Board Business Briefs

The Cherokee County School Board, at its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, officially launched its new community-built five-year strategic plan, Elevate 2032, and recognized the community members who served on the plan’s steering committee. The Board also heard a report on the development of a districtwide plan to further improve literacy instruction and outcomes across the district and a report on the upcoming auctions for equipment and memorabilia from the former Cherokee High School campus and appointed a School Nutrition director.

Thursday’s meeting began with a work session at 5:30 p.m. followed by the regular business meeting at 7 p.m. Both were livestreamed via YouTube, and the videos are archived on the CCSD website in the Board of Education area online here. A brief recap follows; you can learn more about each by scrolling down to the corresponding full report.

Elevate 2032, which you can review online here, is the district’s strategic plan guiding a coordinated path forward from 2027-2032. It is built on four strategic initiatives: Academic Performance and Workforce Readiness, Professional Excellence, Safe and Supported Schools, and Financial and Operational Accountability. For each initiative, the plan outlines commitments and action steps. During the Board meeting, steering committee members reported on the process and plan’s objectives and shared what it meant to them to be included in developing a community-built plan.

The Board two years ago began laying the groundwork for the development of a district literacy plan focused on ensuring every student develops reading and writing proficiency at or above grade level, and on Thursday heard a report on the plan development progress. As a result of the Board’s initiative, the district was positioned for success ahead of the state legislature’s action earlier this year to require the development of district unified literacy plans. You can review the full report online here. The district’s unified literacy plan will be presented to the Board in December for consideration of approval and then submitted to the Georgia Department of Education.

Above: Members of the Elevate 2032 steering committee speak after the successful launch of the community built strategic plan at the School Board meeting. Below: The launch presentation featured speakers from the committee, from left, Karen Brown, Miranda Wiley, Logan Kettle, Bobby Mayo Wiggins II, Rishabh Pandya, and Officer Tyler Thomas.

The School Board in February charted a new course to fully engage the community in shaping the district’s course for the next five years. The result of that collaboration is Elevate 2032, the district’s community-built five-year strategic plan guiding a coordinated path forward from 2027-2032.

The Board officially launched Elevate 2032 at Thursday’s meeting with a special presentation by steering committee members and a formal recognition of the full steering committee for its investment of time and deep thought in the work. You can view the Elevate 2032 plan online here, and see the steering committee members’ names online here. The launch also debuted the district’s new Supportive Accountability Governance Model chart, which showcases on one page the Board’s significant governance work over the past two and a half years. You can view the chart online here.

After the School Board cast its expectations in February for the plan development process, the district embarked on a three-month community engagement process. It included focus groups with students, parents, teachers, support staff, leaders, and business partners, and an in-person forum and online survey for the community at large. Nearly 4,500 participants shared insights, generating more than 9,000 individual ideas about the district’s strengths and areas for future growth.

A steering committee of principals, Teachers of the Year, Support Staff Employees of the Year, PTA Presidents, and student leaders together reviewed that community feedback and analyzed student enrollment, operational, and financial data. The committee identified key themes that then were shared with the Board, which refined the themes into the strategic plan. The plan is built on four strategic initiatives: Academic Performance and Workforce Readiness, Professional Excellence, Safe and Supported Schools, and Financial and Operational Accountability. For each initiative, the plan outlines commitments and action steps.

In a proud first for the district, the Board sat alongside student leaders and worked together to also create a new district vision statement: “We are committed to creating opportunities for every learner to achieve academic success, build strong relationships, contribute to their community and thrive in life.”

During Thursday’s presentation, steering committee members spoke to elements of the plan and what it meant to them to be included in shaping the district’s future path.

E.T. Booth Middle School eighth-grader Rishabh Pandya, who serves on the Superintendent’s Middle School Student Advisory Board, shared an overview of the steering committee’s work.

“Through these collaborations, our county doesn't just work for students; it works with students,” he said. “I believe that, by using this plan, we will be able to enhance academic techniques and commit ourselves to the betterment of our school district.”

CCSD Teacher of the Year Bobby Wiggins, the Career Pathway construction teacher at Cherokee High School, spoke to the commitments in the strategic initiative for Academic Performance and Workforce Readiness.

“What excites me most is that we are looking at career and workforce readiness as something that begins in kindergarten; not something we suddenly introduce when a student reaches high school,” he said. “Ultimately, our responsibility isn’t simply to prepare students to graduate. On our watch, the students entrusted to us deserve more than a diploma. They deserve to be prepared for what comes next.”

CCSD Support Staff Employee of the Year Karen Brown, head custodian for Creekland Middle School, spoke to the commitments in the strategic initiative for Professional Excellence.

“We want our community to be safe, strong, and connected. We want good schools, safe neighborhoods, nice parks, and public spaces. It takes leaders, families, schools, businesses, and residents working together,” she said. “And that is why this pillar is important, so that CSD strives to be the absolute best possible place to work with a supportive environment and opportunities to grow.”

