the gscs
COMMUNICATOR

system-wide straight talk 

• Approved Jamie Cassady as principal for A. Z. Kelsey Academy for the 2012-2013 school year. 
   
• Approved assistant principals for the 2012-2013 school year. 
   
• Approved Policy GARH - Leave & Absences with the superintendent's recommendations for changes. These changes to ease budgetary constraints include:
   
• Fewer unpaid medical leave days (formerly called long-term leave).  Reduced from twelve calendar months to 90 work days, the unpaid leave applies to eligible employees who have exhausted all paid sick leave and also the 60 days of Family Medical Leave.
   
• Responsibility for benefit premiums.  Premiums will no longer be shared between the employee and the district during unpaid medical leave. Under the revised policy, employees on unpaid leave will be responsible for the entire premium to maintain benefits. 
   
• Unpaid medical leave eligibility.  Only employees who must be absent due to their own medical necessity or to give medically required care to a spouse or dependent child are eligible.
   
• Approved a class size waiver resolution to be submitted to the State Board of Education so the school system can better use existing funds and resources.
   
• Approved the Easement Agreement and Stormwater Facility Maintenance Agreement from Harmony Senior Living Griffin Village to build a retention pond on the Cowan Road Middle School property border. Furthermore, the school system will work with the attorneys and/or developer to review and approve the final design and coordinate the actual work to ensure minimal impacts at Cowan Road Middle School.
   
• Approved the City of Griffin's request to use room D101 on the Taylor Street Campus for the "Griffin Archives". The school system will work with the appropriate city officials to draft an operating and usage agreement to cover the school system and the city.
   
• Approved the field trip request of Anne Street Elementary students to travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 18, 2012, to visit the Tennessee Aquarium. 
   
• Approved the field trip request of Griffin High School Debate Team to travel to Baltimore, Maryland, May 25-28, 2012, participate in the Grand National Catholic Forensic League Tournament. 
   
• Approved the field trip request of Spalding High School students to travel to Orlando, Florida, June 19-23, 2012, to participate in the HOSA Leadership Conference. 
   
• Approved federal grant budgets. 
   
• Approved School Improvement Grant purchase requests from Griffin High School. (2nd memo)

Heard presentations on:

• Heard a presentation on the 2012 Eighth Grade Writing Assessment Results.
   
• Seventy-three percent of students completing the 2012 Eighth Grade Assessment met and/or exceeded standards.
   
• The state results on the assessment revealed 82% of all 8th grade students met and/or exceeded standards on the 2012 administration of the writing assessment.  GSCS 8th graders scored nine percentage points below the state performance and ten percentage points below the RESA district.
   
• At the system, RESA, and the state level, there was an increase in the percentage of students who scored at level 3, exceeding standards.
   
• the February 2012 Financial Statement.

Received points of information on:

• Naming of Facilities/Programs Housed on A.Z. Kelsey Campus. A subcommittee has been established to discuss and make recommendations to the Superintendent on the naming/renaming of the facility and/or programs that will be located on the A.Z. Kelsey Campus beginning school year 2012-2013.
   
• Construction and Renovation
   
• Facilities and Maintenance
   
• March 2012 Most Valuable Parents

Almost $20,000 in local grants awarded to GSCS teachers

Thirty-eight school and classroom projects were funded with amounts ranging from $75.95 to $1000.00. With the grants, teachers in 12 schools will be able to jump start educational projects not funded through tax dollars.  The grants will support subjects including math, literature, and science. 

"We are pleased to offer continuing financial support to teachers in the Griffin-Spalding County School System," said Evan Stitt, Chair of Partners in Education. "Our merger with the Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation has only made us stronger, and we look forward to doing this again next year." 

The Partners in Education's (formally Education Foundation) annual community golf tournament and Teachers Giving to Teachers payroll deduction provide the funds that go directly to schools for educational projects."
 
Partners in Education, Inc.  is a non-profit school-business partnership organization  It was founded in 1982 to improve the quality of education for Griffin-Spalding County School System students. The Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation merged with it in 2011.

Grants checks will be in school mail on Monday, April 9, 2012.

Funded Grants - Click to Enlarge Document

Employees seeking teacher certification receive scholarships

The scholarship winners are:

• Frances Brantley, Cowan Road Elementary (Tutor)
• Angela Head, Moreland Road Elementary (Pre-K Paraprofessional)
• Dimitra Collier, Moore Elementary (Pre-K Paraprofessional)
• Lauren Steward, Orrs Elementary Pre-K Paraprofessional)

Stephanie Dobbins, Director of Human Resources, said, "We are fortunate to have federal dollars to use to recruit and train future teachers. We like to develop our own employees into teachers because we know these employees know our community, the school system and they want to work here."

Scholarship recipients are required to remain in good academic standing throughout the term of the scholarship by maintaining passing grades with a 2.5 grade point average or higher. They also have agreed, upon completion of certification, to teach in a Griffin-Spalding school if offered a position. If the applicant refuses, the scholarship, paid by Federal Title II funds, must be paid back in full. The scholarship application process was open to system employees who have worked for the school system at least one year and who are pursuing a teacher preparation program in a Georgia college or university.

Recipients were recognized at the April 3 board of education meeting.

• fewer unpaid medical leave days (formerly called long-term leave).  Reduced from twelve calendar months to 90 work days, the unpaid leave applies to eligible employees who have exhausted all paid sick leave and also the 60 days of Family Medical Leave.
   
• Benefit premiums responsibility-Premiums will no longer be shared between the employee and the district during unpaid medical leave. Under the revised policy, employees on unpaid leave will be responsible for the entire premium to maintain benefits. 
   
