BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board of Education members received updated information about Georgia Milestones testing results and heard a request for a state-ofthe- art obstacle course for JROTC program that would benefit students for years to come.
The Sept. 8 work session was called to order by Board Chairman Ginger Bailey. The first reports from board members were about school visits.
Board member Dr. Nancy Nash spoke about her appreciation for teachers, and board member Alfred Pitts said it was good to see items they voted on come to fruition.
“They’ve taken it to a different level, and it’s a real good feeling,” he said. “Teaching school is hard.”
Bailey said they visited elementary schools, and it was exciting to see the way the teachers were training up students.
“I’ve heard good things about what our teachers are doing. Our people are hungry to make sure students have what they need. Teaching is a 24/7 job,” she said.
Superintendent Charles Lundy continued the sentiment in his report.
“We have to continue to find what it takes to reach our kids,” he said.
Lundy said the focus this year has been on school safety.
Jones County High School CTAE Director Lisa Collins introduced Capt. Michael McMillan, Senior Army Instructor for JROTC. McMillan explained the proposed JCHS Greyhound Battalion Raider Challenge Course with the aid of two sets of cadets currently in the program. He said the goal is to develop a 26-item JROTC Raider competition course.
McMillan said Raider competition is an athletic competition within JROTC programs around the United States. He said the events take place on Saturdays during daylight hours.
“Raider competitions are designed for a small group of physically fit, mentally tough and committed cadets to compete against other teams in athletic events,” he said.
The captain said other high schools would be invited to compete, and the competition season starts in August.
Cadets in the program spoke to board members about the benefits of the challenges of the course, including being a way to teach leadership, build confidence and teach team building.
McMillan said the obstacle course would promote a positive school culture and increase family and student engagement.
“I believe this would become a premier course in the state,” he said.
The captain said the last competition he attended brought about 1,000 to the community, which would have a positive economic development impact for Gray and Jones County.
McMillan said the Raider Challenge Course would feature eight events, the Obstacle Course, Raider Fitness Challenge, Cross County Rescue, Raider Fitness Test, Tire Flip, Team Run, One Rope Bridge and Team Relay Run.
The question of the course will come before the Board for a vote at their Sept. 13 meeting.
Safety
Raymond Braziel talked about the work being done to ensure the safety of students. He said school safety teams have been going over school drills including, fire, weather and lock downs.
“It’s important to have custodians, nutrition employees and students on the team. Everyone needs to know what to do in times of crisis,” he said.
Braziel said safety plans need to be realistic when deciding who should be where.
“People need to be in the right place, who can perform the job,” he said.
The speaker said members of the Jones County Sheriff Office and Gray Police Department are involved. He said JCSO has an app so people can report anonymously.
“We must create a culture where people feel they can report,” he said.
Braziel noted that things like door security is a part of the plan.
“We have to shut doors,” he said. “We need to be prepared and build relationships. To be successful, it’s going to take everybody. People go into education because they love kids and want to make a difference.”
Braziel pointed out that school resource officers are not school employees. He said their job is to build relationships with students.
“Many school resource officers have foiled plans of shooters. That doesn’t make the news,” he said. “Training is essential. It’s a partnership; we all work together.”
He said having officers in the schools is essential to safety.
“Everyone must take ownership. It’s our duty to protect our students.”
Pitts agreed. “It’s more important to let students know you care than what you know,” he said.
Milestones
Charlotte Foskey presented the final agenda item, the update of Georgia Milestone testing. The data she reported on was from the 2021-22 school year. Foskey explained that the students were divided in four groups: beginning learner, developing learner, proficient learners and distinguished learners.
She explained that the reason for the divided groups was all students need the right level of challenge and support.
Foskey’s report covered testing for Grades 3-8 English/language arts and mathematics, science, literature, algebra, biology, history and reading status for middle school and high school students.
The bottom line of the reports was that, while all students in the state fell below 2019 marks, Jones County students scored above state averages in almost every category.
“We had a couple of strange school years,” Foskey stated.
She pointed out areas that Jones County students excelled and struggled. Foskey said it was believed the high scores of fifth-graders on science tests were due to the STEM focus in schools.
“Our teachers are working hard to meet the needs of every child in the classroom,” she said.
Bailey thanked Foskey for her work in explaining the data on the reports.
“It looks like we still have a gap, but we are on the right road,” she said.
The Georgia Milestones state test scores are available for view on the Georgia Department of Education website.
The Board of Education’s regular monthly meeting is Sept. 13.
