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 A story not well known...
a message from Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones
First, let say that with today is November 11, Veteran's Day, and it's a great day to be an American! On behalf of all of us, I wish to extend a special thank you to all who have served and who are currently serving in our armed forces, you protect us and the provide opportunity for us to enjoy the American way of life. Thank you for your service!
I could take time to talk about our budget situation, but we've talked about that a lot lately. Please know that we're continuing to work hard to bring this process to a conclusion as soon as possible. We understand your concerns about the 170-day calendar, administrative early retirement initiatives, and the possibility of a reduction in force. Please continue to work with us, ask your questions, and help us with solutions.
One reason, I believe, that we're going to come out of this leaner, more effective, more efficient is because of all the people working in our school system. Several months ago I asked principals, "Why do you think our school year 2011 is better than 2010?" Consistently, the principals' answer was, "Our workforce is doing a much better job." You have been provided tools and professional development. You're using it, and you're talking with each other in professional learning communities.
I repeated that conversation with teachers, and they told me, "My students are working harder. They appear to be smarter, and they're coming to me more prepared."
Students are working hard. Teachers are working hard. The results are clear in our AYP report - we're 17 to 1! It is a good year!
Leadership counts!
But one group not talked about much is our principals. We have some of the best principals in the state. It's an easy statement to make and hard to back up - but there is antidotal information.
As you know our SACS visit starts this Sunday and concludes on Wednesday. In anticipation of this visit, as well as preparing for our next SACS visit, we sent a team to a conference to learn what AdvancEd is currently doing and how accreditation visits will work. We just wanted to be sure that we hadn't missed anything.
Two Griffin-Spalding County School System principals presented at this SACS conference in Atlanta.
- Mr. Keith Simmons presented what Griffin High School is doing with the School Improvement Grant, saying this is what we're doing and this is why it's working. Keith has been sought out for additional speaking opportunities. We believe he and a team from Griffin High will present at the model schools national conference this summer.
- Dr. Martha Taylor of Moore Elementary School presented, "Removing Barriers in Instructional Delivery Through Professional Growth and Teacher Retention." She also presented at a national conference last year. She's well known and respected, and she is providing valuable leadership to her school and beyond.
Other principals have been featured speakers at conferences, too.
- Mr. Larry Jones of Futral Road Elementary School presented "Enabling High Performing Learning Environments" at Griffin RESA last March. He was selected because of Futral Road's performance. Larry's presentation was well received and attended.
- Mr. Derrell Jeffcoat of Spalding High School presented "Increasing the graduation rate by reducing the dropout rate by increasing subgroup performances" this year at Griffin RESA during a lunch and learn. I attended the session. Derrell and Dr. John DeCotas did an excellent job of explaining how Spalding High School has increased its graduation rate to record highs.
- Mr. Dexter Martin of Orrs Elementary presented at last year's National Character Education Conference. Orrs, as you know, is a National School of Character. At their conference, he presented how Orrs is increasing student achievement by focusing on character development.
- And next week, Mrs. Evelyn Jones of Anne Street Elementary will present to aspiring leaders. She was selected because of Anne Street Elementary's performance and the successes that they've had as a Title I Distinguished School for nine years.
All of these principals, as well as others, are providing great leadership in our schools. An excellent indication is that good leadership is being recognized outside of your own building and school system. I think this a story not well known, which is why I wanted to share it with you today.
We have a lot of folks to be proud of - and we are! We thank each of you for working hard and doing what you do for our children. Please have confidence that your leadership team will continue to work with you to help find the best solution for moving forward.
Why? Because that's the Griffin-Spalding County School System way. Daring to do Better! Have a great Veteran's Day and a great weekend!
Curtis |
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Griffin-Spalding County schools' 17-1 AYP record among top third in the state
Griffin, GA- When the amended AYP or Adequate Yearly Progress reports came in this week from the Georgia Department of Education, Griffin-Spalding County Schools could celebrate.
Griffin-Spalding's record of 17 of 18 schools making AYP put its rank at 51st out of 181 school systems in Georgia in terms of number of schools that made AYP. - Forty-nine school systems had 100% of schools make AYP.
- Columbia County School s followed with 96.7%.
- Griffin-Spalding's rate of 94.4 % making AYP ranked next.
- 130 school districts ranked behind Griffin-Spalding.
"Our 17-1 record of schools making AYP this year is exceptional," said Dr. Curtis Jones, superintendent. "All schools except A.Z. Kelsey Academy met the test participation and academic standards bar including graduation rate.
"We found out just how good some think we are. An Augusta Chronicle reporter compared Richmond County with other similar school systems in the state. He put Spalding on top of his chart with 17 of 18 schools making AYP followed by Troup, Clarke, Dougherty, Chatham, Bibb, and Muscogee among others.