• Unpaid medical leave eligibility-Only employees who must be absent due to their own medical necessity or to give medically required care to a spouse or dependent child are eligible.

The board of education and school district hope to see FY13 savings of $75,000 and even greater savings in coming years. These changes are the result of:

• The on-going decline in state and local funding.
   
• An increase in requests for long term leave without pay - especially for care giving purposes.
   
• The employer cost associated with classified health benefits are projected to rise substantially over the next few years. According to State Health, effective July 2012, the employer contribution will increase to $446.20 per month (from $296.20 per month) for each covered non-certificated employee in the healthcare plan. The proposed 2013 monthly employer contribution is $596.20, which is proposed to rise to $746.20 per month starting July 2014.

The school system also:

• Determined that it has generous leave policies in place that are not affected by these revisions.  All employees can earn and carry a sick leave balance of up to 120 days.  Employees can join the sick leave bank after one year of service which can provide up to 60 days of paid sick leave for catastrophic events. 
   
• Consulted with surrounding districts including Pike and Butts. Those counties are seriously looking at changing their procedures due to the increase in State Health employer-paid subsidies for classified employees.  Pike County currently requires their employees on unpaid leave to pay the full employer share of health premiums. 

"This was a tough decision for all involved," said Stephanie Dobbins, Director of Human Resources. "While this places a burden on the employee needing leave, it is more consistent with leave policies of other employers. Our school system's funding has been drastically cut over the last few years, and we have to adjust to our new reality." This policy will become effective for all employees beginning July 1, 2012.

• cart/green fee of $25 per round of golf, a $20 per round discount from the normal $45 seasonal rate;
• use of tennis courts and swimming pool with a pool guest fee of $5.00 for guests beyond family members listed on the member's application;
• member pricing on all dining and events with purchases by cash or credit card; and
• member pricing for use of facilities for meetings, banquets and functions.

The monthly membership dues represent an 11% discount from the standard Social Family Membership, according to information provided by the club.

To participate in this promotional offer, employees complete a membership application and submit it to the Finance Office by May 31. Membership will begin immediately. The country club will send notification when the membership application has been processed.

Payroll deduction will begin with the May paycheck for that month's membership and will continue for five more months. 
Access application here. See www.griffincc.com to view amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions 
Q. What if I am already a member of Griffin County Club at a higher rate? Can I take advantage of these lower rates?
A. No, this promotional rate of $85 is only for new members during this time period of May 1-October 31.

Q. Does my membership have to begin May 1?
A. No.  You can choose to begin your membership on May 1 (six months) or June 1 (five months).  The first monthly membership fee will be payroll deducted on your paycheck for the month in which your membership became effective.  Membership fees cannot be prorated for a partial month. 

Q. How many people does the club allow on my membership?
A. Your spouse and children in your immediate family may use the club on your membership. You may pay $5 for the use of the tennis courts and swimming pool for each additional guest.

Q. Many clubs have a food and beverage minimum. Do I have one with this offer?
A. There is no monthly food and beverage minimum with this offer. You always have the privilege of purchasing food and beverages with cash or credit cards. 

Q. What if I want to quit my membership before six months is over?
A. When you sign up for membership, you are committing to six months of pay roll deduction of $85 for your membership.

Q. What if I want to continue my membership after six months? What will the rate be?
A. We don't know at this point. In September the club and school system will reassess the offer and give guidance.

Parent University: School system to host Summer Learning Kick-Off and Volunteer Recognition Night

"Students are most likely to lose the factual and procedural knowledge used in math and spelling over summer break. All of the activities planned for the Summer Learning Kick-Off will show parents how learning can be incorporated into summer fun. Many memories can be made by sharing learning experiences," said Heather Kingsley, Parent & Community Engagement Coordinator for the Griffin-Spalding County School System. 

She continued, "Another exciting element of this Parent University event is the Most Valuable Parent recognition night honoring all parents nominated as MVPs and revealing the district MVP of the Year. We are proud of all of our volunteers." At the start of the event, all of the 2011-2012 Most Valuable Parents will be recognized for their volunteer efforts. The MVP of the Year, selected from the district-level winners, will then be announced. This will close the MVP program for the year and it will resume in August 2012.

Be sure to mark your calendar for May 10 so you don't miss out on all of the fun and excitement at the Summer Learning Kick-Off! Contact Heather Kingsley at (770) 229-3700 for more information. 

The Griffin-Spalding County School System is proud to announce the Most Valuable Parents for March 2012. These individuals were nominated by their school for notable volunteer service at the school throughout December. Thank you and congratulations to the following volunteers: 

Anne Street Elementary - Shantila Morgan

Beaverbrook Elementary - Members of Sunnyside Methodist Church

Cowan Road Elementary - Robert Teaver

Crescent Elementary - Kelley Wynne

Futral Road Elementary - Jean Godat

Jackson Road Elementary - Robin Eagle

Moreland Road Elementary - Tamara Hill

Orrs Elementary - June Lisle

Kennedy Road Middle - Tommie Kendall

Rehoboth Road Middle - Mary Searcy

Spalding High School - Melissa Augsten

Each month, one volunteer is selected as the Most Valuable Parent for the district. Congratulations to the March district-level MVP, Ms. Melissa Augsten from Spalding High School. Ms. Augsten serves as the president of the Band Booster Club and plays a visible role in all of the band's events. She tirelessly organizes and delegates to help keep the band and booster club running smoothly. Since this program began in September, over 80 parents have been recognized district-wide. Thank you to all of the volunteers within the Griffin-Spalding County School System. Your support is truly appreciated!