Board creates constraints on school calendars and voting

News
Calendars

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – The annual calendar for Gilmer Schools has gone through constant revisions and changes in recent years as the board has utilized school governance teams and public input in the decision making process. However, this year is looking to see a major change in that the board will likely be putting restrictions on the teams creating the calendars.

Although this is not the only change, it is the most prominent as Monday saw the Board of Education, in their work session meeting, discussing the topic with Board Member Ronald Watkins heading the drive to modify the calendar creation by placing restrictions on when the schools can “start” the school year on their calendars.

Calendars

Gilmer’s Board of Education, from left to right, Joe Pflueger, Michael Parks, Doug Pritchett, Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs, Michael Bramlett, and Ronald Watkins.

Although many begin considerations and ideas for the calendar earlier, the real progress on calendar creation begins in January and February of each year as each school’s student governance team begin the process of creating their own calendars and submitting them for consideration by the BOE. In recent years the BOE has looked to public surveys to help guide them on deciding which calendar to go with. With one year opening the survey without oversight, it was reported that some voted multiple times. Because of that, last year saw the email sent only to students, parents, teachers, and staff.

However, at that time, Watkins opposed the popular vote calendar as the dissenting vote in the 4-1 approval of the 2020-21 calendar. This year, Watkins continue voicing his dissention of a similar calendar to 2020-21 saying that the calendar encroached on July as the summer month, disrupting vacations and summer plans for families. Watkins also questioned details of the survey’s inclusion of students opinions and votes.

On the 2021-22 calendar, Watkins stated, “Last year, teachers started back in July. We’re not Cherokee County, we are Gilmer County. I, personally, like the Murray County Calendar, but that ain’t going to happen. I feel like, as a Board, we need to set parameters on how early do we start back and how late to finish… Nobody should be going back to school in July. Period.”

Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs later offered the calculations that starting in August would reduce certain breaks and could push closer to Christmas. Though not exact, expectations indicated that if the calendars were to keep a full week off for Thanksgiving, it would be likely that students would be in school the week leading up to Christmas, though not all week. In 2021, Christmas Eve will be on a Friday with Christmas Day on Saturday.

Board member Joe Pflueger said that he did agree that he wasn’t keen on the idea of teachers going back to school in July. Pflueger noted that many extracurriculars  are backed up into the middle of July with that schedule, inching ever closer to July 4.

Many of the schools have already begun discussions in calendar creation and principals reported to the BOE during their meeting that much of the feedback on the 2020-21 calendar was positive.

One principal said that their teachers were happy to trade an earlier start for more breaks during the year. Another principal reported that their students also enjoyed the mid-semester breaks. Another said that their teachers were hesitant at first, but found the overall experience preferable with breaks lined up along holidays, like this years’ week long break in Spring semester aligning with President’s Day on February 15.

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Watkins debated the argument for mid-year breaks allowing vacations saying that the calendar was only good for a select percentage of teachers who had spouses who could mirror the vacations. Watkins said, “It’s nice to take 10 vacations a year, but most people in Gilmer County can’t take 10 vacations. You’re messing my vacation up by starting back in [July].”

Although not voting on the official action to set those parameters, Dr. Downs asked for more opinions and direction from board. Michael Parks simply agreed that he didn’t like starting in July. Douglas Pritchett said he wished to let the process continue solely through the teams, keeping the process as it is, without parameters.

Dr. Downs said she wanted to give the governance teams some guidance as to the boards intentions due to many of those teams meeting this week before Thursday’s Regular Meeting where the formal vote will be held. She said that she felt the school governance teams offered the benefit of teacher and parent input through the teams. Additionally, she noted that the last couple of years saw one calendar win by a landslide. She noted that the survey has updated as well, with last year being sent through email so that on specific people such as parents, teachers, and students could offer their opinions on the subject.

However, Watkins and Pflueger both spoke on possibly excluded students from the survey.

Pflueger said, “If you ask a child, ‘Hey, do you want a break here, a break here?’ I don’t know if a child would turn that opportunity down.” He went on to add that his personal opinion would be that it would be a plus to have parents, teachers, and staff to offer their thoughts through the vote.

Watkins also dissented on allowing students to vote on the calendars saying that he knew of a Clear Creek Middle School student who was asked if he voted on the calendar. Watkins said the student replied that he had “voted on something” and that the teacher had told them which to vote for.

The board continued discussions ultimately setting upon the parameters being not to start before August 1 and not to end later than June 3. The board also seemed agreeable to only allow teachers, parents, and staff to vote on the calendars.

