the HCS Male Coach of the Year, HCS Cheerleading coach of the year, Region AD of the year and 5 Region Coaches of the Year.  

 

When combining the academic performance of all student-athletes in the district, HCS is very proud to announce an overall GPA of 3.24 and 150 Student athletes who went on to compete at the next level, signing college scholarships. The high expectations of teachers, parents and oversight of coaches, ADs and other school staff create opportunities for our student-athletes that might not otherwise exist, further providing evidence that athletic participation increases academic success.  

 

• Steve Spruell, Athletic Director, UGHS
• Dr. Pete Mullvain, Coordinator of Athletics, HCS
• Ryan Meeks, Principal

New Hires

Name	New Position	Previous Position
Summer Cox*	Executive Director – Strategic Initiatives and Policy Design	Director of Planning and Asset Accountability
Nicola Kelly*	Communications Lead	Marketing Specialist, Mediagistic
Shareka Watts	Facilitator – Recruitment and Retention, Human Resources	Lead High School Counselor, Rockdale County

     *Asterisk denotes approval at the July 31 Special Called Board Meeting

Board Member Comments

District Board Member	Comments
District 1, Pam Nutt	Dr. Nutt recognized celebrations for the month of September to include: National Arts in Education week, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National IT Professionals Day, and National Suicide Prevention Month. Dr. Nutt complimented the new Marching Band uniforms for McDonough High School. She also congratulated remarkable achievements of McDonough High School that led to a total award of $20K.  These achievements include the Outstanding work in Marching Band and the STEM program. Dr. Nutt mentioned the new scoreboard dedication ceremonies for OHS, WHS, LHS, DHS, ELH, SHS, and LGH.  Also, recognized MHS for a great start to this season. Dr. Nutt also recognized Grandparents week and the schools that celebrated.
District 2, Annette Edwards (Chair)	Mrs. Edwards recognized September Celebrations to include: National Suicide Prevention Month, National Arts and Education week, Hispanic Heritage Month, National IT Professionals Day She congratulated the High Schools that received a new scoreboard. Mrs. Edwards celebrated District 2 highlights to include: Chase Morgan from SHS for being chosen to represent high school students from across the country at the US Environmental Science Olympiad for STEM students. Please enjoy your break!
District 3, Holly Cobb	Mrs. Cobb recognized District 3 Highlights to include: OHS/JROTC Cadet Olivia Clark for being recognized and honored by State Representative Mike Collins with a nomination to attend the Merchant Marine Academy, and OHS Kendrii McClain for being named as a member of the National Society of High School Scholars Mrs. Cobb shared her appreciation to ELE for hosting a First Responder Event, and taking time to acknowledge the selfless dedication to our schools and community
District 4, Sophe Pope (Vice Chair)	Mrs. Pope shared District 4 celebrations to include: Revealing of the scoreboards at Home Kick-Off games, and new band uniforms at ELH She congratulated Ms. Melanie Belser (teacher) from SHS for a Health Powers grant recipient for $5K. Mrs. Pope also congratulated to Dr. Josephine (teacher) at SHS that led the work to secure an ALPHA STEM grant for $10K. Mrs. Pope showed her appreciation and excitement for the Patriot’s Day Parade/Breakfast at ELE.  Thank you to the Administration and team that hosted the event. She also recognized Grandparents Day and all the efforts taken by each of the schools and staff to show appreciation to Grandparents. Hope everyone has great Fall Break!
District 5, Makenzie McDaniel	Not Present

 

 

HCS Board of Education Meeting –August 14, 2023

Superintendent’s Welcome

Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis opened the August Board Meeting by acknowledging that we have begun the new school-year with over 1000 new team members including 515 teachers and approximately 43,268 students. Dr. Davis also indicated that this year marks the continuation of our ambitious pursuit of more learning and more growing while focusing on forging deeper connections with one another and renewing our belief in the capabilities of our students. 

To go along with more learning and more growing, this year, we will emphasize celebrating each other as well. Dr. Davis announced the district’s new “Super Star Celebration” initiative – where the exemplary performance of Henry County employees will be recognized by being gifted with gold stars as colleague-to-colleague expressions of appreciation for their efforts to perform with excellence.

Pictured above: Henry County teachers proudly showing their gold star symbols.

Dr. Davis concluded her remarks by sharing that during visits with board members to 42 schools during the district’s opening week, each visit reflected authentic excitement among students and staff. Also observed was teaching and learning underway within classrooms and school buildings that were in remarkable condition. Each of these observations provide optimism that the 2023-2024 school-year will be a successful one.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Core Business of Student Learning 

1. Strategic Plan Annual Report, Year 2 

Superintendent Davis presented to the Board of Education the 2^nd Annual Strategic Plan report. The Board’s Strategic Plan, currently entering its third year of implementation, outlines the progress, investments, and outcomes that the community expects from the school district. Additionally, the report is an extension of the Board’s commitment to public accountability and transparency.

Dr. Davis reminded the Board that the foundation of its work begins with their core beliefs and is executed through policy – both serving as guides to meet the needs of students while providing greater access, opportunity, and improved outcomes. The plan, which includes 5 strategic actions, was reviewed along with the key accomplishments that were achieved during the 2022-2023 school year.

Strategic Action 1

Strategic Action 1, which directs the district’s focus on STEM education, arts education, and advanced coursework boasts several important milestones including:

• STEM Labs in all 28 elementary schools, equipped with appropriate furniture, resources and supplies
• Robotics equipment and coding materials in every elementary school, and
• New writing resources and focused instruction around literacy

Superintendent Davis shared that early-year observations have revealed a continuation of the focus and commitment to deliver explicit writing instruction which was demonstrated on the first day of school where students were engaged in writing assignments.

Also under Strategic Action 1, middle schools are making progress on tactics involving STEM to include computer science classes, the use and application of robotics and coding materials, and the availability of graphing calculators will soon be a common part of the Henry County School Algebra math experience thanks to targeted investments made by the Board of Education.

Dr. Davis shared that while there have been several other investments and noteworthy outcomes under the Strategic Action 1, namely around arts – most notably, middle schools have benefited from the Board’s investments with the addition of personnel allotments and new orchestra units emerging which will eventually result in every Henry County Middle School having an orchestra program.

Lastly, Dr. Davis reiterated the community’s desire for improved coordination with birth-to-five childcare providers. Efforts to improve that coordination have centered on increasing the awareness of Pre-K teachers to the expectations of kindergarten and facilitating summits to elevate and share knowledge about early childhood education. These efforts and others have resulted in enhanced engagement with early learners – which has led to improved readiness upon entry into kindergarten.

Considered together, Strategic Action 1 will dramatically shape the experience of students in Henry County Schools, but new standards – such as those related to financial literacy are a part of the Board’s vision to ensure that students are college, career, and life ready which is best reflected in a total 5.9 million dollar investment  in equipment, resources, supplies, and personnel related to STEM, arts education, and academics.

 Strategic Action 2

Strategic Action 2 reflects the Board’s focus on ensuring that Henry County students have highly prepared principals, teachers, and support staff in place at all schools. With an emphasis on development, the Highly Effective Classroom has emerged as a strategic plan tactic that corresponds with district policy BAB which calls for clear teaching and learning standards, among other things. Although the Highly Effective Classroom has multiple components, its purpose is to elevate the student experience by ensuring that instructional practices are being deployed in a way that positions them to be engaged and successful.

Also within Strategic Action 2 is the Highly Effective Leader – a framework that guides the district’s building leaders. Through the Strategic Plan, the Board has placed an emphasis on effectiveness, and for leaders in Henry County Schools, the Highly Effective Leader Framework outlines the essential behaviors and actions that are necessary for building leaders to be most impactful.

Also, during the 2022-2023 school-year, collaborative efforts were made with community partners to improve pipeline development for the high demand careers of teaching and nursing. This work was driven by Strategic Action 2 which calls for improvements to help students transition from their school to their chosen career paths.

Strategic Action 3

Dr. Davis also reported that significant work in the area of creating positive, welcoming, and safe environments has been set in motion. Central to that work has been expanding the potential of the Welcome Center – helping to meet the varied needs of more students and their families. For example, the Welcome Center has evolved to a one-stop-shop for a multitude of services. The Center houses a food pantry, provides adult education classes and is equipped with a clothing closet. Through Strategic Action 3, the Board has demonstrated a clear interest in removing barriers to ensure that all students have what they need so they can be successful.

