The Board Brief

The Board Brief newsletter is a summary of the information presented and actions taken at Bibb County Board of Education meetings for Bibb County School District in Macon, Ga. Review meeting agendas, district policies, Board member contact information and more on Simbli at https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Index.aspx?S=4013.

Personnel Items Approved

Board members approved various personnel items, including various administrative appointments. To view personnel items, click here.

(Note: Some items may be delayed in posting. Return soon for updates.)

• Kizzie Lott, Principal, Southwest High School
• Geneva Brown, Assistant Principal, Sonny Carter Elementary School
• Shanequa York, Assistant Principal, Rutland High School
• Jarvis Denmark, Assistant Principal, Rutland High School
• Tyveshe Johnson, Assistant Principal, Howard High School

• Tamara Serls, Assistant Principal, Weaver Middle School

Charter School Petitioner Recommendation

The Infinity Academy submitted a revised start-up charter petition to Bibb County School District for the 2026 petition cycle to open a phased K-5 elementary program beginning with grades K-3. Following cross-functional and legal review, material concerns remain unresolved related to legal compliance, governance alignment, operational readiness, and financial and staffing capacity - Board members denied the petition. For more information, click here.

Audit of the Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025

Board members accepted the audit of the Financial Statements for the period ending June 30, 2025. Each year, as required by Georgia State law, the Bibb County School District must publish a complete set of audited financial statements at the close of each fiscal year. The annual audit of the Fiscal Year 2025 financial statements was completed on March 26th, 2026, by Mauldin & Jenkins LLC, led by Partner, Hope Pendergrass. For Fiscal Year 2025, Mauldin & Jenkins LLC issued an unmodified opinion, providing the highest level of assurance for the District. For more information, click here.

Sale of Surplus Property - Barden Elementary School

Board members authorized the sale of former Barden Elementary School at 2521 Anderson Drive to Macon Bibb Economic Opportunity Council. For more information, click here.

Hartley Elementary School Kitchen Renovation Guaranteed Maximum Price

Board members approve a purchase order for renovations of the Hartley Elementary School Kitchen with a Guaranteed Maximum Price. This project will be funded by the 2021 ESPLOST fund. For more information, click here.

Highland Electric Service Agreement Amendment

Board members approved an amended agreement with Highland Electric for the electric vehicle charging depot and to issue a purchase order to Highland Electric for electric charger and infrastructure costs. The funding source is EPA Clean School Bus Grant. For more information, click here.

State Supplement Payout with District Contribution

The Georgia State Assembly has approved an 2026 Mid-Year One-Time salary supplement of $2,000 for staff members funded through the state’s QBE (Quality Basic Education), and other state grant funding mechanisms. During Thursday’s meeting of the Bibb County Board of Education, board members formally approved this bonus, while also approving a recommendation to extend the $2,000 bonus to all full-time employees and a $1,000 bonus to all part-time employees.

For more information, click here.

Board Reviews Policies

Board members reviewed various policies for first or second reading. Policies must be read twice before they may be voted on for final action. To review the policies, click here.

• Policy JGI- Child Abuse or Neglect (ACTION - Second Reading)
• Policy JGJ - Crisis Intervention (ACTION - Second Reading)
• Policy JGJA - Suicide Prevention (ACTION - Second Reading)
• Policy JGJA - Suicide Prevention (ACTION - Second Reading)

Stakeholders are encouraged to review policies posted after first reading and make public comment via Simbli before the proposed policies are brought back before the Board for action the following month. Simbli may be accessed through the District’s website, www.bcsdk12.net, under “About Us” and “Simbli.” On Simbli, “Pending Policies” will appear on the right side of the screen.

Possible Rezoning Options Presented to Board Members

Board members heard possible rezoning options from District leaders and HPM Leadership during the monthly Board of Education meeting on Thursday, April 16. The Bibb County School District engaged HPM Leadership, a firm with expertise in demographic analysis and boundary planning, to assist with examining current boundaries and modeling potential adjustments. This review is part of the next steps discussed in April 2025 after a yearlong school consolidation review. That process involved extensive data analysis, community engagement, and scenario modeling to better understand how enrollment trends, facility utilization, and long-term sustainability may impact Bibb County School District. To view the presentation, click here. A community survey can be found here.

Media Centers - Launchpads for Learning Presentation

Dr. Sarah Mayberry, Director of Media Services, presented to board members about how Media Services support teaching and learning. To view the presentation, click here.

Audit Review

Eric Bush, Chief Financial Officer, presented an audit review to board members. To view the presentation, click here.

Policy Review Work Session

Prior to the monthly Committee meeting on Thursday, Board members met for a Policy Work Session. For more information, click here.