River Ridge High School Support Staff Employee of the Year Officer Tyler Thomas spoke to the commitments in the strategic initiative for Safe and Supported Schools.

“The goal put in motion by this committee and championed by you is one that would see more police officer presence within our school buildings,” he said. “Our hiring process speaks volumes because it’s not a normal officer who is patrolling our hallways. Our demeanor and patience have to extend far beyond the normal and, as you can see when you walk through the halls, the caliber of officers within our schools is one that other departments attempt to emulate.”

Cherokee HS and Teasley MS PTA Co-President Miranda Wiley spoke to the commitments in the strategic initiative for Financial and Operational Accountability.

“Ultimately, what excites me most is the idea that we’re not just maintaining what we have — we’re planning for the future of Cherokee County schools — embracing our responsibility to make sure the investments we make today create opportunities for the students who will walk through the school doors years from now,” she said. “That’s what I see as the real promise of this initiative: responsible stewardship, thoughtful planning, and making sure our resources are always focused on what matters most — our students.”

Woodstock High School sophomore Logan Kettle, who serves on the Superintendent’s High School Student Advisory Board, spoke about the Board’s collaboration with student leaders to develop the new district vision statement.

“As a high school student, I feel very grateful to be involved in such an amazing initiative, and I’m very glad that student voices from all around our county were heard and used to help shape our district’s future,” he said. “On behalf of all the students and amazing people on our advisory board, we are proud to be part of this process.”

School Board Chair Janet Read Welch thanked the committee members for their service.

“Thank you to everyone who was involved,” she said. “This is so crucial to our mission to be the best school district not only in Georgia but actually the whole Southeast and maybe the U.S. Thank you to everyone who contributed.”

The School Board over the past two years has laid the groundwork for the development of a district literacy plan focused on ensuring every student develops reading and writing proficiency at each grade level, and on Thursday heard a report on the plan development progress and next steps.

Following its establishment of the district’s Cohesive System of Teaching & Learning and a governance model of supportive accountability, the Board adopted its first-ever literacy policy, which is online here. This policy establishes a clear and consistent approach to the teaching and learning of literacy including reading, writing, and communication skills and experiences.

The School Board then set three-year goals for student performance in reading proficiency, and the district is beginning the third year toward meeting and exceeding those goals. Systems have been implemented to achieve these goals including: teaching and learning maps and skill progressions; state-approved reading and dyslexia screeners; a “teacher toolbox” of standards-aligned resources, text, instruction and student work; and district and classroom assessments that are driving remediation and enrichment.

As a result of the Board’s elevated focus on literacy, the district’s implementation of these systems, and the dedicated work of outstanding teachers, fall screener data shows that 400 students who were not reading on grade level last fall now have grown to become proficient readers. Additionally, high school students in CCSD, on average, are reaching proficient reader percentages in the high 70s and 80s, far exceeding state averages.

The state legislature during its annual session earlier this year adopted the Georgia Literacy Bill (HB 1193), which calls for school districts to take specific steps toward raising student literacy.

Chief Academic & Accountability Officer Dr. Josh Heath reported on the district’s success in meeting the bill’s six expectations ahead of the state’s deadlines.

The district already has fulfilled five expectations: employ and support literacy coaches, use Science of Reading-aligned instruction, support kindergarten and first-grade readiness, monitor and report literacy outcomes, and re-establish promotion criteria and communications with parents when concerns arise. The Board has invested in highly trained and credentialed teacher coaches through the establishment of the instructional lead strategist (ILS) position at every school, and these coaches have transitioned at the elementary school level to focus on literacy.

For the sixth expectation, develop and implementing a unified literacy plan, the district is on track to complete its plan and submit it to the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) in January. The bill requires unified literacy plans include four components, and the district already has adopted two: use an approved universal reading screener, and address literacy supports across grade levels and student groups. The district is beginning work to implement the remaining two: establish measurable literacy goals for tested grade levels and include collaboration with early learning (birth to age 5) providers.

The district’s unified literacy plan, designed to further improve literacy instruction and outcomes across CCSD, will be presented to the Board in November for review. After adjusting using Board feedback, the plan will be presented for Board consideration of approval in December and then submitted to the GaDOE. School Board member Kelly Poole asked how soon the district would receive GaDOE approval; Dr. Heath noted that he anticipates feedback will be shared quickly with his team.

School Board Chair Janet Read Welch said the district’s fall screener data will be valuable for the conversations at this school year’s new elementary school parent-teacher conferences scheduled for October.

“They’ll see how their child is excelling, where they’re right on target, and where they may need support,” she said.

As part of its approval of the monthly human resources employment recommendations, the School Board appointed a new director for the district’s School Nutrition program.

Angela Brown, a 21-year professional in the field who currently serves as the school nutrition director for Whitfield County Schools, is filling the leadership role vacated by a recent promotion.

The district’s award-winning School Nutrition team prepares and serves 27,000 meals daily at schools districtwide.

Sequoyah High School athletic improvements continue on schedule and within budget.