Last year, additional work was initiated that will help to enhance the range of services provided by Henry County Schools. The groundwork for the forthcoming Henry County Schools Foundation which will function primarily as the district’s fundraising arm is in the early stages of design, but when functional, will help to secure scholarships for students and generate additional funds to support teachers and students among other things.

Altogether, nearly half of a million dollars has been dedicated to improving our services for students and families.

Dr. Davis continued by highlighting Strategic Action 4 – the Board’s interest in the prioritization of personal health and wellness. 

Strategic Action 4

Under this strategic action, several key steps have been taken around these efforts. A few of those steps include:

• New partnerships to facilitate mental health counseling
• Readiness to deliver telehealth medical care
• The addition of new support positions embedded within Human Resources

Safety is also an area of focus for the Board of Education under Strategic Action 4, where over 11 million dollars have been dedicated to the health and wellness of students including safety enhancements, new personnel additions, and HVAC installations in elementary gymnasiums.

Strategic Action 5

Finally, Strategic Action 5 lifts up the Board’s focus on efficient operations, evidenced by efforts to modernize infrastructure as a pathway to improve the service, quality, and accuracy of the district’s day-to-day business functions.

Dr. Davis reported that the purchase of a new Enterprise Resource System last year represented one of the most significant steps toward this goal. Additionally, the Board has made asset management a targeted area of improvement which has resulted in schools receiving new purchases ranging from band equipment to upgraded athletic fields. There has also been a wholesale furniture replacement which was pilots at three school that exhibited the most urgent need– Oakland Elementary, Fairview Elementary, and Locust Grove Elementary.

Another critical investment under Strategic Action 5 involved a review of the district’s compensation schedule. A compensation and classification study added to salary improvements for every job family, and today, the starting teacher salary in Henry County is $10,000 more that it was 5 years ago.

Dr. Davis completed her summary review of last year’s accomplishments under the strategic plan by reminding the Board that the district is well positioned to achieve its goals as we approach the halfway point of the 5-year strategic plan. However, the priority student outcomes (PSO’s) truly reflect how we measure success. The Board has outlined three main areas of focus including 1) Reading Proficiency, 2) Readiness to Learn, and 3) College, Career, and Life Readiness.

• PSO 1 - Under PSO 1, reading proficiency, there is more work to be done for students to reach a proficiency goal of 69% by 2026. However, new strategies have been introduced and more intensive monitoring efforts are among refinements that we believe will help to accelerate student growth.
• PSO 2 - Under PSO 2, the rigorous goals that the Board has established under this metric are being addressed multiple ways. Early kindergarten engagement and leveraging partnership to assist with readiness is beginning to show promising signs. Additionally, the number of students participating in advanced coursework is approaching the halfway mark – making this goal right on schedule leading up to the 2026.
• PSO 3 - PSO 3, which is about college, career, and life readiness, has led to several targeted activities and initiatives – each producing evidence of impact. College readiness markers according student SAT scores are improving. PSAT participation and performance is also improving, but among 8^th grade students, we must intensify our preparation efforts.

Dr. Davis concluded her report with the reflection that the Board’s investments and ambitious goals as outlined within the Community Inspired Strategic Plan are presently increasing access, opportunities and outcomes for students. This work is a testament to the Board’s vision, the dedicated employees of Henry County Schools, and this community’s shared vision to elevate the student experience. Click here to read the entire 2023 Annual Report in its entirety.

1. Core Business of Student Learning
   b.   Spring 2023 Milestones Results. Mrs. Termerion McCrary, Chief Learning and Performance Officer

Chief Learning and Performance Officer Termerion McCrary updated the Board on our 2023 Spring Milestones Assessment results. The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) is a comprehensive summative assessment pro​gram spanning grades 3 through high school. The exam measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students in grades 3 through 8 will take an end-of-grade assessment in several content areas, while high school students will take an end-of-course assessment for each of the eight courses designated by the State Board of Education. Milestones Report

Mrs. McCrary shared that the data produced on the Milestones Exam by Henry County students serves as the district’s new baseline of performance as we continue to progress through the strategic plan. There are many ways to interpret student performance on the Milestones exam – among those include: 

• Growth over the 2021-2022 school-year
• Comparison to our RESA and the state’s performance
• The number and percentage of students who achieve a rating of proficient and above
• Exemplary school-by-school performance deserving of recognition 

Altogether, and spanning all tested areas, there are many bright spots. This year, several schools and varying grade levels have all produced noteworthy results, but in most cases, scores indicate that there is more work to be done. Nonetheless, the district’s Milestones results sustained and grew in many areas. Most notably, increases were seen in elementary school math and the percentage of students scoring proficient or distinguished was maintained.  

The performance descriptors as prescribed by the Georgia Department of Education include the are defined as follows: 

• Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards.  The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness. 

• Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards.  The students need additional academic support to ensure success in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness. 

• Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness. 

• Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness. 

Mrs. McCrary provided a content area performance overview along with additional perspective about results that were achieved beginning with English Language Arts. 

ELA - While the Board’s focus has been to elevate student performance to higher levels of proficiency, Mrs. McCrary emphasized that the percentage of students scoring developing or above in ELA  is within a few points of the RESA in grades 3, 5, 6, and 7th grades, and nearly matches the RESA’s performance in 4 and 8 grades.  

 

SCIENCE - Upon review of our year over year performance, it should also be noted that we have an opportunity for growth and improvement in science. However, investments made in STEM and the approval of science equipment for the current school year will work in conjunction with our professional learning focus on the balanced instructional models to ensure students have access to engaging, high quality science instruction at every grade level.

SOCIAL STUDIES - Student performance in Social Studies showed promising results – where, compared to last year’s results, we increased the percentage of students scoring proficient and above in all tested grade levels - 8th and US History. And although we have not reached our full potential in this content area, this is an area that reflects the possibility of improved results in social studies across all grade levels.

MATH - Mrs. McCrary continued by sharing that following a year of having surpassed state growth in Algebra I, this year, we are just shy of our RESA performance and the gap between Henry performance and the state shrinking.  Also, following a year of surpassing the state growth in Algebra I, we are still performing at the pre-pandemic performance level. 

 

READING - Lastly, Mrs. McCrary reported that year over year, we have increased or maintained the percentage of students reading on grade level in multiple grade levels. This data is significant insofar. And although we continue to work to meet overall math goals, reading will remain an area of focus for this school year as we implement the 3rd year of our strategic plan with a focus on building a community of powerful reading and writers.

Notwithstanding the identified areas of improvement that were made apparent from the 2023 Milestones results, there are clear signs of momentum toward our strategic plan goals. The clear evidence of our progress is reflected in the numerous bright spots from several schools representing every cluster in the district. 

 Noteworthy school highlights are listed below:

High Schools

• Eagle’s Landing High had a 12-percentage point increase in Biology.

• Excel Academy High had a 12-percentage point increase in reading proficiency on the American Lit exam.
• Hampton High had a double-digit increase in U.S. History (10 percentage points).

Middle Schools

• Austin Road Middle has a double-digit increase in 6th grade Math (14 percentage points)
• Excel Academy Middle had double-digit increases in reading proficiency in sixth (16 percentage points) and seventh (14 percentage points) grades, as well as multiple grade-level increases in math (grades 6-7) and ELA (grades 7-8).
• McDonough Middle maintained or increased on every EOG exam and the Algebra I EOC exam, with double-digit gains in Algebra I (19 percentage points), Physical Science (23 percentage points), and eighth-grade science (11 percentage points), as well as improved reading proficiency in sixth and eighth grades.
• Ola Middle had a double-digit increase in seventh-grade ELA (10 percentage points).
• Stockbridge Middle had double-digit gains in seventh-grade reading proficiency (10 percentage points).