Each month during the Board meeting, we present highlights happening within our schools and district.

• ARTWORK BY RUTLAND HIGH SCHOOL: This month’s featured artwork is by Rutland High students, led by Rutland High School art teacher Lili Graybiel. In honor of School Library Month and National Library Week, students created a still life painting of a bookshelf adorned with plants, serving as a subtle tribute to Rutland’s agricultural heritage. In addition, each Board member will find their own keepsake student‑designed bookmark at their seat — reflecting the individual creativity and voices of our young artists.
• CELEBRATIONS & APPRECIATION: Thank you to schools and departments throughout the District for bringing recognition and awareness to these events this month: School Library Month, World Autism Month, National Occupational Therapy Month, National Counseling Awareness Month, Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, National Assistant Principals Week, National Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week, and Administrative Professionals Day.
• MEET ME WHERE YOU ARE … THANK YOU: Thank you to every family member, student, and staff member who participated in our Meet Me Where You Are Series of events focused on supporting student attendance and literacy. And a big shout out to the business and community partners who supported these efforts.
• SPECIAL OLYMPICS AREA 7: We love to see our athletes compete in the Special Olympics Area 7 Meet, and we're so thankful for all the individuals who came out to support them at FPD this week!
• JROTC STUDENTS VISIT PENTAGON: Our students took learning beyond the classroom with an unforgettable visit to the Pentagon. This experience provided real-world insight into leadership, careers, and national service, reinforcing the importance of preparation, professionalism, and purpose.
• CENTRAL SENIORS EARN TOP INTERNSHIPS: Congratulations to Central High seniors Thomas Rutland and Ronald Smith for being selected as part of the Summer 2026 Cohort for the prestigious JumpStart Internship Program with the 402d Software Engineering Group at Robins Air Force Base!
• HARTLEY GROWTH THROUGH HYDROPONICS: Bibb County Young Farmer and the Macon Chapter of The Links partnered to engage students at Hartley Elementary School in a hands-on learning experience, teaching them the fundamentals of hydroponics.
• YOUNG FARMERS RECOGNIZED FOR AG WEEK: The Bibb County Young Farmer and Rutland High FFA program had the honor of being recognized in the Georgia House and Senate chambers. They connected with several state leaders who took time to encourage and support our students. A special highlight of the day was having three of our students serve as pages for Rep. Tangie Herring, an unforgettable hands-on experience in state government! Students also met Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper as he presented the Ag Week Proclamation, celebrating the importance of agriculture across our state.
• GOVERNOR’S HONORS FINALISTS: Congratulations to Camila Acevedo and Shritham Panda of Central High School for being awarded placement at the Governor’s Honors Program this summer. Camila will be participating in the four-week program for Visual Arts, while Shritham will participate in Biology!
• STEM LEARNING AT SOAP BOX DERBY: Spotted zooming through the streets of downtown Macon this past weekend: Students competing in the Magnolia Soap Box Derby! Thank you to partners for advancing STEM education through this annual challenge designed for high school students.
• 4-H NATIONAL CONFERENCE: Five Bibb County students were selected to attend the 4‑H Ignite Conference in Washington, D.C. this spring through programming supported by The Mentors Project of Bibb County and Fort Valley State University’s Cooperative Extension 4‑H Positive Youth Development Program. The 4-H Ignite Conference provided an opportunity for Bibb students to gather with hundreds of young leaders from across the country to explore innovation, civic engagement, and college and career pathways.
• TOWN HALL MEETINGS: We want to hear from you! Please join Bibb County School District for town hall meetings to discuss the possibility of rezoning. We will meet in person Monday, April 20, at 5 PM at the PLC, and virtually Tuesday, April 21, at 5 PM. Find maps, details, and a link to the virtual meeting at www.bcsdk12.net.
• ON THE HORIZON: POETRY SLAM: The District is excited to continue an amazing partnership with the Griffith Foundation. Don’t miss the Griffith Foundation’s annual Poetry Slam on Friday, April 24, at 6:30 PM at the Douglass Theatre. Tickets are free, but you must have a ticket because space is limited and goes quickly!

Meet the New Leaders

Congratulations, Andrew De Gannes, for being named Executive Director of Personnel!

Leader in Me Lighthouse School

One of the highest levels of school recognition within Leader In Me is receiving Lighthouse Status. This honor comes after an involved application process that requires demonstration of leadership development from students all the way up through administration. Appling Middle School was recently awarded recognition as the District’s 17th Lighthouse School! Congratulations Appling Middle School!