The next calendar question to arise asked if the Board might consider doing multiple years of calendars at once. Downs said it was entirely possible to do multiple years and start working on the calendars earlier than January. Planning ahead, Downs said one county plans 3 years out for calendars. Downs added that much of the thought behind starting in January is so that calendar discussions not start without new board members who might be coming in January from elections.

However, Downs recommended that the teams move forward and the board vote on their calendars in March, but consider multiple years as they create the next calendar so that they can have time to create those multi-year calendars.

The Board of Education’s Regular Meeting will be Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 6 p.m. Citizens wishing to comment on the topic at Thursdays Regular Meeting should sign up with the Superintendent by 9 a.m Thursday.

New elected officials sworn in for Gilmer before 2021

Election 2020, News
Sworn

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Among the final acts for Gilmer County’s government in 2020 comes the official swearing in for elected positions. Now that the local elections have long since completed and been finalized, these officials are preparing to take office as soon as January 1, 2021, now that they have been sworn in.

Sworn

Doug Pritchett, left, receives his oath of office from Probate Judge Scott Chastain, right.

While many positions were re-elections like Hubert Parker moving from the special elected term to fill in for the remaining term of former Commissioner Dallas Miller, others are fresh faces in new positions like Gilmer Magistrate Judge Kevin Johnson.

In the realm of the Board of Education, new members Joe Pflueger and Michael Parks met with Probate Judge Scott Chastain to take their oaths on Friday, December 18, 2020. Additionally, Doug Pritchett also renewed his oath of office as he was re-elected after filling in for the remaining time of the previous term.

Sworn

Michael Parks, left, receives his oath of office from Probate Judge Scott Chastain, right.

Two weeks before the new year and their own first days in the position, they met in Courtroom D of the Gilmer County Courthouse for a ceremony with close friends and relatives. Owing to the virus and procedures against it, each brought a very small group to witness the event.

Doug Pritchett was sworn in under oath with his wife, Lynne Pritchett, holding the bible for him.

Michael Parks was sworn in under oath with his wife, Donna Parks, holding the bible for him.

Sworn

Joe Pflueger, left, receives his oath of office from Probate Judge Scott Chastain, right.

Joe Pflueger was sworn in under oath with his wife, Jeris Pflueger, holding the bible for him.

Each member swore two oaths, one for the office and the responsibilities associated with it, and another as a loyalty oath to people and the government,

Chastain told FYN that these would be the final oaths as he had previously administered much of the other renewals during the same day.

Kevin Johnson, left, receives his oath of office from Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver, right.

However, Kevin Johnson, newly elected Magistrate Judge of Gilmer County, received his oath of office on Thursday, December 17, 2020. He was sworn in by Judge Brenda Weaver in the presence of current Magistrate Judge Roger Kincaid and Probate Judge Scott Chastain.

 

Joe Pflueger announces his candidacy for the Gilmer County BOE Post 2 Seat

Election, News
Joe Pflueger

Longtime Gilmer County Band Director and Educator Joe Pflueger has announced
his candidacy for the Gilmer County Schools Board of Education Post 2 seat.
Pflueger states, “My experience as a 29 year educator has fueled my long-
standing passion for providing high-quality education for all our children in Gilmer
County. I truly believe we have tremendous teachers and staff members working
with our children. Education takes place in each of our classrooms throughout
our district, and the board’s efforts must focus on enhancing and enriching what
goes on there.” As a 27 year Gilmer County educator, Pflueger has witnessed the
powerful teaching that goes on in our schools first-hand having two sons that
attended Kindergarten through 12 th grade in Gilmer County Schools.

Mr. Joe Pflueger is in his ninth year as head band director at Gilmer High School
and will be retiring at the end of this school year. Pflueger also served as assistant
director of the GHS Band, GHS Pep Band Director, and as the director of the
middle school band program in Gilmer County. For two years prior to his arrival
in Ellijay, Mr. Pflueger was band director at Hogansville Middle School and
Hogansville High School. A 1985 graduate of Central-Carroll High School in
Carrollton, Georgia, Mr. Pflueger graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Music Education from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, after
attending Indiana State University for two years. Pflueger received a Master of
Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University in
2009. Pflueger and his wife Jeris, have two sons Colby and Colin.

“If elected, I would be honored to work with the Superintendent and other school
board members to provide the best experience for teachers, all staff members,
and most importantly students in our system” Pflueger stated. “Our focus must
remain on the students in Gilmer County and how to provide them with the best
education possible while maintaining fiscal responsibility for our taxpayers who
work extremely hard to support their families in our beautiful mountains of
Gilmer County” added Pflueger. Pflueger went on to explain his reason for
running for school board is a simple one: “Because I want to help make decisions
that affect Our Children, Our Community, Our Future.” I ask for your vote on
Tuesday, May 19 th .

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