Approvals from Board Officers to School Administrators in January’s BOE

Board of Education, News
administrators

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – January is typically a month of changes and approvals for administrators positions in Gilmer’s BOE and 2021 is no different with two newly elected Board Members casting their first votes looking at school administrators, meeting dates, and other higher level choices preparing them for the second semester of the school year as well as the entirety of their terms on the board.

https://youtu.be/eq4Gxcz6HCI

This month saw a slight change in meetings as the board adjusted next January’s meeting dates to avoid Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Setting those dates a week later just as they were this month. With this minor change the final set meeting schedule for the Board was approved. However, that approval came with another requested change. The board has been meeting at 5:30 p.m. for over a year, but now, a request came to adjust the meetings back to 6 p.m. The BOE has met at 6 p.m. in the past, but adjusted meeting dates annually as board members needed.

This change is no different as Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs said the change was requested “to better accommodate Board Members who commute out of town for work.” Unanimous approval finalized the change and officially set the dates for the coming year.

AdministratorsWith the two newest board members, Joe Pflueger and Michael Parks, officially taking office, the board set about its annual nominations for Chairman and Vice Chairman. Ronald Watkins was nominated, and subsequently approved, as 2021’s Chairman. Doug Pritchett was then nominated and approved as Vice-Chairman.

Alongside their normal Personnel, the board approved each administrator for the district’s schools as well as administrative positions over the schools. According to Downs, approving the administration positions this month will allow those administrators to appoint and recommend staff for approval next month. Unanimous approvals came for the BOE administrations, and 4-0 votes came for the 5 principals of schools with nobody voting against. Board Member Joe Pflueger did abstain from voting on the 5 principals. He later told FYN that he simply abstained because he did not receive some requested evaluation paperwork on those principals. Because of that, he felt he did not have enough information for the vote.

administrators, Paul Standard, Coach

Gilmer Bobcats Football Coach Paul Standard

There was another new position filled prior, but presented just after the Board Meeting. Hosted by the Gilmer Touchdown Club, a small reception was held after the meeting introducing Gilmer’s new Football Coach, Paul Standard.

According to Gilmer Schools, “Coach Standard comes to the Bobcats from St. Pius X in Atlanta, where he has served as head coach for the past 20-years, compiling a 174-72 record. Coach Standard has eight region championships, an eighteen year playoff record, and twelve Top 10 state rankings.”

Coach Standard said, “The kindness, the generosity, and the graciousness of this entire community from the first time that I met with the administration in early January to now has been unbelievable. The Gilmer and Ellijay community have opened their arms up to me and my family and I couldn’t be more excited and thankful.”

Officially approved as a teacher at Gilmer High School this week, Standard is now, formally, a part of the Bobcat Community.

Superintendent addresses schools after closure extension

Community

East Ellijay, Ga. – After the recent release from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announcing an extension of school closures, Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs offered an email for staff about the extension.

Downs said, “As you are aware, our schools will remain closed until at least April 26, 2020. This is an incredibly stressful time for everyone.”

Gilmer Schools originally closed until March 20, but mere days later, after an executive order from Kemp extended closures to March 31, Gilmer’s BOE went a step further extending it to April 3, 2020, butting up against their Spring Break, April 4 -12. Now, another order is extending it again.

Addressing concerns from students, parents, and citizens about upcoming events. Downs said that the board does not have answers for everything yet, but is working towards those answers while maintaining the current education cycle and Seamless Feeding Program for families.

Downs said, “I have received messages from students who miss their friends, have anxiety about their grades and graduation, and are worried about their own loved ones getting sick – all while still dealing with many non-coronavirus challenges in their lives. I have spoken to parents and caregivers who are worried about losing their jobs, paying rent, and providing 24/7 childcare for their children. I have heard from teachers and staff who have expressed how hard it has been to cope with the abrupt separation from their students while also dealing with their own family struggles. Sadly, things are likely to get even more challenging over the next several weeks. There are many questions about how extended school closures will affect school life like grades, promotion, prom, graduation, and so much more. We are working to develop the best answers possible to those questions.”

However, Downs went on to add a message of hope for staff. She thanked the educations staff, from teachers and administrators to office and support staff saying, “There is no doubt that we are in uncharted territory and an unprecedented time; however, fear will not take us anywhere. We need to be proactive and kind to one another as we stay as safe as possible. We are resilient people. We are all extremely proud of your commitment to our vision and mission during this most trying time.”

As the Superintendent, Downs said she was very proud of the teamwork and commitment being displayed not just to our school system, but to the community at large. She made special note of transportation and nutrition staff working in the Seamless Feeding Program.

Downs final note in the email came as a focus for the future:

Let us keep our current mission at the forefront of our minds:

1)      Teach our students to the best of our ability—We will face challenges and things will not be perfect. As long as we are teaching to the best of our ability and circumstances, we will be successful.

2)     Feed our students—Any hungry children that we might reach.

3)     Do our part to “Flatten the Curve”—Work from home, social distance, and for those still reporting limit contact as much as possible.

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