Posted by JD Hardin on 2/22/2022
Highlights – 2-14-22
- Celebrating Black History Month
Henry County Schools is celebrating Black History Month in 2022 by joining the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s national theme of Black Health & Wellness in recognizing the many contributions by African Americans here locally in our community! Throughout the month, the district website and social media accounts are providing introductions to remarkable individuals who have or plan to make health and wellness their career focus. Celebrating the past, present, and future means spotlighting an exceptional group of dedicated themselves to helping others. Find out more about these impactful individuals by clicking here.
- Strategic Plan – Counseling, Advisement, and College & Career Readiness Update
Chief Family & Student Support Services Officer Dr. April Madden provided a report on updates regarding the Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, known as Henry Futures. The presentation also coincided with the recently celebrated National School Counselors Week and the focus given to school counselors and their impact in Henry County Schools.
As a part of Strategic Action 4 which focuses on advancing student and employee health, wellness, and support structures, there is an initiative focused on establishing a comprehensive school-wide counseling, academic and career coaching and advisement program.
Dr. Madden began by reviewing previous counseling structures that existed in various levels across the district, and how the services provided were not done so with a systemic model. National standards were present, but practices varied across the district due to district resources not being fully developed.
As it pertained to college and career readiness activities, the available resources used to prepare students and gauge readiness were time-consuming and not accessible enough for district/school personnel or families to dive deeper into the results to better prepare students. The district moved to eliminate these hurdles and make connections with students and families more efficient and effective in order to help provide a clearer picture of their paths toward college and/or a career.
In order to accomplish this, the district has now developed a school counseling framework that reflects a comprehensive approach to program foundation, delivery, development, management, and accountability. And according to Dr. Madden, “The model is a blueprint that will help school counselors continue to build on their work prior to and during the pandemic of shifting from service-centered for some students to program-centered for every student. The model answers not only the question ‘What do school counselors do?’ but more importantly, ‘How are students different as a result of what counselors do?’ This model will ensure that advocacy, leadership, and systemic change are evident throughout the program.”
Dr. Madden also pointed to the recent investment in the platform called Naviance which will allow the district to connect students to a one-stop shop for college and career readiness tools and align their interests with future plans starting in elementary school through post-secondary. Parents and school counselors will have access to view information and analyze data more intentionally.
The report was rounded out by featuring the next phase of development for Henry Futures, which will allow the district to continue to track alumni through their post-secondary plans, ensure all 11th and 12th-grade students have a plan for graduation, all 6th-12th grade students are not only meeting Bridge Bill Requirements but are engaged in planning their futures with family partnerships, that are aligned to their interests, we will be able to utilize the curriculum provided in the system as well as house scholarships and college acceptances.
Board members were glad to be able to hear of the progress while sharing their thanks and appreciation for the work performed by counselors across the district.
Board Member Dr. Pam Nutt (Dist. 1) started by acknowledging the huge impact counselors play in the success of our students. “Counselors are stretched so thin, and anything we can do to lighten the load for them and improve services for children, I’m all for it.”
Board Vice-Chair Annette Edwards (Dist. 5) stated, “I want to say thank you, and I am so grateful that we as a board decided to invest in the Henry Futures platform. The investment should definitely lighten the load of our counselors.”
Board Member Makenzie McDaniel (Dist. 2) added, “I know the value of a counselor, the value of a mentor, the value of someone who believes in you when you may not even believe in yourself. This program is something that is needed, and I am glad the investment is made now.”
“I cannot wait to see this Henry Futures get started and this comprehensive approach to our counseling program,” shared Board Member Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “Our counselors are phenomenal, and this platform will give them more time to do what they love and feel they are called to do with our students.”
Board Chair Holly Cobb (Dist. 3) echoed her colleagues by stating, “I want to share my heartfelt appreciation for our counselors and the job that they do.”
- Ensuring Operational Effectiveness – FY23 Budget Outlook
Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay provided a report on the FY23 budget outlook which also included FY22 Mid-Term and FY23 assessments.
Mrs. Clay started by addressing current legislative activities in Atlanta and their impact on the current fiscal year – FY22 - budget.
