HCS Board of Education Meeting – August 12, 2024

Board Member Items

Board Chair Mrs. Pope presented a Superintendent Update, with the Board approving Dr. John Pace III as the new Superintendent for Henry County Schools at a Special Called Meeting on August 6^th. Dr. Pace will begin his tenure on September 3^rd. Mrs. Pope, Mrs. Cobb, Mr. McDaniel, and Mrs. Edwards thanked Dr. Knowlton for serving as the Interim Superintendent over the last several months.

Superintendent’s Welcome

Dr. Knowlton acknowledged the recent passing of 3 students and 3 staff members with a moment of silence.

The beginning of the school year has gotten off to a great start, and Dr. Knowlton shared a video highlighting back to school activities: Back to School Video

 

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Strategic Plan 

1. 1. Partners in Education, Mrs. Summer Cox, Chief of Staff 

Ms. Cox provided an update on efforts to expand the Partners in Education program, to include community partners, business partners, and civic-organization partners. Partners in Education have been defined as volunteers, mentors, and sponsors, and will have opportunities to recommit each school year while also being recognized for their partnership. Interested partners will soon have the ability to submit an online interest form to identify the type of support they are interested in providing to either the district or a school and will participate in the development of a Memorandum of Understanding with the district. Interested partners will also be able to learn more about the process and partnering opportunities through “How to Partner with Henry County Schools” sessions, which will be offered twice a year beginning this year. 

2. Core Business of Student Learning 

1. 1. Spring 2024 Georgia Milestones Results, Mrs. Termerion McCrary, Chief Learning and Performance Office 

Ms. McCrary provided a report on the Georgia Milestones results that have been publicly released from spring 2024. These results include the End of Grade assessments from grades 3-8 for EL, grades 5 and 8 for science, grade 8 for social studies, and End of Course assessments from American Literature and Composition, Algebra I/Coordinate Algebra, Biology, and US History. The 2023-2024 school year served as a baseline year for the new math standards, so those results and comparisons are not yet available. 

Results indicate that students exhibited noticeable growth in proficient and distinguished levels in US History, 5^th grade science, 5^th and 6^th grade reading, 5^th, 6^th, and 8^th grade ELA, as well as American Literature. 

To continue to improve reading outcomes for students, the Henry Reads initiative began this summer with priority given to professional development on the science of reading, literacy, lesson planning, and high leverage instructional practices. 

While there are many areas of celebration across schools and clusters, several schools exhibited double digit gains in content areas: 

Cluster Celebrations- Double Digit Gains
Dutchtown DMS- 8th Physical Sci (+27) DHS- Biology (+14) ROE- 3rd Reading (+18)	Eagles Landing FLE- 5th ELA (+16)	Hampton HMS- 8th Physical Sci (+12) MCE- 5th Reading (+11) MCE- 5th ELA (+12) HES- 3rd Reading (+17) HES- 5th ELA (+10) RCE- 3rd ELA (+12) RCE- 5th ELA (+11)
Locust Grove LGM- 6th Reading (+11) LGE- 5th Science (+10)	Luella BES- 5th ELA (+11) BES- 5th Science (+13) LES- 5th ELA (+15)	McDonough MMS- 6th Reading (+11) TES- 5th Reading (+16) TES- 5th ELA (+14) WLE- 5th Science (+11)
Ola OMS- 6th Reading (+10) OMS- 8th ELA (+10) OMS- 8th Social Studies (+11) OHS- US History (+14) NHE- 4th Reading (+16) NHE- 4th ELA (+12) OES- 5th ELA (+14) RSE- 5th ELA (+17) RSE- 5th Science (+14)	Stockbridge ARMS- 8th Physical Sci (+20) ARE- 5th ELA (+17) CIE- 5th Reading (+12) CIE- 5th ELA (+15) CIE- 5th Science (+17)	Union Grove UGH- American Lit (+11)
Woodland PGE- 3rd Reading (+14) WES- 3rd Reading (+12) WES- 5th Reading (+22) WES- 5th ELA (+13)	Excel Academy EXM- 8th Reading- (+10)

 

3. Ensuring Operational Effectiveness 

1. 1. July Construction and E-SPLOST Report, Mr. Josh Malcom, Chief Operations Officer

1. School Electronic Message Signs

Installation of electronic signs has been completed at all schools with the exception of PGES, HMS, and HHS. Training for school personnel is in progress.