Elementary Schools

• Austin Road Elementary had a double-digit increase in third-grade Math (16 percentage points) and fifth-grade Science (11 percentage points).
• Bethlehem Elementary had a 13-percentage point gain in fourth-grade reading.
• Dutchtown Elementary had increases in all metrics in grades 3 and 5, including double-digit gains in fifth-grade ELA (10 percentage points) and fifth-grade math (11 percentage points).
• Flippen Elementary had increases in all metrics in grade 4, including a gain of 20 percentage points in fourth-grade reading proficiency.
• Hampton Elementary had double-digit gains in fourth-grade math (11 percentage points) and fifth-grade math (10 percentage points).
• Hickory Flat Middle had a double-digit increase in fifth-grade reading proficiency.
• Luella Elementary had increases in all metrics in grades 3 and 4, with double-digit gains in fourth-grade reading (14 percentage points) and fifth-grade science (15 percentage points).
• Mount Carmel Elementary had increases in all metrics in grade 4 and had a double-digit gain in fifth-grade math (12 percentage points).
• New Hope Elementary had 11-percentage point gains in third- and fifth-grade ELA.
• Oakland Elementary maintained or gained on all EOCs across all grade levels and improved reading proficiency in third (8 percentage points) and fifth (10 percentage points) grades.
• Ola Elementary had increases in all metrics in grade 4 and a double-digit gain in fourth-grade math (16 percentage points).
• Pleasant Grove Elementary had double-digit increases in fifth-grade math (11 percentage points) and fifth-grade reading (20 percentage points).
• Rock Spring Elementary had increases in all metrics in grade 3, including a double-digit gain in reading proficiency (10 percentage points).
• Smith-Barnes Elementary Increased in every tested metric for grades 4 and 5. 
• Tussahaw Elementary had double-digit gains in third-grade ELA (13 percentage points), third-grade math (15 percentage points), fourth-grade math (10 percentage points), and fourth-grade reading proficiency (11 percentage points).
• Unity Grove Elementary increased reading proficiency in grades 3-5 and had a double-digit gain in fifth-grade math (12 percentage points).
• Wesley Lakes Elementary had increases in all fourth-grade metrics, including a 16-percentage point increase in math.  

Ensuring Operational Effectiveness 

1. July Construction and ESPLOST Report, Mr. Josh Malcom, Chief Operations Officer

Chief of Operations Officer Josh Malcom provide the following report: 

Birch Creek Elementary School

Construction on the new Birch Creek Elementary is making consistent progress, with the grading of the front entrance parking lot and bus loop proceeding as planned and on schedule. Installation of curb and gutter have begun along with the installation of retaining walls, bridge, and storm drainage nearing completion. Masonry activities continue for remaining sectors – including Sector 1 (1^st & 2^nd grade hallway) and Sector 2 (4^th & 5^th grade hallway) structural steel, joists, and metal decking placement has been completed. Additionally, overhead plumbing, mechanical, and electrical rough-in continues, along with fire sprinkler piping.
 
Henry County Schools - School Electronic Message Signs

The submittal process for the district’s new school electronic message signs is nearing completion and electronic signage will be ordered once the submittals have been approved. The installation schedule for electronic signage at school sites is also nearing completion and the both installation and construction of new signs early this fall.

RMA for Henry County Schools - ARMS & SMS Athletic Facilities Improvement

• Stockbridge Middle School – Environmental protection measures have been installed; excavation has begun for new visitor bleacher section at football field.
• Austin Road Middle School – Environmental protection measures have been installed; clearing and grubbing for new parking lot has begun.

New Administration Office Facility/RMA of Existing Administration Office Facility

Plans have been submitted and silt and tree save fencing has been installed. Additionally, the utility location has been completed and construction fencing installation and removal of power to existing houses will be completed shortly. 

New Transportation Facility & Renovations to Existing Transportation Facility

The contract process has been completed by the general contractor for execution and a Notice to Proceed has been issued. The pre-construction meeting with the general contractor will soon be scheduled and the plan review and issuance of LDP for the project is ongoing.

1. June and July Financial Reports, Mrs. Shanika Clay, Chief Financial Officer 

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided two financial reports, beginning with the financials for the period ending June 30, 2023, which was the final reporting period of FY23. 

June 2023 Financial Report:

Mrs. Clay reviewed the FY23 adopted budget for the timeframe of July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 which anticipated revenues of $610.4 million and expenditures of $630.3 million. In review of  FY23, revenues for the year totaled $648.5 million; which is 106% of the anticipated revenue receipts budgeted and expenditures totaled $635.9 million; which is approximately 101% of the anticipated expenditures. Drivers of the revenue receipts in excess of budgeted expectations included the 2021 digest performance which exceeded forecasts, State budget amendments, and healthy investments.

Additionally, we collected 109% of budgeted revenues (shown in the yellow highlight). The performance of the revenue profile compared to the initial FY23 forecast can be attributed to three reasons. First, the of the strength of Henry County’s economy. Secondly, the state provided funds of $12.8 million to enable implementation of the mid-year requirement to increase the employer paid health insurance rate for all certified employees, and finally improvement in the indirect earnings associated with federal funds.

July Financial Report:

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided the following report for this first month of the fiscal year:

Across all funds, we’ve collected 4.3% of budgeted receipts this first month of the fiscal year and we’ve expended 12.6% of anticipated expenditures. Of note on the expense side, is the outflow of $43 million of in the Debt Service Fund associated with required payments against our outstanding debt. Obligations for the period – which represents funds committed to items ordered but not received – totaled $13.2 million

• Cash on Hand - The total value of general fund’s assets at the close of July totaled $96.5 million. This fund balance will support general fund operations until the influx of property tax receipts in November. 

• ESPLOST - There were expenditures of $204,186.35 as shown in the 2^nd column from the right. 

• Capital Accumulation: There were expenditures of $127,107 in the month of July.

Mrs. Clay concluded her report by indicating the ESSER 2 expenditures for the month totaled $1.6 million and pertained to the progress achieved on the Elementary HVAC system completed over the summer.

BUSINESS ITEMS

The following agenda items were discussed during the information items portion of the study session and reviewed as a part of the business items for the evening meeting’s formal actions. 

• Resolution – New Five-Year Local Facilities Plan–– The Board adopted, by a unanimous vote (5-0), the resolution for the district’s 5-year local facilities plan. By this vote, the Board agrees to develop a new, five-year local facilities plan as required by O.C.G.A. 20-2-260 during the 2024 fiscal year with the support of the Georgia Department of Education. 

• Instructional and Technical Infrastructure: CTAE Lab Equipment –– The Board approved, by a (5-0) vote, the purchase of CTAE Lab Equipment 

• Instructional and Technical Infrastructure: Kindergarten – 3^rd Grade Headphones – The Board approved, by a (5-0) vote, the purchase of class sets of headphones for Kindergarten thru 3^rd grade students. By this vote, the purchased headphones will provide a reliable way for certain academic programs that are currently in use to listen to and assess students in efforts to yield more accurate assessment results.

• FY24 Perkins Grant – The Board approved, by a (5-0) vote, the acceptance of the FY24 Perkins Grant award which will be used to support Career and Technical Education programming.

Business Meeting

Inspiration

Inspiration for the August Board Meeting was provided by the Woodland Middle School String Quartet, under the direction of Pastora Sanchez. They performed Stardancer.

Pictured above: Members of the Woodland Middle School Orchestra featuring Ryan Williams, Timothy Mixon, Dillon Singh, and Chloe Boamah – and teacher, Pastora Sanchez. Woodland’s principal is Ms. Michelle Wilkerson.

Awards and Recognition

2022-2023 National beta club convention elementary spelling bee winner

Congratulations to Patton Wright who won the National Beta Convention Elementary Spelling Bee.

1.              Patton Wright, New Hope Elementary School

·       Dr. Micki Foster, Principal

Henry County Schools Challenge 24 ELEMENTARY Competition Champions

The Smith-Barnes Team won first place among the elementary schools in the Challenge 24 math competition. Challenge 24 allows students to demonstrate fluency and flexibility with numbers that participated in the district. Coached by Katherine Butler and Talisa Johnson, team members are: 5^th graders David Fraire, Aimi Pasco and alternate Kharia Scott, and 4^th graders Ryan Cartagena and Madeline Sorto. Aimi Pasco won 1^st place for fifth grade. Madeline Sorto won 1^st place for fourth grade and Ryan Cartagena won 2^nd place for fourth grade. 

