This week began with some excitement for the Griffin-Spalding County School System.

 

Very early on Monday morning, we received a call from 911 with a report of a bomb threat at our high school. We conducted emergency actions at Griffin High School, Spalding High School, as well as A. Z. Kelsey Academy. It was an interesting way to start the week, but as I've said before, in the middle of every difficulty is opportunity.
 

We learned from this experience is that planning and preparation helps us through emergencies. In this particular case, we did very well in responding to the threat. Kudos goes to Griffin High School, Spalding High School, and A. Z. Kelsey Academy for implementing the emergency action operations for bomb threats and kudos also goes to the Central Office Emergency Operations Teams. In the past, we've had bomb threats where we've had to respond to one school, but I think this is the first time we've had to respond to multiple schools.

 

Congratulations to Jim Smith, Donna Parks, and the others in the Central Office who had just conducted a table top exercise to prepare for multiple simultaneous emergencies. So, while we were in the process of deploying one team to Spalding High School, we were able to send the second team in a very smooth, efficient, and effective manner to Griffin High. The crisis action team asked A. Z. Kelsey Academy to conduct a search as well.

 

Representatives from all of the involved schools and agencies attended our after-action review. We determined the following:

1.  The response went very smoothly. In fact, many believe that this is probably the smoothest response to a crisis situation that we've had in years.
    
2. We can still improve. One principal suggested that it's difficult to have a cell phone, a walkie-talkie, and a megaphone at the same time while trying to control a situation. So the lesson was, "Can we use technology to help us improve, or can we figure out a way to better delegate responsibilities and duties during emergencies?"

Overall, the cooperation between the school system, the Spalding County Sheriff's Department, the City of Griffin Police Department, and the individual schools was outstanding.

I thank you for maintaining a safe learning environment for our students. Your knowledge of the emergency operations plans is important. Once the crisis starts, it's key that we know where to go and to get there in a timely manner. So while this was very early in the school year and very early in the week, congratulations to all, and thank you, very, very much.
 

Have a great weekend!

 

Dr. Jones and system leadership including principals are actively seeking solutions to meet a $6 million shortfall in revenue forecast for the FY13 general operations budget that goes into effect July 2012.

To put this in perspective, this past year's budget had a shortfall of $4.9 million that was offset in several ways.

Compare to possibilities for FY13. 

How FY2012 shortfall of $4.9 million was met	FY2013 - projected shortfall $6 million
$3 million used from cash reserves (fund balance)	Cash reserves not possible to use because balance of $5. 3 million must be used to cover payrolls before local property tax is collected.
1 less instructional day with minutes added to school day to equate to 180 instructional days	Possibility of fewer instructional days by adding minutes to school day Not determined
Employee work schedule shortened by 6 days	Probable but not determined
No pay raises; step increases frozen where legally permitted	Probable but not determined
No change in millage rate - no tax increase	Not determined

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors who supported the 2011 Annual Golf Tournament.

Look in next week's COMMUNICATOR for more information! Until then, check out the photos on Facebook!

Petrosouth Hole-In-One Sponsor