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Did you enjoy the cake?
a message from Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones | |
 When I became superintendent in 2009, a personal goal I set was for the Griffin-Spalding County School System to become more of a school system and less a system of schools. In conversations with principals and teachers, perception was that we had some schools that were doing well and others that weren't. I wanted us to establish a band of excellence so that no matter where students went to school or where teachers taught, we knew that we were a school system helping one another. That thought has been in the back of my mind for the last two years.
We've made great strides in that effort. We have:
- Revised our mission statement
- Changed our vision
- Established system values
- Created a system strategy map.
- Implemented programs throughout the district like PBIS, Performance Matters.
- Implemented team-based improvement protocols.
All of those efforts are trying to help us become a more unified school system. This week, it all came together and validated the work that you and I have being doing the last two years. We were able to celebrate the best AYP results that our school system has had since No Child Left Behind was created. 17 of our 18 schools made AYP - 94% - that's a tremendous achievement especially when you consider less than 75% of schools in the state made AYP.
The AYP results are tribute to the hard work you have done. But, it's also an indication of the sharing and learning happening between schools, grade levels, and departments. You've participated in care meetings. You've come together to create common assessments and benchmarks. Truly, you've transformed the way you operate. You've transformed the way you learn and the way you help students achieve. So, I sent a cake to your school to celebrate AYP. I hope you also saw that as part of our effort to say, "We are the Griffin-Spalding County School System".
This week we also had the visit from the AdvancEd SACS-CASI Accreditation Team. They reviewed the work you have performed for the last 5 years, and they saw tremendous growth. Their recommendation is that we be fully reaccredited. We look forward to getting the final report in 30 days. The team-chairman's comments about your use of data and how you've embraced the idea of individualized instruction for our students validated your work in so many ways. When we get the final report and have received accreditation for the next five years, we going to have to celebrate again. So, I guess I owe you another cake!
It was a great feeling to know just how far we've come. Celebrations are good, and we should find opportunities to celebrate whenever we can. These continuing small celebrations are indications that we are on a journey towards continuous improvement and success. I am so proud of you! I hope you enjoyed this week - I did! And, to top it off, it was also American Educator Week.
Please accept my most sincere wishes to have a happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving break with families and that you take time to reflect not only on what we've done here, but also how your families have supported you in these endeavors.
Enjoy the break!
Curtis
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Jackson Road Elementary |
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District Accreditation recommended for GSCS |
After three days of interviewing 324 individuals, listening to numerous presentations, and examining boxes of artifacts, the AdvancED (SACS-CASI) Quality Assurance Review team recommended re-accreditation for the Griffin-Spalding County School System.
Dr. Michael Lodico, the lead evaluator of the eight-person Quality Assurance Review Team, commended the school system at a called board of education meeting Wednesday afternoon
- "for developing a continuous improvement process that is showing significant increases in student performance;
- aligning leadership and communications protocol internally and externally to support the district's initiatives;
- demonstrating commitment to the success of each student; and
- supporting instruction through the systemic use of a variety of data analysis tools."
On behalf of the review team, Dr. Lodico also challenged the school system through these "required actions:
- Align and connect curriculum, student support services, and assessment systems from pre-K through high school.
- Research systemic frameworks for developing human capital to ensure the capacity of each staff member to engage each student and
- Fully engage the community in addressing budgetary challenges."
The AdvancEd review team visit was part of the district accreditation process, which is "an international protocol for school districts committed to systemic, systematic, and sustainable improvement," according to the oral exit report of the review team.
Dr. Curtis Jones, Superintendent, said, "I am extremely proud of the work of the review team. In three days they gave our school system an extensive look in all facets of schooling. We can take pride in the commendations the review team gave. What is more, their assessment validates the hard work of the schools, teachers, and students. We are a good school system on the journey to becoming great!"
In 2006 when last reviewed by SACS CASI, an accreditation division of AdvancED, the school system was one of the first 57 in the United States to receive district accreditation and one of the first 100 in the United States to be accredited with quality.
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Annual report shows attitude of daring to do better worked for GSCS |
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The 2011 annual report for the Griffin-Spalding County School System was released Friday (November 11) to staff in the weekly internal electronic newsletter, the Communicator. It can be found on the GSCS Annual Report webpage on the school system's website, in both the Annual Reports and Newsroom sections of the website. A link can also be found on the homepage.
Printed reports for school council members, PTO officers and Partners in Education are being delivered to schools for distribution beginning Monday, November 14.
Dr. Curtis Jones, Superintendent, said, "This comprehensive look at our school system over eight years shows that our staff and students are achieving at their highest level yet."
"The data clearly shows that student achievement has risen steadily in all areas," said Anna Burns, Director of School and Community Services. "It was gratifying to see the results of the hard work of our students and staff, not to mention other stakeholders who contributed to these successes.
In the report, readers will be able to see
- The 17-1 record of schools making Adequate Yearly Progress to be in the top 1/3 of school systems in the state;
- the graduation rate of 74% is its highest ever;
- that student achievement has risen consistently in most measures since 2003;
- that student poverty has increased since 2003 and
- that overall revenue has decreased.
Dr. Jones continued, "We are fulfilling our vision to be a leader in the state in student achievement. I'm proud of our results that the Griffin-Spalding County School System Annual Report clearly illustrates. We've Dared to do Better, and we're going to continue to do so!"