2. New Administration Office Facility

Exterior brick placement has been completed. Installation of window frames is complete with glass installation ongoing, and work on the parking lot base has begun.

3. New Transportation Facility & Renovations to Existing Transportation.

The parking lot is 50% complete, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough in has begun.

4. Renovations, Modifications, and Additions for Ola Middle School

The construction contract process has been completed and construction will begin soon.

5. Additional Updates

• The punch list items for Birch Creek Elementary are in progress.
• The HVAC cooling tower replacement at Austin Road Elementary and East Lake Elementary has been completed.
• The Dutchtown Middle School addition is in design right now.  
• The Ola High School addition design starts in September.
• The Wolf Creek Elementary School design process will begin in March.

 

1. 2. June and July 2024 Financial Reports, Mrs. Shanika Clay, Chief Financial Officer

1. June 2024 Financial Report

• General Fund Assets and Total Cash on Hand - The total value of general fund’s assets at the close of June totaled $156.1 million, while Cash on Hand across all funds during reporting period totaled $359.7 million.
• E-SPLOST V – There were expenditures of $510,317.56 during the month of June.

• E-SPLOST VI - There were expenditures of $7.9 million in the month of June. 

• Capital Accumulation - There were expenditures of $288,171.44 with investments in Safety and Security infrastructure and athletic equipment growth and replacement being the key drivers in the month of June.
• ESSER Funds- There were no expenditures incurred in June.

 

2. July 2024 Financial Report

• General Fund Assets and Total Cash on Hand - The total value of general fund’s assets at the close of July totaled $138.3 million, while Cash on Hand across all funds during reporting period totaled $322.4 million.
• E-SPLOST V – There were expenditures of $10,918.60 during the month of July. Mrs. Clay also indicated that E-SPLOST V funds are now 100% expended.

• E-SPLOST VI - There were expenditures of $6.8 million in the month of July, bringing expenditures to date for the program to 38%. 

• Capital Accumulation - There were expenditures of $257,940 with investments in Safety and Security infrastructure and athletic equipment growth and replacement being the key drivers in the month of July.
• ESSER Funds- There were expenditures of $448,028 incurred in July, and this will conclude the ESSER funds.

 

BUSINESS ITEMS

1. Henry County Schools – STEM High School Bid Tabulation

The Board of Education approved the STEM High School Bid Tabulation with a vote of 4 to 0.

 

2. School Crossing Guard Memorandum of Understanding

The Board of Education adopted the School Crossing Guard Memorandum of Understanding with a vote of 4 to 0.

 

3. FY25 Perkins Grant funds

The Board of Education approved the acceptance of FY25 Perkins Grant funds with a vote of 4 to 0.

 

4. Time and Labor Management Equipment

The Board of Education approved the purchase of time and labor management equipment with a vote of 4 to 0. 

INSPIRATION

Inspiration for the August Board Meeting was provided by the Dutchtown Middle School Orchestra.  The students performed the song, “Theme from Canon in D”. Dutchtown Middle School’s principal is Dr. Crystal Williams. 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

View full album here
  

2023-2024 Georgia High School Association Electric Membership Corporations Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award Winner

Georgia’s Electric Membership Corporations proudly sponsor the Georgia High School Association Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award. The award honors schools that demonstrated impeccable sportsmanship during the school year. One of two recipients is from Henry County Schools.

