The following are the answers Carrol Ann Coleman submitted to the forum questions submitted by readers. They have not been edited.
1 - What is the biggest issue you see facing Bryan County schools? How might you address that issue?
I believe the top issue today involves preserving Bryan County’s reputation for good schools. In this campaign, I have said "Good Schools Don’t Just Happen." To give credit where credit is due - We live in a community where the needs of children come first. The citizens of this county have given education top priority as a public service and willingly, :) for the most part, support our schools with their tax dollars.
Untold hours of volunteered time, talent, and labor, and countless donations of money and goods from individuals and local businesses support and supplement our schools. The citizens of Bryan County have a vested interest in how our schools are doing and the expectation that we will continue to improve. The community is proud of our schools and takes great pride in the reputation of our schools and the recognition as the best in the area. Staying on top has become a matter of pride.
The biggest challenge facing the Bryan County School Board is the challenge to maintain its focus on continuous improvement in student achievement. Now is not the time to take for granted that our schools are good schools.
Federal and state education initiatives, such as NCLB, and the state board’s Georgia Performance Standards have significantly raised the bar for student performance.
-High-stakes tests for promotion are now in place throughout a student’s academic career.
-Graduation requirements aimed at ensuring Georgia’s students will graduate college-ready and work- ready are tougher than ever.
We are at a crossroads and must focus our attention and efforts on improving student achievement at each grade level. From the boardroom to the classroom, we must work together to provide an effective academic program to ensure that Bryan County students can meet or exceed these new standards for student performance.
If we want to retain our bragging rights as the best school district around, it is time to step up to the challenge of implementing our own new initiatives toward continuous improvement in student achievement. By assessing the strengths and weakness in our academic programs, the school board can determine district priorities and begin addressing them. My plan would include aligning our financial and personnel resources to maximize achievement, providing high quality training opportunities for teachers, promoting a school environment that encourages active family participation and involvement, and providing additional services for underperforming students.
Being receptive and responsive to issues in the community like school athletics, uniforms, and trips is a part of board service and comes with the territory.
These things should be addressed to the community’s satisfaction, but should not be allowed to distract the school board and its members from the ultimate responsibility - student achievement and providing a more effective academic program so that our students can meet or exceed these new performance standards. This is a critical time and the board must focus attention and efforts toward improvement at each grade level.
2 - A nearby school system’s BoE was accused of crossing the line between governance and interference. Under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools regulations, school boards are responsible for developing policy and procedure - but the implementation must be left up to the district administrators.
How do you view your role as a potential board member? How do you see that role fitting into the school system as a whole?
The roles of the board and the superintendent are determined by state law and SACS.
There is a line that divides the roles of the school board from those of the superintendent. For the good of the school district, it is important for board members to understand their role in school governance, and just as importantly, to understand what is not the role or responsibility of a board member. Board members learn, sometimes from experience, sometimes the hard way, how to avoid stepping over that line into superintendent territory. I know I did. Understanding fully the structure of school governance helps. Remembering that the school board is a body with 7 heads helps. To get anything accomplished you have to act as one.
Boards make policy and the administration, under the supervision of the superintendent, carries it out. Local boards approve district rules and policies. Board policies tell "what to do" without saying "how to do it."
3 - The online school resource, Parent Connect, was designed to open the lines of communication between the schools and parents. One resident suggests it does - when teachers and parents both use it. But, there is still a problem with communication from the administrators and board with the parents.
How will you improve this particular area of communication?
Long ago, elected school boards replaced appointed school boards. The motivation was to keep "the public" in public education. Elected board members provide the connection that delivers the community’s values and will into its schools. It is the board’s responsibility to pave the road to confidence in our school system by creating as many opportunities as necessary for parents to have a say and to become involved in our schools. We need a more aggressive public relations plan.
Many mechanisms are already in place to make information available parents and the community, to solicit their input, and to give them a say in the decision-making process. As well, there are many opportunities for parents to become involved in our schools and in their children’s education. If I read my list, I will use up my 90 seconds. If anyone is interested I’ll be glad to share at a later time.
I don’t believe the problem is a lack of lines of communication between the admin and parents or between the board and parents. Rather, I believe the problem is the awareness and effectiveness of those lines of communication. Lines of communication are only effective if people are aware of them, use them, and if the parties understand which line is appropriate to their concern.