"Thanks go to all our employees for making this achievement happen. Teachers, bus drivers and other support staff along with our school and central office administrators are to be congratulated for this milestone. Everyone has worked hard and the work has paid off in achievement for our children.
"Thanks also go to our stakeholders who continue to believe in us: families who send their students to us every day; a community that supports us with resources; and most of all, students who are out-performing their peers across the state."
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| Retirement incentives offered for administrators
a message from Stephanie Dobbins, Director of Human Resources
As part of our budget reduction strategies, the Board approved a retirement incentive for school system administrators on November 8th. The supporting logic behind this retirement incentive lies in the fact that the school system plans to reduce the total number of administrative staff effective with the 2012-2013 school year. In other words, we currently employ 60 administrators, and our goal is to reduce that number to 50 or 51.
The voluntary retirement incentive is available for 45 days to any administrators who volunteer. For example: If we have nine administrators volunteer to retire at the end of this school year, the approximate incentive cost will be $176,934.41 and will have a net savings of approximately $774,876. The following years result in an even greater savings of $951,810 annually.
We have been asked, "Why not offer the same incentive to teachers?" The result would be the loss of state funding while modestly reducing costs.
A teacher with a T4 certificate on Step 21 of the salary schedule makes $54,297 per year. Twenty percent of that salary would be $10,859. Teachers that chose to retire would have to be replaced. A new teacher with zero years of experience would make $35,728, then we must add the $10,859 incentive for a total cost of $46,587. The difference is $7,710. Subtracted from that $7,710 would be the time and cost of hiring a replacement. Principals would have to hire teachers with fewer than five years of experience in order to break even on the cost. We have never required principals to hire teachers below a set experience level. In addition, any savings that was gained would be for one fiscal year. The state funding formula for teachers is based on certificate and years of experience; therefore, our funding would be reduced the following year.
If nine teachers retire, and were replaced with nine teachers with zero years of experience, then the maximum savings (without replacement costs deducted) would be $69,390 compared to a savings of nine administrators that would not be replaced saving $774,876. One hundred teachers would have to retire to result in the same cost savings as nine administrators retiring and there is no benefit past the first year. |
| Orrs Elementary teacher Dana Smith Jett named 2011-2012 GSCS Teacher of the Year
 The Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education recognized Orrs Elementary School teacher Dana Smith Jett at their Tuesday, November 1, meeting for being named the 2011-2012 GSCS Teacher of the Year. She will represent the Griffin-Spalding County School System in the state-level Teacher of the Year competition in January 2012.
"We are very proud of Mrs. Jett and all of our GSCS school-level Teachers of the Year," said Dr. Curtis Jones, Superintendent of the Griffin-Spalding County School System. "They set the highest standard of teaching and learning in our schools. I know our school system is in good hands as Mrs. Jett proceeds to the state TOTY competition."
Congratulations to all 2011-2012 Teachers of the Year.
Anne Street Elementary - Nina Ogletree
Atkinson Elementary - Audra Olukoya
Beaverbrook Elementary - Laura Love
Cowan Road Elementary - Christine Ray
Crescent Elementary - Lisa Peeples
Futral Road Elementary - Sharon Totman
Jackson Road Elementary - Heather Fountain
Jordan Hill Elementary - Joanna Johnson
Moore Elementary - Denise Daniels
Moreland Road Elementary - Nicki Gore
Orrs Elementary - Dana Jett
Carver Road Middle - Bart Pinckney
Cowan Road Middle - Kathy Duke
Kennedy Road Middle - Robyn Davis
Rehoboth Road Middle - Beverly Blackmon
Griffin High School - Dawn Gatlin
Spalding High School - Michelle Purmort
A. Z. Kelsey Academy - Autumn Barnes
Taylor Street Achievement Center - Val Gladney
Mainstay Academy - Julie Neel |
GSCS Volunteer Recognition Program announces October Most Valuable Parents
a message from Heather Kingsley, Parent & Community Engagement Coordinator
The Griffin-Spalding County is proud to announce the Most Valuable Parents for October 2011. These individuals were nominated by their school for notable volunteer service at the school in October. Thank you and congratulations these volunteers:
Anne Street Elementary -Laurita Fuller
Crescent Elementary - Kerry Cross
Futral Rd. Elementary - April Harper
Jackson Rd. Elementary - Tina Guy
Jordan Hill Elementary - Holley Carroll
Moore Elementary - Shundra Jones
Moreland Rd. Elementary - "Mr. Marvin" Alspach
Carver Rd. Middle - Wanda Smallwood
Kennedy Rd. Middle - Mike Kendall
Rehoboth Road Middle - Elizabeth Bass
Taylor Street Achievement Center - Jacqueline Terry
Griffin High School - Brad Fowler and Colleen Fowler
Spalding High School - Chris Cook
Each month, one volunteer is selected as the district-level volunteer of the month. Congratulations to October's district-level MVP, "Mr. Marvin" Alspach from Moreland Road Elementary School. "He always has a smile, a kind heart, and is a very special person to us," said Moreland Road Principal, Stan Mangham, who has seen Mr. Marvin volunteer in his schools for over a decade. Thank you to Mr. Marvin and all of the volunteers within the Griffin-Spalding County School System. We appreciate your support and we couldn't do it without you.
