What shall I call this week? 

A message from Dr. Curtis Jones, Superintendent  

We welcome Mr. Michael Kendall on his election to the Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education.  He has hit the ground running preparing to assume his seat by attending the Georgia School Board Association's new school board member orientation in Atlanta. I think this is particularly noteworthy when you consider Mr. Kendall won the runoff on Tuesday evening, and this training started the very next day at 1pm. Congratulations, Mr. Kendall.

We say good-bye to a long-serving board of education member. We wish our best to Mrs. Fannie Delaney as she ends her tenure on our school board. Mrs. Delaney, our current chair, has served with distinction and has helped improve our school system. You are invited to a reception honoring her on Tuesday, December 7, from 4:30 - 5:30pm in the GSCS Learning Center. We look forward to recognizing her for 10 years of contribution and achievement as a board of education member. Thank you, Mrs. Delaney.

A disappointment
I know many of you are wondering if I would make comments about Dr. Andy Matthews in our HR department. When the Communicator was last published it was too early for me to make comments. This week, I'll begin by saying for those of you who had doubts, I'm disappointed - and for a couple of reasons.

I've heard some rumors of the reasons that Dr. Matthews was placed on leave of absence.

• One was that she or members of her family changed student grades.
• Another was she was in charge of Title IIA and funds are missing

There is no evidence of either.

It is very disappointing these rumors have widely circulated. I have no idea where these rumors started. So, if someone said either of these to you, they were spreading rumors and telling lies. As we know, lies hurt. For those individuals, whoever you are... shame on you.

Dr. Matthews was placed on administrative leave because she did not follow a directive I gave her.

Open communication means both you and I have an obligation to each another. I'm trying to communicate with you through issues of the Communicator and through my open door policy. I want you to have trust and confidence that we are trustworthy and that we're sharing what we can when we can.

I hope that as this situation runs its course I can continue to earn your trust and respect. I accept the possibility that I allowed rumors to start because I didn't communicate earlier. If I had, maybe some wouldn't have started filling in the gaps. We as a community and school system must come together and realize that gap-filling serves no one in any positive way.

In closing, it has been a difficult, tough, and interesting week - election of a new board member, departure of a long-serving board member, and the personnel issue we are dealing with. But as I have said to you before in the middle of every difficulty there lies opportunity, and the Griffin-Spalding County School System will continue to dare to do better!

Have a great weekend.
 
--Curtis

Daring to do Better!

The students of the Kennedy Road Middle School Cougar News staff are pleased to announce you can now watch special school events live on the internet!

During basketball season, all home and local away games will be broadcast live on the internet. Those games may be watched using this link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kennedy-road-basketball

Game broadcast begins at 5:00.

Other school events, such as school concerts, student of the month celebrations, etc., along with academic materials, can be viewed on this link:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kennedy-road