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Flexible Benefit Open Enrollment to start later this month.
Please click here
to see when our benefits specialist, Christina Crane, will be visiting your location to discuss this year's Flexible Benefit Open Enrollment. |
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A message from our Superintendent, Dr. Curtis Jones
Why is House Bill 908 important?
As you may know, the Governor is estimating a shortfall of about $839,000,000 in state revenue for FY2011 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011).
To address this shortfall, our state legislature is considering House Bill 908. I think you'll find some of its provisions interesting.
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For the next three years a local board of education may notify the State Board of Education that they are electing not to complete up to 10 days of the school year due to a financial exigency (defined in the bill). The 10 days can be a combination of planning days and up to 5 instructional days.
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It authorizes the State Board of Education to provide a blanket waiver for class size requirements for a specific school year when a financial exigency occurs. This will equal or create about $420 million in savings.
To see the Georgia Board of Education's full presentation by Superintendent Kathy Cox on March 11, please click here.
So, what does this mean for us in Griffin-Spalding?
House Bill 908 allows flexibility. But that flexibility means next year we may be considering a school year that is less than 180 days for students and less than 190 days for teachers.
While we only took 3 furlough days this year, many school systems around us have already planned on 8. It looks as if the state is now seriously considering a law supporting a reduction of the regular school year.
Local alternatives for school systems are:
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To go into reserves,
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Eliminate discretionary programs,
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Raise property taxes,
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Continue to defer textbook purchases,
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Increase class sizes,
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Reduce staff and teaching positions, and
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Close schools.
We know any of those options will be difficult. I just wanted to share with you the reality of the situation that we're facing. It's something we need to think about.
Staggered School Start Times
In the process of finding ways to save dollars, we have identified the idea of staggered school start times to offset some of the funding reductions we are sure will come.
While staggered school start times will not save all the money we need to save, it is a good start, and it is a way for us to move forward.
If you have other ideas that you've been holding back or that you are still considering, please share them. Email or call me.
I would enjoy hearing from you.
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Griffin-Spalding STAR Students and Teachers Announced
The 2010 STAR Students for the Griffin-Spalding County School System have been announced:
To be named STAR student, a high school senior must have the highest score on one test date on the three-part SAT and be in the top 10 percent or one of the top 10 students of their graduating class based on grade point average.
The STAR student selects the teacher who had the most influence on their academic success to be the school's STAR teacher.
Spalding High School STAR Student Elizabeth Turner, with the highest SAT score, will represent Spalding County (which includes private high schools) at the regional banquet sponsored by the Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce.
The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program is now in its 52nd year. The program is sponsored by the:
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PAGE Foundation, the
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Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the
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Georgia Department of Education.
The PAGE Foundation serves as the state coordinator of the PAGE STAR Program, which has honored more than 21,500 students and their teachers. |
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We care about our soldiers!
Our local unit of soldiers will be returning home in a few weeks. Let's fill the armory with "welcome home" and "thank you" posters. Let's show our soldiers we care.
Katie Cobb, the computer lab teacher at Orrs Elementary School, is coordinating this initiative for the school system.
"Posters don't have to be fancy or a particular size. They only need to be from the heart! Students, classrooms, grade levels, and clubs are all invited to participate if they wish. We only ask that your school's name is visible on every poster,"
said Ms. Cobb.
Posters must be completed by April 1st. Please contact Katie Cobb for more information. | |
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