We need to do more and can improve in this area.
The school district currently provides Student and Teacher Handbooks.
A Parent Handbook, updated and published annually, identifying organizations and other opportunities for leadership, involvement, and volunteerism in schools, classrooms, and extra-curricular booster support - would be helpful to parents seeking opportunities to become involved.
The handbook can include contact information and procedures for participation.
As a parent and a former board member, I know that navigating school bureaucracy with a problem, concern or a new idea can be a difficult and confusing task. A Parent Handbook identifying administrative departments and clearly explaining chain-of-command procedures appropriate to the issue - can provide a valuable and time-saving framework for parents looking for the right and most effective approach to presenting their concerns and ideas.
The handbook can also provide district and school information, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions for families new to the district.
Another idea to address the issue of parent and community input is for the board to develop a CONSTITUENT SERVICES policy outlining procedures for prompt attention to concerns brought before them by parents and other citizens. The policy can include:
" A process for handling requests for information or assistance in a timely and effective manner.
" A designated staff member or members to whom board members may refer constituent service requests.
" A process for recording and tracking requests and responses.
" A feedback process for informing board members of the resolution of requests.
A third idea is to create a central office public relations position responsible for Constituent Services. School districts smaller than ours have done so, and soon might be a great time to consider this option.
I like Candy Piper’s idea about an automated phone message service for communication with parents. I read up on this a little, talked with someone who uses it at Fort Stewart and it seems it might be a cost-effective tool for communication that can be used in a number of beneficial ways.
To get information out, there is:
" The quarterly "Good News About Bryan’s Schools" newspaper,
" The weekly Education Matters news article in the local paper from administrators and directors,
" There is excellent news coverage of board meetings and events, and televised board meetings available to North Bryan viewers,
" The board website and individual school websites,
" School and department newsletters,
" The use of marquees,
" The school public address systems,
" Surveys mailed to parents,
" School Open Houses, PTSO meetings, and evenings set aside for students transitioning to next school,
" And last but not least, the least effective method at my house, flyers or letters sent home in bookbags.
To solicit input from the community, the board provides:
" A time for public comment at every regular board meeting
" Also, board meetings are rotated between each end of the county and held at different schools to encourage better attendance. The point being to make attending meeting more convenient and comfortable for visitors.
During my first term on the board, I suggested and helped establish these practices.
-Another way the board solicits input is thru our individual School Councils, the members elected by parents, receive input and send their reports and recommendations to the board. These were first implemented under Governor Roy Barnes.
-Board members have email addresses listed on the board website.
-My personal favorite avenue for input was a trip to the grocery store.
The superintendent, on behalf of the board, solicits communication and input from community stakeholders in several ways:
-One of the district directors, Mr. McGrath, attends County and City meetings on behalf of the board and superintendent.
-There is the Superintendents’ Parent Advisory group representing each school, and the Superintendents’ Teacher advisory group representing teachers at each school. There are booster groups and school volunteer programs for parent involvement in the schools.
4 - State Superintendent Kathy Cox recently proposed all Georgia schools institute the same late August start date. This idea has been previously suggested to the board, but has never officially been considered as an option. One recurring complaint is the issue of hot weather at the start of August, since school starts on or around Aug. 8.
Would you, as a board member, be willing to review the research and make an informed decision about whether or not a later school start date would benefit students - why or why not?
First of all, the difference in temperature in South Georgia from June to September or from May to October is not so great as to drive the decision-making on this issue. As a board member of course I would be willing to review the research, pro and con, regarding early vs later start dates. I’ve looked at some, but would be willing to look again.
For the most part, the advocates of a later start dates have a different agenda than a school board has. A school board needs to make decisions on issues such as school start date based on the impact on student achievement, and ask what are the chances a later start date would be detrimental to our efforts to improve student achievement? Bryan County’s school calendar has been developed so that students have completed the semester and its required testing before Christmas break.