• Dr. Carolyn Flemister-Oliver, Principal
• Katherine Butler, Coach
• Talisa Johnson, Coach

National history day national competition award winners

During the National History Day (NHD) Competition at the University of Maryland in June, Henry County students competed in multiple rounds of competition and interviews. By simply being selected to compete at the national competition, represent the top 3% of all NHD projects completed nationwide. Henry County students performed well earning two awards. Led by teacher Zachary Barfield, congratulations go to Ola Middle School students Penelope Peterson, who was recognized with an Affiliate Award for Outstanding Entry for her Junior Individual Documentary, and congratulations to teammates Maisie Davis, Reilly Stephens and Alina Devane who earned 2^nd place in the nation in the Junior Group Performance category. 

1. Penelope Peterson
2. Maisie Davis
3. Reilly Stephens
4. Alina Devane

• Christine Anderson, Principal
• Zachary Barfield, Teacher

DR. STEPHEN DOLINGER RISING LEADER SCHOLARSHIP

Dr. Micki Foster, principal of New Hope Elementary was selected as the 2023-2024 recipience of the Dr. Stephen D. Dolinger Rising Leader Scholarship through the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP). EPFP is a highly selective leadership development program that brings together impactful leaders from across the state of Georgia to learn about relevant educational policy issues. This scholarship honors Dr. Dolinger’s legacy of leadership by financially supporting a fellow who demonstrates high leadership potential.

  

New Hires

Name	New Position	Previous Position
Falesha Reynolds	Director, Social Work	Social Worker, Union Grove HS
Shawnee Blake	Assistant Principal, Luella MS	School Support Facilitator, Locust Grove ES
Wajihah Harris	Coordinator, ESE	Career and Transition Support Facilitator
*Shirell Neal	Coordinator, Learning and Performance	Recruitment and Retention Facilitator
*Norkesha Muhammed-Garrett	Director, Teaching and Learning	School Improvement Facilitator

     *Asterisk denotes approval at the July 31 Special Called Board Meeting

Board Member Comments

District Board Member	Comments
District 1, Pam Nutt	Dr. Nutt extended congratulations to the team from Ola High School for their design award win at the Mall of America VEX signature event in Minnesota. She also indicated that several of the early-year activities, including Open House and New Teacher Orientation went very well. Dr. Nutt also expressed gratitude for the efforts of Mr. Townsend, Principal of Locust Grove High School, for his hospitality while also bidding farewell Dr. Katie Truitt who is leaving to become the superintendent of Lee County Schools. Dr. Nutt also emphasized her belief that 2023-2024 will be an outstanding year.
District 2, Annette Edwards (Chair)	Chair Edwards began by sharing her positive experience during New Teacher Orientation. She also discussed her schools visits with the Superintendent and the observations made of teaching and learning already underway in schools. Chair Edwards also mentioned the time she spent attending the Chamber Congressional Luncheon in Athens, GA which featured US Senator John Ossoff and Governor Brian Kemp.
District 3, Holly Cobb	Mrs. Cobb expressed her congratulations to Ola High student Carson Schand his election as President of the Georgia Technology Students Association and Sebastian Sadino for his election as Sergeant at Arms for the same for the same organization. Mrs. Cobb also indicated that she had impressive visits to Union Grove High School, Union Grove Middle School, and Walnut Creek Elementary – and was pleased to see all of the families and students excited for the first day of school. Mrs. Cobb commented that she was proud of the  Transportation Department and expressed thanks to everyone involved in helping our students have a great start.
District 4, Sophe Pope (Vice Chair)	Mrs. Pope congratulated McDonough School for being awarded a $10K ALPHA STEM grant. She also reiterated the sentiments of her board colleagues that the first week of school was phenomenal. Mrs. Cobb finally commented about the wonderful job that our blue shirts (facilities and maintenance) team is doing – and that our buildings look amazing.
District 5, Makenzie McDaniel	Mr. McDaniel extended warm wishes to everyone viewing at home and welcomed families back to the 2023-2-24 school-year. Mr. McDaniel enjoyed his visits to the Luella Cluster of schools that are under new leadership. Mr. McDaniel also offered congratulations to Oakland Elementary for receiving a donation of 20K for BoxTops, Dutchtown High school Athletes of the Year – Aspen Dibbs and Francisco Rodriguez. Mr. McDaniel added a request to keep the Hampton Community lifted in prayer as a consequence to the recent tragedy that they experienced.

HCS Board of Education Meeting – July 17, 2023

Superintendent’s Welcome

The July Meeting of the Henry County Board of Education began with the Board pausing together in a moment of silence in light of the tragic events that took place in our community over the past weekend. Dr. Davis also acknowledged the loss of 4 Henry County citizens, including a beloved staff member of the Henry County Schools community. She also praised the extraordinary response of law enforcement and the leadership of City of Hampton Mayor, Ann Tarpley, during this devastating time.

Board Member Items

Whole Board Training, June 2023 – Mrs. Annette Edwards, Chair Mrs. Sophe Pope, Vice Chair

Pictured below: The Henry County Board of Education working together during Whole Board Training held in June.

The Henry County Board of Education recently convened in June for the purpose of Whole Board Training. Mrs. Annette Edwards, Chair of the Board, and Mrs. Sophe Pope, Vice Chair, shared their reflections.

Mrs. Pope began by emphasizing that “high performing school districts begin with high performing boards of education” and in order to be a high performing Board, they use Whole Board Training time to learn together and to continuously improve the district. Mrs. Pope shared that the Board’s duties and responsibilities are clearly defined by Georgia law, GSBA standards, and policies.

 

 

 

Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Pope also stressed that the Henry County Board of Education is committed to abiding by the commonly held best practices of effective school boards which include operating within the limitations of the law and other standards and norms. Mrs. Pope shared specific provisions of Georgia law that define the roles of local Boards of Education - citing OCGA Sec. 20-2-49 which states in part, “The General Assembly finds that local boards of education play a critical role in setting the policies that lead to the operation and success of local school systems”- and it is within the policy setting obligation that the Henry County Board’s work is most clearly demonstrated. Additionally, Boards are expected to work together, and not as individual actors within the unified governance model.

While the Board reaffirmed its commitment to honoring defined roles and limitations as prescribed by law and other sources, this year’s Whole Board Training also provided an opportunity for the Board to define the type of governance culture that they aspire to model - making respect the basis upon which all Board Member interactions are rooted.

The Board also emerged from training with three focus areas for the 2023-2024 school year; 1) a focus on learning, 2) a focus on growing, and 3) a focus on celebrating. Together, these areas of focus will reinforce the district’s ambitious pursuit to become the fastest improving and highest achieving school district in metro-Atlanta.

Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Pope concluded by sharing that the district’s 5-year Community Inspired Strategic Plan represents the comprehensive direction for the district, and includes community inspired metrics of success that are reflected within Continuous School Improvement Plans (CSIP’s) – school-based goals that align with district goals which are called Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). Within the district, CSIP’s and KPI’s will be closely monitored as evidence that the district is making progress toward its long-term goals. The goals are as follows:

1. Increase the percentage of students reading on or above grade level in 3^rd, 5^th, and 8^th grades.
2. Increase the percentage of students proficient and above in 5^th grade Math and Algebra I.
3. Increase the percentage of students in American Literature scoring proficient and above.
4. Increase the percentage of students graduating in 4 years.

 

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Core Business of Student Learning
   
   

Back to School Readiness Report 2023-2024 

Chief Leadership Services Officer Mary Ann Suddeth began her report by sharing that preparations for the start of the 2023-2024 school-year are underway and progressing– where this year, there will be a focus on more learning, more growing, and more celebrating as we pursue the goal of become the fastest improving and highest achieving school district in the metro area while prioritizing student connectivity and belief in the capability of every child. This is the mantra and ambitious pursuit that will be consistently repeated and revisited throughout the year as the district deepens its commitment to improve student outcomes.

Mrs. Suddeth also shared that while increased student performance in Math and Reading are annual focus areas for the district, this year, there will be an effort to ensure alignment across all schools in pursuit of established goals. Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s), which have been developed by each division, will play a vital role in ensuring organizational alignment and will support the effort of measuring, monitoring, and reporting performance consistent with the district’s emphasis on accountability. KPI’s will also be utilized to measure progress in a variety of other areas – a few being 1) increased student access to advanced coursework 2) increased PSAT participation 2) increased participation on the Georgia Health Survey – among others.

