The Bryan County Board of Education had a lot of good things to talk about at their last meeting, on Oct. 25.
Superintendent Dr. Sallie Brewer was pleased to announce a number of "Good News" items on the agenda.
The meeting was held at the Richmond Hill Middle School, and students Anthony "Tony" Avery and Shaikeem Epps showed their appreciation to Food Service Director Carol Knight in response to food appreciation week.
The boys surprised Knight with a rap song of school meal gratitude, which they wrote themselves.
"I was thoroughly surprised, and it was just as cute as can be. I had no idea they were going to do that. We’ve never gotten a rap before, so that was neat," Knight said.
Video of the boys can be viewed on the web at www.bryancountynews.net.
In other recognition, Cindy Butler, a teacher at Richmond Hill Primary School, was commended for receiving the AASU Georgia Association of Teacher Educators Supervising Teacher of the Year award. Butler gave thanks to Frances Meeks for teaching her so much when she was first starting out. She has been labeled as a "teacher every parent hopes their child has."
Richmond Hill High School Principal Charles Spann acknowleged several of his students, including Matthew Baker, a National Merit semi-finalist, and La-She Henderson, a National Achievement Commended student, among several others. Additionally, RHMS students Caitlin Glassock and Matt Trivitayakhun were chosen for Georgia Southern’s Art Extravaganza, where their winning art will be displayed.
Richmond Hill Primary School administration and staff were recently given the Silver Award 2007 Single Statewide Accountability System. Out of almost 1,500 schools, RHPS is one of 34 winners. To qualify, the school had to meet AYP standards, have 25 percent of students with exceeding test scores, and demonstrate 96 percent of students meeting state assessment standards.
"It is one of the highest achievements recognized," Brewer said.
In other issues:
- The board approved a donation of $100 from the Richmond Hill Garden Club to the Frances Lane Meeks Scholarship fund at RHPS. Meeks said the school decided they wanted to do something to help teacher aides, by providing funds for tuition assistance to help them become certified. "I can’t tell you how grateful I am that they are still doing this. I am very honored that the Garden Club would give a donation in my name," Meeks said.
- The board approved a $4,700 donation from the RHPS PTSO for classroom items, $1,854 for AccuCut Die Cuts and $3,757.12 to purchase digital cameras and memory cards; $3,000 from the RHES PTSO for 18 class sets of flash cards, $11,000 for electronic response systems, software and training, $600 for purchasing electric pencil sharpeners and $1,000 for poster printer paper.
- The board decided to use the state meeting in November to check out different architects’ layouts and designs. Three of those architects’ will be selected to be interviewed, to see what insight they could potentially provide to the local district. The district has been using Buckley and Associates since 2002 and all board members agreed they have done a fantastic job, but also agreed it was important to remain current with what other schools and architectural firms have been doing.
- Warnell said she will be attending an advocacy workshop on Monday regarding House Resolution 900. She said the plan is expected to be laid out in the beginning of January, but until then, no one knows what mandates will come with the plan.
She pointed out that art, music, physical education, and school nurses are all funded from local tax dollars, just to name a few. "For every action, there is a reaction," she said, encouraging everyone to continue looking for information as it is released.