Governor Brian Kemp delivered some big news for education in his State of the State address on January 13. In his speech, the governor detailed significant recommendations for mid-year adjustments to the FY22 budget which include eliminating the austerity cuts that have been in place and providing a one-time pay supplement for various job families in the education industry. These recommendations, coupled with a stronger performing local economy and lower spending than projected will result in net gains for the district to in turn support a stronger fund balance or reserve funds. We will have to await the state legislature taking action on these recommendations before being able to make a recommendation to our board of education to move forward, but if realized, our fiscal outlook could shift in a positive way from having to use federal funds to balance our budget to using the state adjustments to fully provide the one-time pay supplement at the top level for all full-time employees in the district.
Moving forward to address the FY23 budget outlook, Mrs. Clay started by noting several trends related to state funding and requirements of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS). There are modest increases to the proposed budget when compared year-to-year, state austerity cuts are proposed to be eliminated, and the local economy is performing at a strong clip. However, increases to a school district’s TRS contribution, compensation increases on the state salary scale, a decrease in funds received from the equalization grant, and an increase to the contribution required for the local five mill share will impact the revenue streams and expenditures for the district in the coming school and fiscal year.
Mrs. Clay also used her report to provide an update on the district’s budget alignment to the five-year strategic plan, and more specifically, she referenced the board-requested compensation and classification study for every single job family, plus athletic, extracurricular, and program-specific supplemental positions to support competitive salary investments in our employees. The Henry County Board of Education has previously unanimously agreed that advancing compensation and advancing the community-inspired strategic plan this coming year, and in the years to come, is the top investment priority for our district.
According to Mrs. Clay, the study is ongoing, and preliminary insights guide consideration of urgent investment opportunities in teacher salaries and paraprofessional salaries. Regarding teachers specifically, preliminary market and financial analysis from the study position the Superintendent to bring a recommendation to the board that, if approved by the board in May, would result in an 8% salary increase to the teacher salary schedule for the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
The compensation and class study will be conducted in four phases and will set target compensation goals for all job families. With these goals established, a multi-year plan can be designed to ensure progress is achieved towards targets in this budget cycle and those to come. The most significant part of a school systems’ budget is the investments made in personnel and we know that our system’s ability to attract and retain the best talent in the profession is key to advancing opportunities, access, and outcomes for students.
The board will consider all information as it works to inform the FY23 budget prior to adopting a tentative and final budget in April and May, respectively.
- Other Agenda Items
The following agenda items were either heard during the informational items portion of the study session or approved as a part of the business items for the evening meeting’s formal actions:
- Fairview Elementary – Exterior Modifications Bid Tabulation – The board unanimously approved the apparent low bidder of Sunbelt Builders for the E-SPLOST VI exterior modifications to Fairview Elementary. The work consists of demolition activities to remove the existing front canopies, walkways, landscaping, and utilities across the front of the existing building, then building a new front canopy and walkway plaza along with a new gas line and storm drain system. Total costs - $2,593,000.
- HVAC Modifications (Bi-Polar Ionization) Bid Tabulation – The board unanimously approved the apparent low bidder of Ray & Son Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. for the HVAC Modifications (Bi-Pola Ionization). The funding will come from ESSER II funding. Total costs - $577,237.
- Renewal of Enterprise License Agreement for Network Security Tools and Services – The board unanimously approved Cisco’s security enterprise License agreement renewal, which provides for the district’s suite of security management tools for network monitoring, protection, and endpoint security. Costs are covered under E-SPLOST V & VI funding. Total costs - $3,616,289.58.
- Renewal of Student Information System Software – The board unanimously approved the Information Services Division’s request for the annual renewal of the HCS Student Information and parent portal system. Infinite Campus is the current provider of our Student Information and parent portal software system. This platform is the district’s primary system for the management of student data including grading, transcripts, scheduling, behavior, and attendance. Funding for the system software is covered under the General Fund expenditures. Total costs - $150,736.75.
- 2023-24 and 2024-25 School Year Calendars Approved – The board unanimously approved the proposed calendars for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school year calendars with amendments made to remove the parent-teacher conference days in October on both calendars. The calendars can be found by clicking here.