Mrs. Suddeth reported that current enrollment stands at approximately 43,019 - and the district remains in strong position to meet the FY24 enrollment projection of 43,984 students. And for families readying themselves for the new year, the district’s comprehensive Be Ready Day One website and the Welcome Center are two available resources. The Be Ready Day 1 website provides vital information to assist with a variety of back-to-school needs and will remain available for use into the start of the new school-year, and The Welcome Center is an in-person resource that can also connect families to critical school readiness information. The Welcome Center is located at 166 Holly Smith Drive in McDonough, and from July 24 to August 2, will have extended hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

In addition to providing access to resources that help make the start of the school-year more seamless and convenient, the district also places importance on retrieving accurate and up-to-date information from families which can be submitted through the Parent Portal. The portal’s online submittal process makes paperwork easier to complete, but it also contains vitally important forms – chief among them include the Free and Reduced meal application. Any family needing assistance with these online forms or applications can visit their school or the Henry County Welcome Center.

It is also customary that at the beginning of every school-year for bus routes to be developed to ensure the efficient and safe passage of students to school and back home. This year, we look forward to putting into service 26 new buses, bringing the total number of new buses to just over 100 in the past 5 years. This signifies a drastic step toward by the Board of Education to updating and modernizing the district’s fleet. And although families should expect that a few adjustments will need to be made during the first few weeks of school, our team will be assessing what those adjustments should be once the school-year begins.

Buses are only one of a few new investments that the Board has made to optimize the parent experience. There is now a new point of sale system for school breakfast and lunch (HCS School Nutrition Linq Connect) and families can begin setting up their accounts. [How-to instructions will be provided via Infinite Campus messenger announcements.]

In addition to technology enhancements and the addition of new systems that better assist parents and families, building preparations are also moving ahead of schedule. As a reminder, three schools (Oakland Elementary, Locust Grove Elementary, and Fairview Elementary) are beginning the year with all new furniture and equipment as a part of the Board’s growth and replacement pilot.

With a little over two weeks remaining before students return, our district and school-based teams are also working to fill any remaining vacancies. The Human Resources Divisions has extended its hours and placed a premium on efficient applicant processing to support increased hiring capacity. Additionally, in the event that teaching positions cannot be staffed by full-time personnel, our new partnership with Educational Staffing and Management Solutions (ESS) will help to offset any vacancies that schools may experience. To date, approximately 150 new applicants for substitute teacher positions have been received and we expect to receive more over the coming weeks and months.

Mrs. Suddeth also clarified that while there are many aspects to a successful start of a school year - e.g. academic planning, registration, facilities preparation, transportation planning, and several more) nothing is more important than our ongoing commitment and investment in student safety and school security. As has been previously shared, the Board of Education has made significant investments to advance the district’s safety and security strategy. The HCS safety and security strategy is built on a framework, of both connectivity and infrastructure, further defined by outlined in three key pillars:

• Campus Security Investments which includes structural changes and improvements that layer security prevention tools on school campuses. These improvements include: single point of entry system, badge enabled controlled access system, the addition of Campus Safety Monitors; door ajar detection system, additional cameras, campus response system/crisis alert system, Mental Health & Wellness Facilitator in every school, and additional social workers and psychologists.

• Student and Staff Safety which includes the preparation, training, teaching, and communication around safe practices. Trainings will be conducted throughout the school year and leaders will participate in a deep dive into the Board’s 23-24 Code of Conduct as well as best practices for effectively implementing the Code of Conduct with consistency and fidelity.  They will also review and practice various safety and security expectations and procedures. Additional topics for our Henry Leads Kick Off day include leading with the law in mind, leading with policy in mind, and legal compliance practices.
• Conduct and behavior expectations which includes the expectations for acceptable conduct defined by the Board of Education and coupled with articulated consequences when expectations are violated.  Consequences for terroristic threats, inappropriate and/or disruptive bus behavior, and fighting.

Also regarding safety, a premium will be placed on training staff members across all job families on the Code of Conduct and on the practices and procedures necessary to maintain a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors to our district.

1. Ensuring Operational Effectiveness
    

Construction and ESPLOST Report

Chief of Operations Officer Josh Malcom provide the following report:

HVAC Installation for Henry County Schools Elementary School Gym Buildings

The elementary HVAC installation project has reached substantial completion at all elementary schools and punch list activities are ongoing. This major accomplishment delivers on a longstanding community and Board of Education goal.

• Installation has been completed at Cotton Indian ES, Austin Road ES, Wesley Lakes ES, J.B. Henderson, EXCEL Academy, Oakland ES, Locust Grove ES, Hampton ES, Fairview ES, Ola ES, Smith Barnes ES, Walnut Creek ES, Union Grove ES, Rocky Creek ES, Dutchtown ES, Pates Creek ES, Red Oak ES, Bethlehem ES, Rock Spring ES, New Hope ES, Tussahaw ES, Hickory Flat ES, Fairview ES, and Pleasant Grove ES, Woodland ES, Timber Ridge ES, Eagles Landing ES, and Luella ES.

Birch Creek Elementary School

Progress is being made on the construction of the new Birch Creek Elementary scheduled to open in Fall 2024. Grading of the front entrance parking lot and bus loop has begun along with the installation of retaining walls, bridge, and storm drainage nearing completion. Multiple mezzanine pours have been completed in various sections of the building including the 1^st & 2^nd grade hallways, the 4^th & 5^th grade hallway, the Admin & Media Center, and the location for Kindergarten classrooms.

Henry County Schools - School Electronic Message Signs

The Submittal process is nearing completion and electronic signage will be ordered once the submittals have been approved. The installation schedule for electronic signage at school sites is also nearing completion and both the installation and construction of new signs early this fall.

RMA for Henry County Schools - ARMS & SMS Athletic Facilities Improvement

The submittal process is nearing completion for the Austin Road and Stockbridge Middle School Facilities Improvement Project

• Stockbridge Middle School – current progress includes the removal of existing bleachers, press boxes, and concrete. All have been completed.

• Austin Road Middle School – plans have been approved and LDP has been issued. Additionally, the removal of existing bleachers, press boxes, and concrete will begin in the coming weeks.

New Administration Office Facility/RMA of Existing Administration Office Facility

• The submittal process is ongoing. The general contractor has met with Georgia Power concerning construction trailer placement and re-routing of electrical service for existing administrative facility. Pre-constructional activity will be evident in the coming days.

New Transportation Facility & Renovations to Existing Transportation Facility

• Contracts have been sent to the general contractor for execution and a Notice to Proceed has been issued. The pre-construction meeting with the general contractor will soon be scheduled and the plan review and issuance of LDP for the project is ongoing.

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.

• Resolution – Surplus Equipment and Supplies –– The Board authorized, by a vote (4-0) the submission of the 2023 Exemplary Board Application to the Georgia School Boards Association. By this vote, the Board also publicly validated that their work has and will continue to be centered around the GSBA Standards for Effective Governance – and as a consequence, affirms their eligibility to be considered for exemplary status. 

• Workers Compensation Program Administration –– The Board approved, by a (4-0) vote, Brentwood Services Administrator Incorporated to serve as the review panel for Henry County Schools workers compensation submissions.

• Campus Alert System Upgrades and Enhancements – The Board approved, by a (4-0) vote, the contract to purchase equipment upgrades to the Centegix Crisis Alert System. Among other things, the upgrades will enable greater system capacity and enhanced functionality.

• HCBOE Policy DJD – Expense Reimbursements – The Board approved, by a (4-0) vote, HCBOE Policy DJD which provide alignment between the relationship with existing Board Policy DJE and the regulation DJE-R (1) for non-travel reimbursements. 

• HCBOE Policy BBBE – Board Member Compensation and Expenses - The Board approved, by a (4-0) vote, HCBOE Policy BBBE which now aligns to Board Member expense and reimbursement guidelines within Policy DJE.

 

Business Meeting

Inspiration

Inspiration for the July Board Meeting was provided by Ola High School flautists Dylan Yakel and Elena Powell, led by orchestra teacher Mr. Bearden. Ola’s principal is Mr. Nick Ellis.

Pictured above: Ola High School flautists, Elena Powell (l) and Dylan Yakel (r) perform during the July Board Meeting.