The issue of later school start dates first surfaced in response to lobbying from the tourism industry for vacation time and the ability to use high school summer employees extending through the month of office. Think Tybee motels and Six Flags. But, the tourism industry doesn’t have to worry about student achievement. It’s a capitalist thing and not an education thing. Also, most school districts, superintendents and school boards, would like for a start date to remain a issue of local control. If the State Board of Education mandates a state-wide school start date, Bryan County will start school on that date. The other thing folks sometimes forget about is just when the start date started to get later. It was when Georgia colleges and state universities changed over from the quarter system to the semester system, narrowing the window of opportunity for teachers to take summer classes to complete their advanced degrees.
5 - How would you rate the performance of Bryan County’s Superintendent, Dr. Sallie Brewer? And are you in favor of renewing her contract, why or why not?
Can’t comment on performance - not on bd. 18 months. Can comment on job description & outcomes I am aware. A community that places a high value on education and actively supports its schools has high expectations for its educational leadership, teachers and its students for educational outcomes, and rightfully so. Teachers and support staff want to work in Bryan County schools where they know their efforts are valued and appreciated; where they are provided adequate materials in a safe, structured environment conducive to teaching and learning. Our school administrators are blessed to choose among highly-qualified applicants dedicated to their profession.
Bryan County School District
Current Student Enrollment: 6702
9 Campuses
180-day school year (students)
190-day school year (teachers)
Bryan 2007 per pupil expenditure: $7010 - based on FTE
State Average per pupil expenditure: $8428 - based on FTE
We do it cheaper; we do it better; we do it twice - on both ends of county.
Total Employees: 959
Certified Staff: 550 - 99.6% highly-qualified; 92% returning X 2 yrs. (attrition-retirees, transferring families, military wives)
Non-certified Staff: 450
Certified Administrators: 35
Principals: 8
Asst. Principals: 14
Department Directors: 10
Asst. Directors: 3
Did she have anything to do with leading the area in the SAT’s, 17 point increase over five years on graduation rate, 92 % of teachers returned for second year in a row. Garrison Commander Todd Buchs - our military children are safe in your schools.
6 - Some of the reports have stated that a majority of parents were against school uniforms when parent surveys came out. I’ve never seen "official" results of these surveys. Can we see those and how can we be assured that these surveys were conducted by an objective source? Every parent I’ve spoken to agrees that we need to implement school uniforms. The "results" of the survey seem to be contradictory to what we are experiencing in everyday conversation throughout the community.
Why is the board opposed to uniforms? Would you consider it?
I don’t believe the board -as-a-whole has ever been opposed to or in favor of school uniforms. Certainly, individual board members may have had a personal opinion in favor of or opposed to uniforms, but this is not something a board should ever decide on its own.
Both times the issue of school uniforms has surfaced, it has been at the request of parents wanting their children to wear uniforms to school. I can promise you, no board I’ve ever served on would open this can of worms voluntarily. Few things are more personal to a parent than the way they clothe and dress their child. Everywhere this issue surfaces, it stirs up controversy in a community. You have strong advocates, you have strong opposition, and you have an overwhelming majority who never seem to weigh in with an opinion until after the vote is taken and they are opposed to the outcome.
As a board member, I would be open to considering uniforms, again, if presented with the request to do so. I would recommend some alternative to the survey methods used in the past, as it has been impossible to determine the wishes of the majority. In my opinion, a 25% rate of survey respondents is insufficient to determine if parents district-wide are truly in favor of or opposed to uniforms. If the board is again approached with the request for a change in dress code to school uniforms, perhaps the census should be hired out to consultants who are professional in matters of this nature. Perhaps Ms. Piper’s automated phone messaging system would work for soliciting input. Perhaps it should be a school-by-school approach should be considered. Like I said, can of worms, and I want the parents to have the final say. If the majority of parents want it, I’ll vote yes. If the majority is opposed, so am I.
7 - A lot of people in Pembroke feel that there is not equal representation for the north Bryan County schools. One resident, originally from a huge metropolitan area, said she cannot fathom some of what she’s seen here. Her husband, originally from a tiny town in the Midwest, said he can’t believe how many people are willing to believe the cop out: "Well, it’s a small town."
If elected, what will you do to ensure more equality in services offered to schools in both ends of the county?
Challenge to maintain equity - only county totally bisected by military installation.
All board members should represent all districts. Two districts there, three in RH, two county-wide. Not much to do about two-thirds of the people being able to elect more than one third can. Programs are the same. Funding per child is the same. Same amount per elem child both ends; same amount per middle sch child both ends; same amount for high school child both ends.