 

• Michelle Ahmad, Athletic Director, Luella High School ~ Region 5-AAAA

• Brandi Hardnett, Principal
  

 

2023-2024 Georgia High School Association Electric Membership Corporations Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award winner and 2023-2024 Athletic Department Academic Award winner

In addition to receiving a Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award, Stephen Spruell, Athletic Director at Union Grove High School (UGHS), received the 2023-2024 Athletic Department Academic Award. The UGHS athletic department marked the highest GPA for all student-athletes combined for the 2023-24 school year, thus being presented with the Henry County Schools Athletics Academic Award. We are extremely proud of their academic and athletic accomplishments, boasting six region championships, 16 state play-off appearances and two Elite Eight state finishes. UGHS had a combined GPA of 3.52 with 17 athletic scholarship signings. The athletes, coaches and athletic director were celebrated for their accomplishments, including winning the Georgia Athletic Directors Association Region Director’s Cup for the third time in 4 years, and having multiple Region Coaches and Players 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 3.25 with over 140 student athletes who went on to sign college scholarships. The high expectations of teachers, parents and oversight of coaches, athletic directors and other school staff create opportunities for our student-athletes that might not otherwise exist, further providing evidence that athletic participation increases academic success.

 

• Stephen Spruell, Athletic Director, Union Grove High School ~ Region 2-AAAAA

• LaTonya Richards, Principal

 

National History Day National Competition Award Winners

Four projects from Henry County Schools competed during the National History Day (NHD) National Competition at the University of Maryland in June. Students competed in multiple rounds of competition and interviews throughout the week. These projects and students, by simply being selected to compete at the national competition, represent the top 3% of all NHD projects completed nationwide.

  

Georgia Junior Division Outstanding Affiliate Entry Award

 

Ola Middle School

• Kennedy Reardanz
• Michael Peterson

• Christine Anderson, Principal
• Zachary Barfield, Teacher

 

Smithsonian National Museum of American History Showcase Exhibit and American Labor History Award

 

Ola Middle School

• Kayla DeBlois
• Nevaeh Dowell
• Chana Oden
• Morgan Walker

• Christine Anderson, Principal
• Zachary Barfield, Teacher

 

Smithsonian National Museum of American History Showcase Exhibit and Georgia Senior Division Outstanding Affiliate Entry Award

 

Ola High School

• Madelyn Reardanz

• Nick Ellis, Principal
• Zachary Barfield, Teacher·

 

 

PERSONNEL 

 

Name	New Position	Previous Position
Monique O’Bryant*	Assistant Superintendent District and School Performance	Director of Research and Evaluation Atlanta Public Schools
Emmaundia Ford*	Executive Director Exceptional Student Education	Director of Special Education Atlanta Public Schools
Kristen McRae*	Senior Director Leadership Services	Director of School Support Leadership Services
Dr. Maria Lumpkin	Foundation Director Office of the Chief of Staff	Senior Vice President Livingstone College

*Asterisk denotes approval at the July 22, 2024, July 29, 2024, and August 6^, 2024 Special Called Board Meetings

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

District Board Member	Comments
District 1, Dr. Pam Nutt	*Dr. Nutt was not in attendance
District 2, Annette Edwards (Vice Chair)	Mrs. Edwards recognized Union Grove High School and Luella High School for the representatives that won the GHSA Sportsmanship Awards for their respective regions.   Mrs. Edwards enjoyed the inspiration for the August Board meeting provided by the Dutchtown Middle School orchestra.
District 3, Holly Cobb	Mrs. Cobb attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the 53rd school - Birch Creek Elementary School.    She also thanked the facilities and maintenance team and transportation team for everything they do to make sure our district is ready for students to learn.
District 4, Sophe Pope (Chair)	Mrs. Pope recognized the 100 student athletes that are off to college to play their respective sports.
District 5, Mackenzie McDaniel	Mr. McDaniel recognized Luella Middle School for being accepted to present at TED EdTalk,   Mr. McDaniel recognized Hampton High School alumni, Daniel Roberts, for winning the silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics for the 110-meter hurdle.   Mr. McDaniel recognized Locust Grove High School for hosting a volleyball tournament.   Mr. McDaniel stated that Dutchtown will be celebrating their 20th anniversary on August 20th at Zaxby’s.   Mr. McDaniel recognized Steven Fisk for his PGA Golf qualification.