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Cowan Road Middle School Makes AYP, comes off the Needs Improvement list |
Cowan Road Middle School has been removed from the needs improvement list because it made AYP for the second consecutive year as measured by No Child Left Behind federal mandates, according to the Georgia Department of Education's final Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report.
"Cowan Road Middle is a strong school that is dedicated to providing an excellent middle school experience for our students. The success of our students is attributed to the hard work of our faculty and staff as well as support stakeholders," said Rachelle Holloway, Principal of Cowan Road Middle. She continued, "Our teachers are very diligent in teaching for mastery of standards. Consistently documenting, analyzing, and using various types of data helped determine student needs and guide decisions."
"Student achievement is our primary focus. We are definitely moving in the right direction and will continue to work to meet individual student learning needs as we allow student achievement data to drive our instructional decisions. Making AYP again this year reinforces what our school community has always known - that Cowan Road Middle School is a great place for students to learn the skills they need for success in high school and in life."
No Child Left Behind consists of three parts -- test participation, academic achievement and another statistic, called a "second indicator." The academic goals continue to rise every few years toward a goal of 100% proficiency for all students by 2014. All students at a school, as well as any qualifying subgroup of students, must meet goals in all three categories in order for the school to make AYP. Schools that do not make AYP for two consecutive years in the same subject are placed in Needs Improvement status and face escalating consequences.
In Georgia, elementary and middle schools use the Criterion Referenced Competency Test to measure test participation and academic performance for AYP, while the percentage of students absent for 15 days or more is used as the AYP secondary indicator. To meet AYP, all schools must have 95 percent test participation, must meet or exceed state academic standards, and meet standards or show progress on the secondary indicator. |
Teams of volunteers to study potential cost reductions | |
Over 50 individuals who are school and district administrators, teachers, parents, and community members will undertake a detailed review of proposals generated earlier this fall to reduce costs for FY13, when at least a $2.3 million shortfall in the general fund budget is projected.
Each team will use guiding questions to study the ideas that were presented to employees at the five county-wide meetings held in October as well as consider the ideas' relationships to the school keys standards.
Jim Smith, Assistant Superintendent and CFO, said, "The groups will begin meeting the end of November and expect to have the work completed by mid-January. Each group will study ideas based on a common theme."
Team A - Shelia Mincey, chair
- Reduce number of assistant principals through size ratios and sharing
- Reduce number of school counselors through size ratios and sharing
- Eliminate position of media center paraprofessional
Team B - Donna Parks, chair
- Middle school athletics - reduce or eliminate
- Athletic travel paid by system for competition - reduce or eliminate
- Transportation - walking zone
Team C - Bruce Ballard, chair
- Consolidation of smaller schools
- Salary schedule adjustment to local supplements
- Reduce number of specials at elementary level
Team D - Ashley Crawford, chair
- Eliminate 20 day instructional extension program
- Return elementary gifted program to schools
- Increase use of virtual school environment
- Delivery model for alternative school
Team E - Josh Griffis, chair
- Centralized services
- School nurses and school resource officers - alternative service models
Beginning in mid-September, district administrators and school principals began suggesting ways to reduce costs for FY13. The board of education meeting in a retreat on October told Dr. Jones that "everything was on the table."
Since that time, five county-wide employee meetings led by Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones have shared the ideas generated with participants.
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SHS Class of 2012 Participates in Georgia Apply to College Day | |
Submitted by Amanda Breland, Spalding High School
On November 17th, Spalding High participated in the fourth annual GA Apply to College Day. This event allows schools the time to set aside a day where students can focus on completing at least one application for admissions while receiving help from professionally trained college and community volunteers. In 2010, more than 24,000 seniors were enrolled in the 110 participating schools across GA. This year more than 200 schools are participating in the event.
Click here to read more!
 | | SHS counselor Wanda Lee is helped Blake Jones and other students with their applications. |
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Reminder of upcoming payroll dates |
The payroll dates for the next three months are below. The original payroll schedule was sent to all principals and department heads in August, and there have been no changes since that time.
Payroll dates for next three months:
- Wednesday, November 30, 2011
- Tuesday, December 20, 2011
- Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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Click here for our non-discrimination statement.
Elizabeth Benz
gscs Communicator Editor
Griffin Spalding County School System
PO Drawer N ~ Griffin, Georgia 30224
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Employees of the Month
~Middle School~ | |
Carver Road Middle
Kelly Handley
Media paraprofessional
She has been a major factor behind our early success with the concession stand. She organizes, sells, cleans, delegates- anything to ensure that we are successful. Mrs. Handley, Carver Road appreciates your work and dedication!
Cowan Road Middle
Donnell Cox
for always seeking positive ways to improve the middle school experience for our students while continuing to focus on mathematics instruction.
Kennedy Road Middle
Ms. Crystal Perkins is always willing to go the extra mile. Her "take care of business" manner is an imperative component of the daily operations of the front office.
Rehoboth Road Middle
All Faculty and Staff
for implementing our Emergency Crisis Plan and executing it to perfection.
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Called Board of Education Meeting |
The Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education will have a called meeting on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of considering calling for a SPLOST Referendum vote on March 6, 2012. The SPLOST would call for technology upgrades and facility improvements, according to Mr. James Graham, Board Chair.
This meeting will be held in the Board of Education Meeting Room at 216 South Sixth Street.
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