 

New Hires

 

Name	New Position	Previous Position
Carly Amber	Coordinator, Instructional Administration	Administrator, GADOE
Diane Robinson	Coordinator, STEM	Professional Learning Specialist
Dr. Allison Van Tone Foles	Principal, Mt. Carmel Elementary	Assistant Principal, Luella ES

 

Board Member Comments

 

District Board Member	Comments
District 1, Pam Nutt	Thanks to the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, the Hampton Police Department, and all of those that were keeping us safe during the crisis in Hampton this weekend. We are excited about our new furniture at Oakland, Fairview, and Locust Grove.
District 2, Annette Edwards	Thank you all for being here this evening.  It is so good to see you out in the audience.  I would like to express my condolences for our school family members, as well as the Hampton community for the tragedy that took place this weekend. I would also like to say that we are going to start the 23-24 school year. It is going to be a fantastic school year! I hope the students are ready.  I know the parents are ready.  We are ready for the students to come back into our school building.
District 3, Holly Cobb	Thank you everyone for being here this evening. As my colleagues expressed, I also want to express my heartfelt condolences to the Hampton community and also to our Maintenance Department.  There is such tragedy all around, but what I know about our Community is that we are strong, we are resilient, and just know that my thoughts and prayers are with each and every one of you.  I know that we will get through this with the Lord’s help. Thanks to all of our staff who have been working so hard for months now on our Back to School preparations.  Really excited about kicking off a new school year.  As Mrs. Pope said, “I cannot believe we are already here”.  I feel like we were just at graduation last week.  I Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of your summer. Looking forward to a fantastic start to a brand new school year.  Thank you for coming!
District 4, Sophe Pope	Thank to everyone for being here this evening.  Our hearts have been so heavy over the last several days at the really unthinkable tragedy that unfolded.  Our thoughts and prayers will continue to go out to those families and that community.  It is the beginning of school.  I cannot believe that the time is here.  I hope that everyone enjoys there last two weeks and two days of summer.  I hope that you continue to get rest, and I am grateful for all of our staff that will be returning to our schools and our buildings in the next week.  Thank you for all that you have done to prepare mentally and physically for this new incredible school year that will kick off.  I know it really will be the best one yet!  I can’t wait to see everyone on the first day of school. Happy last two weeks of summer!
District 5, Makenzie McDaniel	N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HCS BOE Meeting – June, 2023

SY 2022-2023

HCS Board of Education Meeting – June 12, 2023

Superintendent’s Welcome

The June Meeting of the Board of Education began with Superintendent Davis celebrating Henry County’s graduating class of 2023. She acknowledged the hard work of every school while also pointing out that the entire Henry County community should be proud of what our students have accomplished during their respective high school careers. Watch video recap here.

Dr. Davis also recognized the Board of Education for their recent presentation at the Georgia Schools Boards Association Summer Conference. Members of the Henry County Board were invited to discuss effective board governance practices and were regarded as a state exemplar.


Pictured above (l-r): Chair Annette Edwards, Dr. Pam Nutt, and Mr. Makenzie McDaniel present at the GSBA Summer Conference in Savannah, Georgia.

Finally, Dr. Davis announced that Henry County Schools was named Local District of the Year for our technology leadership and innovation through the development of HenryConnects – the district’s digital environment which helps to bridge connection between home and school. The award was announced during the Learning Impact Conference earlier this month which was held in Anaheim, California. During the conference, Chief Learning and Performance Officer Termerion McCrary and Chief Information Services Officer Brian Blanton served on a panel to share their expertise alongside State Superintendent Richard Woods.

Board Member Items:

Georgia School Boards Association Summer Leadership Conference – Chair Edwards, Dr. Pam Nutt, and Mr. Makenzie McDaniel

The Henry County Board of Education was invited to attend and present at the Georgia School Boards Association Summer Leadership Conference held in Savannah, Georgia, June 8-10. GSBA sponsors two Annual Conferences, both of whom provide opportunities for school board members, superintendents and other educational leaders to participate in workshops, and to promote effective governance. Additionally, GSBA conferences and workshops afford local school board members an opportunity to fulfill their annual training requirements each year pursuant to O.C.G.A 20-2-230.

This year, HCBOE Chair Annette Edwards, Dr. Pam Nutt, and Board Member Makenzie McDaniel joined Superintendent Davis in a conference presentation entitled, “Best Practices: Governance Team Approach to Strategic Processes that Produce a Focus on Accountability and Student Achievement.” The presentation detailed the Board’s governance journey over the past few years while specifically highlighting their collective focus on honoring the standards of effective governance, creating aligned systems, articulating core beliefs, and responding to the clear wishes of the broader Henry County community.

During their remarks, Chair Edwards, Dr, Nutt and Mr. McDaniel spoke about how enjoyable it was to showcase the remarkable work of Henry County Schools to the hundreds of conference attendees.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Core Business of Student Learning

Preparing for the 2023-2024 School-Year

Mrs. Suddeth began by reporting to the Board of Education that a successful Henry County Schools graduation season was completed earlier this month – the highlights of which included the district producing over 3,400 graduates, the largest class in Henry County history – with outgoing students also earning approximately $52,316,641 in scholarships. Scholarship recipients from the Class of 2023 include a Gates Millennium Scholar, three Posse Scholars, and a full-ride ROTC scholarship awardee to Morehouse College. These results are reflective of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the community of support that our students have received during their educational experience in Henry County.

Additionally, for the 4^th consecutive year, the Atlanta Motor Speedway played host to Henry County Schools graduations. Ten ceremonies were conducted at the Speedway, plus another at the McDonough Performing Arts Center – each accommodating large crowds of guests while also providing logistics and operational support.

Mrs. Suddeth also shared that the summer months provide opportunities for learning for both staff and students. For students in particular, several camps are currently up and running and serving thousands of students.

Also, central to the district’s school-year preparation activities involve The Be Ready Day 1 website which is currently live - serving as a one-stop-shop of critical resources for Henry County Schools families, especially those that are new to the district. The site will remain in place through the first day of school and will also be updated as necessary.

Additional preparations for the upcoming school-year include incorporating information received from the district’s stakeholder groups. Mrs. Suddeth reported that the district has been engaged in a months-long process of gathering insights that have been provided from Community Conversations, safety forums, advisories, and various other informational sources.

Mrs. Suddeth specifically added that the district’s safety strategy is focused on “connectivity” and “infrastructure” – informed by the overarching question, “How do we elevate the tools in place at schools to improve safety?” And while the Henry County Board of Education has made over $26 million dollars in safety enhancements in recent years, Mrs. Suddeth added that our community has made recommendations on what steps we should consider next.

For the upcoming year, parents can expect several new enhancements including updates to the  district website and a parent toolkit that will explain and clarify the meaning of some of the district’s routine safety protocols, enhanced communication for first responders, cameras at all exterior doors with improved daily camera monitoring for all schools, a door-ajar alert to sound a signal if a door is left open, and the secure buzzer access system will be fully operable. These are just a few of the actions that will be taken as a part of our efforts to elevate our safety practices for the 2023-2024 school-year and the district will continue to study weapon and bathroom disruption technology.

Mrs. Suddeth also reminded the Board of their responsiveness to our community’s desire for elevated consequences in the areas of fighting, bus conduct, and terroristic threats which have all  been addressed through the Board of Education’s 2023-2024 Code of Conduct.

Preparations for the 2023-2024 school-year also include the continuation of the district’s growth and replacement work which began last school-year. Three pilot schools that have been identified based on age of school and current condition of assets (Fairview Elementary, Oakland Elementary, and Locust Grove Elementary). These schools will be receiving new office, classroom, and cafeteria furniture. Middle and high schools will receive replacement athletic equipment which include scoreboards and weight room equipment, cheer mats, wrestling mats, track and field equipment for football, volleyball, and softball. Campus message signs are also currently being replaced and we continue to replace band uniforms with the second round of schools beginning soon.

Mrs. Suddeth concluded her report by noting that although there is a lot of work underway in preparation for the new school year, parents should mark their calendar now to get ready for the return. Open House will be held next month, on Monday July 31 for all elementary, middle, high schools and specialty schools including AAS, Excel, and Impact Academy.

2. Ensuring Operational Effectiveness

Construction and E-SPLOST Report

Chief of Operations Officer Josh Malcom provided the following report:

HVAC Installation for Henry County Schools Elementary School Gym Buildings  

The installation of HVAC units has been completed at Cotton Indian ES, Austin Road ES, Wesley Lakes ES, J.B. Henderson, EXCEL Academy, Oakland ES, Locust Grove ES, Hampton ES, Fairview ES, Ola ES, Smith Barnes ES, Walnut Creek ES, Unity Grove ES, and Rocky Creek ES.