- Leadership on the Move
|
Name |
New Position/Location |
|
Dr. Duke Bradley III |
Chief of Staff – District Office |
|
Nicholas Schmenk |
Director of Facilities |
|
Clinton Ward |
Principal – Hampton High School |
- Awards and Recognition
- Athletics
- Volleyball Players of the Year:
Region 5-4A-Marianna Morris – Hampton High School
Region 4-5A-Gabrielle Jones – Eagle’s Landing High School
- Volleyball Region Coach of the Year:
Region 5-4A-Amy Washington – Hampton High School
Region 4-5A-Joel Kellogg – Eagle’s Landing High School
- Softball Players of the Year:
Region 5-4A-Tyler Ellison – Hampton High School
Region 4-5A-Jasmin Stewart – Ola High School
Region 4-5A-Skylar Elkins – Locust Grove High School
- Cross Country Runners of the Year:
Region 5-4A-Ethan Sanders – Luella High School
Region 4-5A-Daniel Townsend – Locust Grove High School
Region 4-5A-Gabby Parsons – Union Grove High School
- Region 4-5A Cross Country Coaches of the Year:
Girls Cross Country-Eric Daugherty – Union Grove High School
Boys Cross Country-Dale Smith – Locust Grove High School
- Football Players/Coach of the Year:
Region 5-4A defensive player of the year: Isaiah Mitchell – Luella High School
Region 5-4A special teams player of the year: Garrison Rippa – Luella High School
Region 4-5A Defensive player of the year: Dwight Johnson Jr – Dutchtown HS
Region 4-5A C0-Special Teams Player of the Year Chase Folser – Ola High School
- Area Girls Flag Football Player of the Year:
Lily Goldsmith – Luella High School
- Girls Flag Football Co-Coaches of the Year:
Lorenzo Bryson – McDonough High School
Jaime Henck – Luella High School
- Cheerleading Coach of the Year
Region 4-5A-Shaunte Strong – ELH
- VEX State Championships
VEX IQ Team members are:
Nate Anderson
Madison Bartlett
Katelyn Dobbs
Gracie Jenkins
Delaney Jones
Lucas Lanham
Penny Peterson
Nathan Schmitt
Jackson Williamson
Coach Christie Schmitt
- Regional Science & Engineering Fair
Eres (Air – res) David – Eagle’s Landing High
Garrett Moore, Union Grove High
Noah Seelhammer – Union Grove High
Logan Siegel, Ayzsa Wooten, and Nicole Ellis, Locust Grove High
Kushagr Bhambani and Aryan Patel, Union Grove High
Cason Allen – Luella High – Cason will also represent Henry County Schools during the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May.
Shreya Patel – Union Grove High
Dylan Mingledorff, Union Grove High
- HCS District Literacy Days Winners
- Poetry
Kindergarten: Lincoln Gonzalez, Woodland Elementary
1st Grade: Jordyn Woodyard, Pate’s Creek Elementary
2nd Grade: Aeioua Ret, Ola Elementary
3rd Grade: Manav Rao, Flippen Elementary
4th Grade: Hanna Daniels, Fairview Elementary
5th Grade: Mackenzie Mobley, Rocky Creek Elementary
6th Grade: Brian Leon, Dutchtown Middle
7th Grade: Chiemezie Ndeke, Dutchtown Middle
8th Grade: Abigail Barnes, Impact Academy Middle
- Writing:
Kindergarten: Penelope Miles, Woodland Elementary
1st Grade: Logan Hollingsworth, Fairview Elementary
2nd Grade: Kane Surface, Unity Grove Elementary
3rd Grade: Lily Reynolds, New Hope Elementary
4th Grade: Reagan Valentine, Cotton Indian Elementary
5th Grade: Serenity Willard, Woodland Elementary
6th Grade: Addison Scarlett, Union Grove Middle
7th Grade: Bhavi Patel, Impact Academy Middle
8th Grade: Kennadie Mosley, Eagle’s Landing Middle
- Drama:
K-2: Woodland Elementary: Kai Dozier, Ella Cook, Ava James, Carolyn Neal, Wesson Palan, Amelia Patrick, Ryder Polite, Landyn Watt, Lincoln Gonzalez, Penelope Miles
3-5: Rock Spring Elementary: Ethan Hall, Richard Merion, Gracelynn Holland, Baileigh Bowers, Chana Olden, Addison Phillips, Alex Porter, Charlotte Thomason, Nyla Knight, Destinee Mathis
6-8: Luella Middle School: Raelon Ray, Kwateas Russell, Kamarih Keel, David Miller, Aryan Shah
- HCS District Spelling Bee Finalists
3rd place: Gopal Patel, Union Grove Middle
2nd place: Christian Orelus, Luella Middle
1st place: Ananya Augustine, Eagle’s Landing Middle
- Henry County High Points
Dr. Pam Nutt – Dist. 1
- Dr. Nutt started by thanking school counselors as a part of national school counselors week, and she noted the importance and celebration of Black History Month. She congratulated winners from her district who won at the Griffin RESA Literacy Days – Lily Reynolds from New Hope Elementary and Ms. Miller’s team from Rock Spring Elementary. She also congratulated Mason Moody and the Locust Grove High School wrestling team for their performance in the Duals Championship. The McDonough High School art club was noted for its fundraising efforts to support the Haven House in Henry County. The McDonough High School orienteering team also gained recognition for their #1 ranking. Luella High School earned congratulations from Dr. Nutt for: John Travis – Economics Teacher of the Year for GA Council of Economic Teachers; boys basketball – 3rd place in AAAA-Region 5; LaToya Brown - girls basketball Region Coach of the Year; Evangelina Davlakou – Region Player of the Year. She also welcomed Dr. Duke Bradley to the district as the new Chief of Staff.