The School Board heard the monthly capital outlay report, which includes updates on Sequoyah High School athletic improvements, three planned projects, and the upcoming auctions for equipment and memorabilia from the former Cherokee High School campus. You can read the full report given by Chief Support Services Officer Trey Moores online here.

The Sequoyah High School athletic improvements’ first phase, the opening of an auxiliary gym, was completed within budget and on time for the first day of school. The home and visitor’s concessions areas opened on time for use at the first home football game last month. Work continues on the home field house and main gym renovations, which are scheduled for completion by January.

The Board also heard updates on three major projects in development. The request for proposals for constructing restrooms at the Twin Forks bus depot has been issued, and School Board consideration for approval of a contractor is scheduled for October. Construction is anticipated to begin in November and be complete by July 2027.

Mr. Moores shared, as an interim solution for Twin Forks, portable restrooms and hand-washing stations have been installed for use until construction is complete. He said this solution came from feedback shared by bus drivers at listening sessions held this month to hear their valued insights as to how the district can continue to improve.

Plans to modify and renovate Canton Elementary School for re-opening in August 2028 are advancing on schedule. The request for proposals for contractors to complete the modification and renovation work will be issued in October. Survey fieldwork is underway for the Boston Elementary School parent driveway project. Construction will be scheduled in coordination with the Cherokee County government to align with its Bells Ferry Road widening project.

The School Board in March voted to appraise the main Cherokee High School campus and advertise for sale, with proceeds to support career readiness and other educational programs at high schools districtwide. As part of moving to the new campus and preparing the former campus for sale, staff completed an inventory of all equipment and memorabilia at the former campus.

In accordance with the Board’s policy for surplus, the district will hold two auctions in November at the former CHS campus on Marietta Highway. The auction at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, will be for surplus school equipment; the auction at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, will be for memorabilia. The memorabilia will be displayed at the Nov. 7 auction as a public preview. More information about the auctions and the sale of the building is online here.

The School Board heard the monthly finance report for August, which includes updates on the general fund, building fund and Education-SPLOST collections, debt service fund, and the federal, state, competitive grants, and School Nutrition funds. You can read the full report given by Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Owen online here.

For the month ending Aug. 31, the second month of the current fiscal year, the general fund operating account had received $7.3 Million in year‐to‐date revenue, including $4.5 Million from state funding, $2.5 Million from local funding, and $378,565 from other funding including federal funds. The account showed expenditures of $66.9 Million, totaling 11% of the budgeted funds. This difference is offset through planned use of $59.6 Million in reserve funding.

At the start of each fiscal year, expenditures exceed revenue for several months due to lagging receipt of state educational funding and local property tax payments, underscoring the importance of maintaining a fiscally responsible operating reserve. As the district awaits local property tax payments, which arrive in November and December, the reserve will be drawn down to less than one month of operating capital.

The School Board also:

• Heard Student Delegate remarks from Aspen Stringfellow of Etowah High School, pictured above. Each Delegate takes a turn at the dais, on a rotating basis, and shares remarks on behalf of the group, adding an opportunity for student insight at every Board meeting. Aspen reflected on what she and her fellow Delegates learned from this afternoon’s Delegate Work Session, which this month featured the School Board. “Even though they all serve Cherokee County, they have different experiences and connections to education,” she said. “Each School Board member brings their own experiences into decisions they make for our schools.” The Delegates had the opportunity to ask School Board members questions about their role as elected leaders and their dedication to supporting public education;
• Heard remarks from Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis announcing the second annual third-party personnel survey established by the Board to gather valued insights from employees. “Your insights were instrumental to improving the efforts that were made for this year” including implementing the middle school student-assigned device model, consolidating communication tools, and introducing early-release conference days on the school calendar among many improvements. She noted the administration timing had been adjusted to the fall, from the winter, to even better inform planning and budget priorities. Superintendent Davis also commended the Technology, Warehouse, and Academics & Accountability teams for their collaboration to successfully launch the new middle school student-assigned device model;
• Approved a proclamation to honor Constitution Week; learn more here; and,
• Heard remarks of appreciation from Superintendent Davis and School Board Chair Janet Read Welch for Chief Financial Officer Ken Owen, who joined CCSD in 2001 and is retiring this month. During his tenure as chief financial officer, the district has established numerous new practices to increase accountability and transparency and has earned Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting awards annually from the Government Financial Officers Association -- the highest national recognition award for excellence in financial reporting. Audience members also rose to give Mr. Owen a standing ovation.

Thursday, October 15, 2026

5:30 p.m. Work Session; 7 p.m. Regular Meeting

Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility

1205 Bluffs Parkway, Canton, GA 30114

Agendas are posted the Monday evening before the meeting online here.

Bookmark our website, follow us on social media & keep up with our news as it happens! #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

Email: communications@cherokeek12.net
Website: www.cherokeek12.net
Location: PO Box 769, Canton, GA 30169
Phone: 7704791871
Facebook: facebook.com/CherokeeGASchools/

Instagram: @cherokeegaschools

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cherokee-county-schools