The installation of HVAC units has started at Dutchtown ES, Pates Creek ES, Red Oak ES, Bethlemem ES, Rock Spring ES, New Hope ES, and Tussahaw ES. The anticipated completion date for all HVAC projects is July, 2023.

Birch Creek Elementary School

Electrical site work has begun and the installation of retaining walls and storm drainage is nearing completion. The project remains on schedule for opening in Fall 2024.  

School Electronic Message Signs

The pre-construction meeting with the general contractor and the site visit has been completed. The Notice to Proceed with the construction aspect of the project will begin in the next few weeks.

RMA for Henry County Schools – Austin Road Middle School & Stockbridge Middle School Athletic Facilities Improvements

The contracts process has been completed by the general contractor and the Notice to Proceed was issued on May 9 and the pre-construction meeting with the general contractor was completed on May 12. These activities signify that construction is ready to begin and will commence in the coming weeks.

New Administration Office Facility/RMA of Existing Administration Office Facility

Contracts have been sent to the general contractor for execution and the Notice to Proceed will be issued following contract execution and acceptance. The pre-construction meeting with the general contractor is scheduled for June 8, 2022, and after completion, construction may begin.

May Financial Report

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided the financial report for the period ending May 31, 2023, which reflects the 11^th month of the 2023 fiscal year. Mrs. Clay reported that the General Fund showcased strong performance, with all planned revenue receipts collected and 90% of planned expenditures to date having been accounted for. This performance allows the Board to strategically plan for one-time investments that will advance access and opportunities for learners of Henry County Schools.

HCBOE Policy DJD – Expense Reimbursements

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided for the Board an overview of Board Policy DJD. Mrs. Clay began by noting the Board’s recent efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the district’s financial practices.

 

The district’s Procurement Card program which has resulted in an opportunity to improve reimbursement procedures. As a consequence, it was recommended that the Board adopt a new operational policy entitled DJD – to ensure that continued compliance with state expectations is achieved through the policy while also ensuring the ongoing reliance on the State Travel guidelines. Mrs. Clay concluded by messaging that if adopted, Policy DJD would provide clarity between relationship with existing Board Policy DJE and the regulation, DJE-R (1) for non-travel reimbursements.

 

This policy has been placed out for public review and will remain so for one month. All comments will be gathered and shared with members of the Board.

 

HCBOE Policy BBBE – Board Member Compensation and Expenses

Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay presented to the Board of Education a proposed revision to existing Board Policy BBBE. If adopted in July, the revision would align to Board Member expense and reimbursement guidelines within Board Policy DJE.  

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.

• FY23 Board Recognition – Exemplary Board Application –– The Board authorized, by a 4-0 vote, the submission of the 2023 Exemplary Board Application to the Georgia School Boards Association. By this vote, the Board also publicly validated that their work has and will continue to be centered around the GSBA Standards for Effective Governance – and as a consequence, affirms their eligibility to be considered for exemplary status.
• HCBOE Collective Commitment to Code of Ethics (Policy BH) and GSBA Georgia State Standards for Effective School Boards – By a 4-0 vote, the Board affirmed that 2023 represents the second consecutive year that the Henry County Board of Education has formally reviewed the GSBA Standards for Effective Governance and the Code of Ethics reflected in District Policy BH. The Board further affirmed that it holds itself accountable for honoring its basic duties which are codified in state law and agrees to function within the guidance of mutually agreed-to norms and protocols.
• FY23 Defeasement of Bond Debt – By a 4-0 vote, the Board authorized a defeasance action that will facilitate the retirement of debt associated with the 2016 General Obligation series early. The defeasance will save the district and taxpayers of Henry County up to $7 million in interest payments that the district would otherwise be obligated to in years 2024 -2030.

• FY23 Budget Amendment and Capital Fund Commitment – By a 4-0 vote, the Board authorized the redirection of funds to previously authorized capital accumulation accounts for the purposes of: (1) Furniture, fixture, and equipment growth and replacement; (2) Safety and Security; and (3) Athletic Improvements. Additionally, as allowed by Policy DCL, the Board approved the assignment of $300,000 from the fund balance for future personnel needs associated with safety infrastructure.

 

• Workers Compensation Panel of Physicians – By a 4-0 vote, the Board approved the recommended 2023-2024 Panel of Physicians which will be utilized to review workers compensation claims submitted during the upcoming school-year.

 

• FY24 Contracts – By a 3-0-1 vote, the Board approved the authorization of the contracts embedded within the FY24 general budget.

 

• Henry County Schools – The New Transportation Facility and Renovations to Existing Transportation Facility Bid Tabulation – By a unanimous (5-0) vote, the Board approved the new transportation facility and renovations to the existing transportation facility bid tabulation.

 

• Athletic Equipment Growth and Replacement: Volleyball, Softball, and Football – By a 4-0 vote, the Board approved the purchase of new volleyball, softball, and football equipment for all middle and high schools.

 

• Furniture/Equipment Growth and Replacement: Pre-K, K, 1, 2 Classroom Rug Replacement – By a 4-0 vote, the Board approved the purchase of replacement classroom rugs for grades Pre-K thru 2.

 

• Instructional and Technical Infrastructure: K-12 Science Equipment and Supplies – By a 4-0 vote, the Board approved the purchase of K-12 science equipment and supplies to support the implementation of the Balanced Instructional Framework and Henry Teaching and Learning Standards.

 

• A Memorandum of Understanding, Purchase and Equip vehicles for School Resource Officers – By a 4-0 vote, the Board authorized the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the purchase of the vehicles for future use of SRO’s.
  
  
  

Business Meeting

Inspiration

Inspiration for the June Henry County Schools Board Meeting was provided by the Locust Grove  High School chorus who performed, “When You’re An Addams,” led by theatre teacher Keri Devane. Locust Grove’s principal is Tony Townsend.

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

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.

2023 Chuck Miller Legacy Award

Henry County Schools celebrated the best and brightest in local sports at its annual Athletic Honors Night in May -giving out the first Chuck Miller Legacy Award. The award is in honor of Chuck Miller, the longtime Henry County basketball coach and athletic director who has since passed away. This year’s recipient is William (BJ) Thomas, McDonough High School Boys Varsity Basketball coach.

Dutchtown High School Boys Track and Field Team

The Dutchtown High School Boys Track & Field team who are the 2023 Georgia High School Association State Champions for Division 5A This is the Program’s 2^nd title in 5 seasons. The Dawgs scored 99 total points, having a 48-point victory, which is the largest margin of victory in 5A Boys history. The team is led by Head Coach Calvin Gibson and assistant Coaches Jasper Demps, Andrew Nash and Anji Usher. Team members are:

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

·       Lamone Hill Jr

·       Christian Dixon

·       Hector Cari

·       Justin Harper

·       Nasia Lee

·       Markese Rolen

·       Tyler Dixon

·       Davarri Barthell

·       Mekhi Oliver

·       Christian Thompson

·       Jayden Lemon

·       Tyler Burch

Nicole Shaw, Principal

Amber White, Athletic Director

Calvin Gibson, Head Coach

Anji Usher, Assistant Coach

Jasper Demps, Assistant Coach

Andrew Nash, Assistant Coach

Dutchtown High School Girls Dance Team

The Dutchtown High School Girls Dance team, the Dutchtown Starz, are the 2023 Georgia High School Association State High Kick Champs. This is the team’s second Championship in 3 seasons. The team is led by Head Coach Ebonee Usher and Assistant Coach Anji Usher.

