CCBoE Working Session 02.25.2025 Notes
Call To Order
Invocation by Christ Church Presbyterian Assistant Pastor Ryan Bigham
Pledge of Allegiance by Parkway ES 4H Presidents
Approval of Agenda: Yay 5, No 0
Special Recommendations:
River Ridge Elementary School: Asst Principal Lauren Renee Comer
Lakeside High School: Assistant Principal Timothy Martin
Special Recognitions:
Georgia Science Teacher Association Student Scholarship: Grovetown HS student
Scholastic Art and Writing Award Georgia Silver Key Winner: Columbia Virtual Academy
Girls Swimming Individual State Championship: Lakeside HS student
Boys Wrestling Individual Traditional State Championship: Greenbrier HS student
Girls Wrestling Individual State Championship: Grovetown HS student
Girls Wrestling Duals Team State Championship: Greenbrier HS
Georgia Department of Education
Literacy Leader Schools: N Columbia ES, River Ridge ES, Riverside ES, Riverside MS
Math Leader Schools: Brookwood ES, N Columbia ES, Stallings Island MS, Evans HS, Greenbrier HS
Title 1 Distinguished Schools: Blue Ridge ES, Martinez ES
Board Comments: (Sorry, didn’t get these this time. My phone was blowing up with something else.)
Approval of Consent Items: Yay 5, No 0
Minutes of 2/11/2025 Regular Session
January Financials- removed so the board has more time to lookBudget Amendments
Fundraisers
Employee Travel
Lease/Use of Facilities
Discussion Topics and Presentations
Literacy and ELA update, Director of Elementary School Curriculum LeAnne Gregg and Director of Secondary School Curriculum Dr. Brian Campbell
Literacy
New K-12 ELA Standards
Implementation of new ELA Standards 2025-2026.
Discover Center of the CSRA Senior Experience
Chip Fulmer, Greenbrier HS Principal: The JA Center brings the standards to life. He sees the students engaging in lively great conversations. Wakes up the Seniors to financial literacy. 99% of students said they would recommend it to peers.
Jon Johnson, Lakeside HS Personal Finance Teacher: It’s 100% worth the experience. The kids have a good time and they are watching what happens in real life. Kids walk away thinking they will make different life choices based on their experiences. Students feel like they “are finally learning something they can use in real life.”
Coralyn Cairns, Lakeside HS Student: It’s an amazing space. They split people up into groups so she got to meet new people with different perspectives. It was cool to take ideas from class and apply them in the activities. It had varied learning styles. It led to some interesting conversations with her parents and family members.
There are some great volunteer opportunities. Mr. Kent mentioned that when kids experience this, they light up. He mentioned bringing civic clubs out.
Title I Update, Dr. Kellye Bosch
Title I Requirements
Comprehensive Needs Assessment
Comprehensive Schoolwide Improvement Plan
Evaluation
Title I funds must be used as a supplement to
existing services.
Schoolwide programs must aim to improve the
entire academic program for all students.
Schools must build capacity to engage parents in
an effective partnership with the school and share
and support high student academic achievement.
Title I Allocations
Title I funds are allocated based on the percentage of students in
a school district who are considered economically
disadvantaged.
A school must have at least 40% of their students qualify for free
and reduced lunch in order to receive additional funding through
Title I.
Schools are ranked based on percentage of students eligible for
free and reduced lunch.
90% of allocation goes directly to Title I schools and students,
10% is allocated for administrative costs.
Majority of Title I funds in district goes towards teacher salaries.
Allocation for FY25-$3,226,123
o Thirty-five school-based staff
o Professional learning and coaching
o Technology and classroom supplemental supplies
o Parent and Family Engagement activities
FY 2025 Title I Schools: Blue Ridge ES, Brookwood ES, Cedar Ridge ES, Euchee Creek ES, Grovetown ES, Martinez ES, North Harlem ES, Westmont ES, Grovetown MS, Harlem MS, Lakeside MS
Add Evans MS to list of Title I Schools for FY 2026
Staff Reports
Code of Conduct Update, Associate Superintendent Penny Jackson
Updated and voted on annually
Updates based on GADoE, legislation, student/parent feedback
Updates to Electronic Devices Policy
Add cell phones, smart glasses and smartwatches as examples of unapproved electronic devices.
“Electronic devices should not be out, on, or in use unless expressly permitted by school personnel and in accordance with Policy IF.
ThisExamples include, but are not limited to, cell phones, headphones, ear buds, smart glasses, smartwatches, and/or other similar electronic devices.”Specifying the devices will help with communication.
Allen: How is input gathered?
Jackson: Student councils, parent organizations, website, etc.
Allen: Is it fully open to the public, like with curriculum?
Jackson: It’s not completely open. It’s more selected feedback.
Dekle: How do you police smart watches?
Jackson: It’s hard but it’s more of an issue during testing. We address it as we see it.
Flynt: The State is looking at laws for K-8 but it’s more of an issue at the High Schools.
Jackson: Listing the devices specifically should help because sometimes students or parents want to say the policy doesn’t cover the specific device.
Flynt: They also had that new tech law passed last year. This will limit how many individual devices can be on the network. We’ll be implementing that over the summer.
Kent: Are we experiencing this new AI bullying?
Jackson: We haven’t seen a big increase in it but we’re trying to be more proactive.
Flynt: Often this stuff happens away from school, then it’s brought to school. It can be hard to distinguish between school vs home with some of this stuff, as far as what we can do.
Jackson: We have to see where it originated and investigate.
Allen: Is the Code of Conduct a core document?
Jackson: Yes and it’s aligned with State mandates.
Allen: I’m wondering what the effect of these Executive Orders will be on K12.
Jackson: We’re working with attorney and getting a handle on it from GADoE.
Student Enrollment:
FTE based on building plans that are given to the State.
N Columbia zoning 2 years ago. Notifying parents that next year they will be at new school
Removing over 50 portables and will redistribute. Some will be used for storage
2031-2032 should be peak enrollment but won’t be that much higher than it is now. In 2034 we estimate some decline.
Black History Month, Assistant Superintendent Steve Cummings
Morning announcements, presentations, door decorations, assemblies
Superintendent Reports
PreK Registration, 2/24-3/21
Columbia County Student Art Show at Columbia County Library branches
March 1-28
Opening Reception, 3/4
CCSD Foundation Top Golf 3/3
CC Career and College Expo, 3/6
End of 3rd Nine Weeks, 3/11
Early Dismissal/Parent Conferences 3/14
School Board Appreciation Week, 3/10-3/14
Report Cards, 3/18
Special Olympics 3/21
Special Olympics, Inclement Weather 3/24
Teaching as a Profession (TAP) Talks, 3/26
PreK Drawing, 3/28
Executive Session: Only discussed appropriate topics: Yay 5, No 0
Personnel: Yay 5, No 0
Board Comment:
Kent: Recommended people check out the Top Golf event. It’s a nice partnership. Raise $$ for the foundation. Bringing in country music stars. Should be able to build on it and raise a lot of money for the foundation. Doesn’t cost the foundation or the district any money.
Adjourn: Yay 5, No 0