8 - Staggering the schools’ start times could help with:
- eliminating first and second loads of students, therefore eliminating the need for more bus drivers and buses;
- eliminating unreasonable bus schedules with children sitting at school for more than an hour before or after school, therefore more parents would be inclined to let their children use the buses;
- easing traffic problems, since everyone in the county wouldn’t be trying to leave at the same time; and
- cutting down on transportation costs in general, since fuel costs are so high right now.
What is your position on looking into this as an option for the school district?
Mr. Anderson did this study. (looks at it every year) It saved five drivers district-wide - not enough to cut out second routes. Finding drivers is the only solution. Perhaps they would like to take the course. When RHES replacement is done, one whole delivery and pickup will be deleted. Buses will deliver and pick up between new RHES and CES - shaving time off delivery to school and home. What about the parent who has a child in several schools? Do they deliver at 7:30, wait until 8:00, and then 8:30? We already stagger enough to make bus schedules work with opening of school times. Will continue to look at this each year. Perhaps at some point it will be more feasible.
5 - How would you rate the performance of Bryan County’s Superintendent, Dr. Sallie Brewer?
And are you in favor of renewing her contract, why or why not?
Can’t comment on performance - not on bd. 18 months. Can comment on job description & outcomes I am aware.
A community that places a high value on education and actively supports its schools has high expectations for its educational leadership, teachers and its students for educational outcomes, and rightfully so. Teachers and support staff want to work in Bryan County schools where they know their efforts are valued and appreciated; where they are provided adequate materials in a safe, structured environment conducive to teaching and learning. Our school administrators are blessed to choose among highly-qualified applicants dedicated to their profession.
Bryan County School District
Current Student Enrollment: 6702
9 Campuses
180-day school year (students)
190-day school year (teachers)
Bryan 2007 per pupil expenditure: $7010 - based on FTE
State Average per pupil expenditure: $8428 - based on FTE
We do it cheaper; we do it better; we do it twice - on both ends of county.
Total Employees: 959
Certified Staff: 550 - 99.6% highly-qualified; 92% returning X 2 yrs. (attrition-retirees, transferring families, military wives)
Non-certified Staff: 450
Certified Administrators: 35
Principals: 8
Asst. Principals: 14
Department Directors: 10
Asst. Directors: 3
Did she have anything to do with leading the area in the SAT’s, 17 point increase over five years on graduation rate, 92 % of teachers returned for second year in a row. Garrison Commander Todd Buchs - our military children are safe in your schools.
7 - A lot of people in Pembroke feel that there is not equal representation for the north Bryan County schools. One resident, originally from a huge metropolitan area, said she cannot fathom some of what she’s seen here. Her husband, originally from a tiny town in the Midwest, said he can’t believe how many people are willing to believe the cop out: "Well, it’s a small town."
If elected, what will you do to ensure more equality in services offered to schools in both ends of the county?
Challenge to maintain equity - only county totally bisected by military installation.
All board members should represent all districts. Two districts there, three in RH, two county-wide. Not much to do about two-thirds of the people being able to elect more than one third can. Programs are the same. Funding per child is the same. Same amount per elem child both ends; same amount per middle sch child both ends; same amount for high school child both ends.
8 - Staggering the schools’ start times could help with:
- eliminating first and second loads of students, therefore eliminating the need for more bus drivers and buses;
- eliminating unreasonable bus schedules with children sitting at school for more than an hour before or after school, therefore more parents would be inclined to let their children use the buses;
- easing traffic problems, since everyone in the county wouldn’t be trying to leave at the same time; and
- cutting down on transportation costs in general, since fuel costs are so high right now.
What is your position on looking into this as an option for the school district?
Mr. Anderson did this study. (looks at it every year) It saved five drivers district-wide - not enough to cut out second routes. Finding drivers is the only solution. Perhaps they would like to take the course. When RHES replacement is done, one whole delivery and pickup will be deleted. Buses will deliver and pick up between new RHES and CES - shaving time off delivery to school and home. What about the parent who has a child in several schools? Do they deliver at 7:30, wait until 8:00, and then 8:30? We already stagger enough to make bus schedules work with opening of school times. Will continue to look at this each year. Perhaps at some point it will be more feasible.