Mr. Makenzie McDaniel – Dist. 2
- McDaniel celebrated counselors for their hard work as a part of national school counselors week, and he also noted the chance to participate in Black History Month activities at Rocky Creek Elementary. He noted the accomplishment of Ashley Lott who was named the AAAA-Region 5 Athletic Director of the Year. He also featured the accomplishments of the Dutchtown MS 7th-grade girls and 8th-grade boys basketball county championships. The Luella HS boys and girls basketball teams were congratulated for moving on to the state tournament. Garrison Madden (senior at Dutchtown HS) was featured for being named an All-State linebacker for AAAA-Region 5. Dutchtown HS’s Braxton Cooley, Adrian Avery, Davarri Barthell, Jeremiah Edwards, Jade Anderson, Taylor Ward, and Morgan Oglesby were all featured for regional athletic honors they received. He closed his remarks by celebrating and honoring Mrs. Edwards for her service to the board, also as a part of Black History Month.
Mrs. Holly Cobb – Dist. 3
- Cobb started by congratulating Wonuola Abiodun (senior from Union Grove HS) and her teacher Amanda McClure for being named the county STAR Student and Teacher. The Ola HS wrestling team was featured for their 3rd place finish at the AAAAA State Duals Meet. Ola HS students Jackson Cannon and Chase Fowler were also featured for their nomination to the AAAAA All-State Football team. Ola Middle School’s Vex IQ team was celebrated for their Excellence Award at the recent state championships, and they will now get the opportunity to compete in the world championships in May.
Mrs. Sophe Pope – Dist. 4
- Pope started by congratulating Coach Shaunte Strong from Eagle’s Landing HS for being named AAAAA-Region 4 Coach of the Year and the Eagle’s Landing MS 8th -grade girls basketball team for winning the county championship. She also noted the achievements of several students and schools from her district as a part of the Griffin RESA Literacy Days. A special feature was given to Wonuola Abiodun (senior from Union Grove HS) and her teacher Amanda McClure for being named the county STAR Student and Teacher. She praised all school counselors and thanked them as a part of national school counselor week. She noted the performance of Cotton Indian Elementary’s students in Aladdin. She closed her remarks by celebrating and recognizing Black History Month, especially the feature here in Henry County Schools.
Mrs. Annette Edwards – Dist. 5
- Edwards started by celebrating school counselors for national school counselors week and calling special attention to Black History Month. She congratulated Dwight Johnson (junior at Dutchtown HS) for his nomination to the AAAAA Georgia High School All-State Football team. She also congratulated Woodland MS’s 7th-grade boys basketball team for winning the county championship. Dutchtown MS was celebrated for winning the Henry County Water Authority’s Water Tower competition. Hanna Daniels (4th-grader at Fairview Elementary) was congratulated for her outstanding performance at the Griffin RESA Literacy Days competition. She closed her remarks by featuring the recent “How To Do Business” seminar hosted by the district’s Finance Division.
Mary Elizabeth Davis – Superintendent
- Supt. Davis recognized the new members of the district leadership team and other new hires in the district. She also noted that in preparation for next school year, Henry County Schools is beginning to issue certified contracts for next school year in an effort to retain the best professionals in the industry.
