School System submits charter application

Chairman Mark Still pointed out that the Charter Petition, Charter FAQS and a power point presentation is easily accessible on the main page of the school system website.

FINANCES

In reporting that SPLOST fund receipts are “up a pretty good bit from last month… and the highest they’ve been since last September,” Ken Cato, Executive Director Business Services, told the board he was cautiously optimistic that “things are taking an upturn.”

An increase of $26,100 was reflected from the $659,470 collected in August to $685,570 in September. Last September, SPLOST receipts were $706,657, but then fell to $642,217 in October, then remained consistently below September 2010 collections.

OTHER BUSINESS

•For the second month in a row the Performance Learning Center/Alternative School won the Staff Attendance Award in the middle/high school category. Bethlehem Elementary won the September award for elementary schools.

Creel emphasized the award recognizes attendance achievement for all school employees, not just teaching staff.

Bethlehem Elementary also won the Clean School award for September.

•For the fourth time in five years, Barrow County Schools ranked in the top ten in the nation for technology use by the school board and in communication with the public, Creel said, during her Superintendent’s Report.

The school system placed sixth in the mid-sized student population category (2,501-15,000 students.) The National School Boards Association awarded the recognition in conjunction with the Center for Digital Education.

•Barrow County parent Becky Bowen was named one of 28 Georgia parents to serve on State Superintendent of Schools Brad Bryant’s Parent Advisory Committee, Creel said. And, Jake Grant, Assistant Superintendent for Facilities & Operation, is featured in the September issue of “Buildings” magazine. This is the fifth time Grant has been featured in a national facility planning and management publication.

•A “Good News” Letter has been launched on the main page of the school system website. Each edition will “highlight people and events from our system and schools,” Creel said, adding, “We have so many people… doing extraordinary things each day,”