 | | Mr. Marvin Alspach, with his volunteer award, is surrounded by Mrs. Amy McKemie's 2nd grade class at Moreland Road Elementary. |
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Two surveys coming your way
In an effort to collect data for school improvement, the Griffin-Spalding County School System is sending required federal and state surveys to employees.
Georgia Assessment of Performance on School Standards (GAPSS) Analysis
All certified teachers in the Griffin-Spalding County School System will receive an internet link to the GAPSS Survey, which is intended to provide data and specific direction for school improvement.
Title IIA Needs Assessment
Administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals will receive an internet link for the Title IIA Needs Assessment Survey, which is designed to maintain an up-to-date improvement plan and to determine the needs of the teaching force.
"Employees will receive the appropriate survey links from their principals," said Elizabeth Benz, Communications Specialist. "It is important that our employees complete these surveys so that our school system can continue to improve."
The deadline for completed surveys is Thursday, December 1. |
gscs Communicator Editor
Griffin Spalding County School System
PO Drawer N ~ Griffin, Georgia 30224 |
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Employee of the Month
~ Elementary Schools ~ | |
Anne Street
Marcy Blackmon
In addition to being an excellent teacher, she also spends time working with our students on the dance team, creating and producing programs for Black History, PBIS, cheerleaders and Literacy Days; the list is endless. Thank you Mrs. Blackmon for all of the extras that you do for our students.
Atkinson Elementary
DeAngela Lindsey and Tanika Akins
for organizing our Parent Rally/Parent Conferences. We thank you for effort and dedication. The rally was a great success and our students benefitted.
Beaverbrook Elementary
Ashley Baldwin
She does an excellent job as Media Specialist /Teacher/ Technology Guru. She helps keep numerous things running smoothly in our school. She is valuable member of our instructional program.
Cowan Road Elementary
Karen Stanfield
for her dedication to our students and willingness to assist others!
Crescent Elementary Sherrie May, cafeteria manager, and rest of our cafeteria staff Our cafeteria recently received 100% on their most recent inspection. Each day they start their day with smiles and feed our students a delicious breakfast. They then prepare a nutritious lunch and greet each student as he/she comes through the lunch line. Sherrie and the rest of her staff go above and beyond and support every part of our school. Our ladies are so friendly and helpful and we love them dearly!!!
Futral Road Elementary
Shelby Pullin
1st grade teacher.
Ms. Pullin has done a tremendous job as the chair of our Organization for Learning Design Team. She has led her team in the research and implementation of Futral Road's peer observations, Reading Celebration Week, academic activities for students and families, and school-wide writing strategies. Ms Pullin is an asset to our school and community.
Jackson Road Elementary
Gabrielle (Gabby)Thurston
3rd grade teacher
for always modeling flexibility, positivity and a team-oriented focus! Thank you for your willingness to embrace the new and flexibility to embrace change! We value you as a contributing team member!
Jordan Hill Elementary
Stella Heriveaux
Works tirelessly to ensure that her students meet the standards; an excellent teacher who cares about students, co-workers, and Jordan Hill!
Moore Elementary Janice Massac is our Intervention Counselor and works with our students 2 � days a week. When she is present she works with students as a counselor, mentor, friend and coach. She is gifted in team building relationships in the building and the community. She is a retired Spalding High counselor and she always bridges the learning and developing continuum between elementary and high school by reminding the students of life after 5th grade. Her strength of character and overall kind spirit are always on display and she has enhanced our school vision and mission.
Moreland Road Elementary
Lisa McPherson & Cafeteria Staff
Congratulations to our School Nutrition Staff! They made a perfect 100 on their inspection. Since our school opened in 2005, all but one inspection has resulted in perfect scores! Way to go!
Orrs Elementary
Keiza Hunt
for her tireless energy as a member of our lunchroom team. Keiza assisted in preparing and serving over seven hundred fifty students, parents, and staff for our annual Thanksgiving dinner. Keiza is a graduate of Griffin Tech's culinary program, and what she brings to the table is "gobbled up" quickly! She helps to prepare tasty meals and helps to organize and implement our nutrition program here as one of the best in the system. We are happy to have her here on our staff and we enjoy our association with her each day.
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The 2011 School System Annual Report is here! |
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Book sale to benefit students
Hosted by The Alpha Tau Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa
Click here! |
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