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

·       Janiyah Williams

·       Tamiya Colley

·       Laila Pratt

·       Laila McMichael

·       Kyra Bridges

·       Jada Gorgor

·       Azori Hayles

·       Zyriah Brown

·       Courtney Adams

·       Leah Geter

·       Victoria Beltran

·       India Crowe

·       Aaliyah Sims

·       Destiny Akins

·       Trinity McNeely

·       Abriana Walton

Nicole Shaw, Principal  

Amber White, Athletic Director

Ebonee Usher, Head Coach

Anji Usher, Assistant Coach

2022-2023 Spring Sports Players of the Year

Following are the Spring sports Players of the Year:

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

• Tegan Mullins, Dutchtown High School ~ 5A Girls Soccer Offensive POTY
• Briana Hill, Dutchtown High School ~ 5A Girls Soccer Defensive POTY
• Jalen Harris, Dutchtown High School ~ 5A Boys Soccer Defensive POTY

Nicole Shaw, Principal

  

• Walker Watson, Hampton High School ~ 4A Baseball Pitcher of the Year

Quinton Ward, Principal

·       Jack Pringle, Locust Grove High School ~ 5A Boys Soccer Offensive Player of the Year

·       Connor Crisp, Locust Grove High School ~ 5A Baseball Player of the Year

Anthony Townsend, Principal

 

·       Tyler Ladge, McDonough High School ~ 4A Boys Tennis Player of the Year

Monica Blasingame, Principal

 

·       Franziska Heigl, Ola High School – 5A Girls Tennis Player of the Year

Nick Ellis, Principal

 

2022-2023 Spring Sports Coaches of the Year

 

The following are the Spring sports Coaches of the Year:

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

·       Calvin Gibson, Dutchtown High School ~ 5A Boys Track

·       John Zeiler, Dutchtown High School ~ 5A Girls Soccer

Nicole Shaw, Principal

 

·       Erica O’Neal, Hampton High School ~ 4A Boys Tennis

Quinton Ward, Principal

 

·       Chad Crawford, Locust Grove High School ~ 5A Baseball

Anthony Townsend, Principal

 

·       Daniel Greene, Stockbridge High ~ 4A Baseball

Dr. James Thornton, Principal

 

·       Eric Daugherty, Union Grove High School ~ 5A Girls Track

·       Kelly Christian, Union Grove High School ~ 5A Boys Soccer

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal

Positive Athlete Georgia Award Winners

The Positive Athlete Georgia organization named two Henry County Schools athletes as 2022-2023 Positive Athletes of the Year. Positive Athlete is a recognition program that celebrates high character, high school student-athletes and coaches who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities in a significant way, or just have an infectious positive attitude that makes everyone around them a better person. Recipients are:

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

·       Amanda Barnes, Hampton High School ~ Girls Lacrosse

Quinton Ward, Principal

·       Madison Mangham, Locust Grove High School ~ Girls Multi-Sport

Anthony Townsend, Principal

2022-2023 Henry County Schools Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC)

The HCS Student Athlete Advisory Council is a collective voice of student-athlete delegates from each of our high schools that seeks to empower our student athletes in methods to improve sportsmanship, increase school spirit and pride, develop leadership and increase academic performance among all student athletes in HCS. The SAAC is led by Kelli Smith. The members are as follows:

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

• A’vandia Fedd, Dutchtown High School
• Jakob Pen, Dutchtown High School
• Justin Harper, Dutchtown High School
• Chris Morris, Eagle’s Landing High School
• Carrington Jones, Eagle’s Landing High School
• Mary Rozier, Eagle’s Landing High School
• Paris Rivers, Hampton High School
• Amanda Barnes, Hampton High School
• Jackson Ginther, Locust Grove High School
• Logan Seigle, Locust Grove High School
• Mason Moody, Locust Grove High School
• Heather Bos, Luella High School
• Jmar Taylor, Luella High School
• Mariah Wiggins, McDonough High School
• Melody Fowler, Ola High School
• James McGee, Ola High School
• Kate Phillips, Union Grove High School
• Kristian Verdun, Union Grove High School
• Mason Lewis, Woodland High School
• Akira Brown, Woodland High School

2023 South Metro Georgia Region Library Media Specialist of the Year

Union Grove High School Media Specialist Contina (Tina) Graham was recently named the 2023 South Metro Georgia Region Library Media Specialist of the Year.

View Awards & Recognitions Photo Album

·       Contina (Tina) Graham, Union Grove High School

Dr. Ryan Meeks, Principal

Principal Retirements

The Board would like to recognize Tracie Copper, Principal of Pleasant Grove Elementary. Ms. Copper has served Henry County Schools for 22 years and has been in education for 31 years. Ms. Copper, this “game ball” is awarded for your years of leadership, and unconditional commitment to the students, parents, teachers’, and staff of Henry County Schools. Congratulations on your Retirement.

The Board would like to recognize Dr. Carla Montgomery, Principal of Luella Elementary. Dr. Montgomery has served Henry County Schools for 17 years and has been in education for 32 years. Dr. Montgomery, this “game ball” is awarded for your years of leadership, and unconditional commitment to the students, parents, teachers’, and staff of Henry County Schools. Congratulations on your Retirement.

The Board would like to recognize Steve Thompson, Principal of IMPACT Academy. Mr. Thompson has served Henry County Schools for 31 years. Mr. Thompson, this “game ball” is awarded for your years of leadership, and unconditional commitment to the students, parents, teachers’, and staff of Henry County Schools. Congratulations on your Retirement.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority “Thank You” to the Board of Education

The Henry County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated presented a special award to the Henry County Board of Education. The award was presented by chapter President Debra Abernathy.

New Hires

Name	New Position	Previous Position
Twyla Barkley	Principal, Luella Elementary	Asst. Principal (DeKalb, GA)
Reginald Jordan II	Lead, Marketing	Teacher, Woodland HS
Kenneth Tucker	Supervisor, Safety and Security	Asst. Principal, Stockbridge HS
Erin Bundrige	Coordinator, School Counseling	Counselor, Woodland MS
Latisha Walker	Coordinator, ESOL Services	Lead, ESOL Services
Jeff Rader	Coordinator, Employee Support and Response Coordinator	Director, Social Work
Jennifer McDay	Director, Transportation	Supervisor, Transportation
Kelli Smith	Director, Athletics	Coordinator, Athletics
Jamal Hafza	Director, STEM & Innovative Practices	Coordinator, STEM Design
Shaakira Akbar	Assistant Superintendent, Instruction and Learning	Director, Learning and Performance

Board Member Comments

District Board Member	Comments
District 1, Pam Nutt	Congratulations to the state Positive Athlete winners from Locust Grove High School Madison Mangham for the Girls multi-sport and Mason Moody for doing amazing things scholarship winners. Congratulations to the Bass Fishing Team from Locust Grove High School on qualifying for Finals. Acknowledged and thanked Atlanta Motor Speedway for their fantastic graduation season, acknowledged and thanked “The Blue Shirts” for their amazing job in helping with graduations. Acknowledged and thanked Atlanta Motor Speedway for completing an item from her bucket list by allowing her to ride in the Pace Car as a gift to her retirement.
District 3, Holly Cobb	Congratulations to the Bass Fishing Team from Ola High School and Union Grove High School as they qualified for Finals. Acknowledged the partnership between the Atlanta Motor Speedway and the amazing job they did for all HCS graduations. Congratulated all HCS graduates and wished them much success. Acknowledged that the month of June is National Safety Month and thanked our SROs for their incredible and hard work to keep our students and staff safe.
District 4, Sophe Pope (Vice Chair)	Congratulations to Mary Rozier from Eagle’s Landing High School as the Wellstar Positive Athlete Ambassador Scholarship winner. Congratulations to Keely Johnson from Union Grove High School on her state golf tournament, 2nd place win in five 5A play.
District 5, Makenzie McDaniel	Congratulations to Dutchtown High School’s Track and Field for their state championship, including state champions in the high jump, distance, 100-meter hurdles, Boys 4x200 Relay Team and the Boys 4x100 Relay Team. Congratulations to Hampton High School Boys 4x100 Relay Team for their state championship. Congratulations to Amanda Barnes from Hampton High School for being named the state Positive Athlete Winner in Lacrosse. Acknowledged that the Hampton Cluster will host a Tennis Camp starting on June 19-22, 2023, ages 5-19 are welcome from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Acknowledged that Eagle’s Landing High School Alum Antonio Gibson will host The Youth Football Camp at ELHS July 15, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., ages 5-15 are welcome. Congratulations to Henry County Schools Executive Director of Transportation Mr. Cliff Shearouse for receiving the Henry Heroes Award as presented by Henry County Board of Commissioners Chair Carlotta Harrell. Congratulations to the Dutchtown High School’s Sound of Dutchtown Marching Band for an outstanding performance at the D-Day Memorial program commemorating the 80th anniversary of WWII in Normandy, France. Congratulations to all 3,400 graduates of the Class of 2023 for your work, for your tenacity, for your dedication, making it through a pandemic and keeping the path straight.

 

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.