Partner Impact Award

Each month, we proudly spotlight a partner whose contributions have made a meaningful difference for our students, staff, and families. We are honored to recognize Georgia Power for their continued commitment and impactful partnership with Bibb County Schools. Since 2011, Georgia Power’s Learning Power Program has reached more than 27,000 students across 65 schools in Bibb County — providing engaging, real-world learning experiences that connect classroom learning to future career opportunities. Georgia Power has also supported leadership development through the Georgia Superintendents’ Workforce Leadership Academy, in partnership with the University of Georgia, where our Superintendent, Dr. Dan Sims, is among leaders working to strengthen workforce connections for students. Their impact continues through hands-on student opportunities, including an employability skills and career exposure initiative serving 120 high school students, as well as STEM and career-focused experiences. In addition, Georgia Power supports our schools through participation in New Teacher Orientation, the Business Education Partnership, and Principal for the Day, while also providing essential resources to support students and families.

Bibb Retired Educators Association Scholarship Recipients

Thank you to the Bibb Retired Educators Association for presenting scholarships to the following seniors!

Ronald Smith, III, Central High School

Tabais Williams, Howard High School

Paul Risper, Westside High School

National History Day Regional Competition 1st Place Winners

The National History Day Competition allows students to showcase their knowledge in a variety of ways. These students create documentaries, websites, exhibits and more to highlight events in history. Overall, 21 students from Bibb advanced to state-level competition for National History Day. First-place winners were recognized at the Board meeting.

Nikolai Connor Floore, Junior Group Performance, Miller Magnet Middle School

Gabriel Gilbert, Junior Group Performance, Miller Magnet Middle School

Ali Mosley, Junior Group Performance, Miller Magnet Middle School

Lilly Lewis, Junior Group Exhibit, Miller Magnet Middle School

Clairabelle Pardue, Group Exhibit, Miller Magnet Middle School

Georgia Regional Science Fair 1st Place Winners & Special Awards

The science and engineering fair is a traditional opportunity for students of various age and grade levels to showcase their knowledge of the scientific method. Students design and implement their own experiments before displaying their results to be judged. This year, Bibb had students at multiple grade levels win honors at both regional and state competitions.

Emma Tillery, 1st Place & Society for In Vitro Biology Special Award, Central High School

Shritham Panda, Central High School

Colin Tillery, 1st Place & NASA Earth System Science Special Award, Miller Magnet Middle School

Nikolai Connor Floore, Miller Magnet Middle School

Lilly Lewis, Miller Magnet Middle School

Emersyn Jenkins, Miller Magnet Middle School

Steven Tillery, Miller Magnet Middle School

Shrihan Chappa, Grand Top 10%, Springdale Elementary School

Charlotte Hargrave, Vineville Academy of the Arts

Olivia Laney, Grand Top 10%, Best in Class Elementary, Vineville Academy of the Arts

Georgia Science & Engineering Fair State Awards

Steven Tillery, 4th Place Honors, Miller Magnet Middle School

Emma Tillery, Wesleyan College Math & Science Award, Central High School

CTAE National Qualifiers

Our high schools provide a variety of opportunities to learn skills in Career, Technical and Agricultural Education disciplines, through student organizations and otherwise. Over recent months, students at several schools have been named state-level officers or qualified for national competition through their efforts in these fields. Congratulations!

Howard High School – DECA Awards

Jaiden Geolingo – Georgia DECA State Officer, VP of Hospitality

Annabelle Brannen – International Business Plan

Ayesha Lughmani – Personal Financial Literacy

Kalani Paul – Business Finance

Athena Alonzo, Elijah Carangan, Emmaleigh Brannen – Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research

Krish Patel, Zia Jiwani, Serafina Rodriguez – Start-Up Business Plan

Jayla Coker, Kalani Paul, Zoe Hollingshed, London Simms – Chapter Campaign Winners

The Dawghouse, Howard High School – School-Based Enterprise Gold Recertification

Southwest High School - SkillsUSA Awards

Izabella Rivers, 2026-2027 Georgia State Officer

Ja’Staja Mann, Lariah Mitchell, Trinity Ross, Bryhanna Troutman, Keiyiashe Haslem, Kailey Price-Chapter Business Procedures

Hutchings College & Career Academy-SkillsUSA Awards

Aleshia Dupree - Graphic Imaging Sublimation

Natalie Price - Introduction to Personal Care Services

Naomi Couch, Derrion Hammond-Commercial

Mordecai Thomas, Vincent Fortson - Video Production

Hutchings College & Career Academy - HOSA

Kennedi Justice, Sports Medicine

Hutchings College & Career Academy – Technology Student Association State Winners

Jeremiah Vinson, Matthew Cupp - Audio Podcasting

Central High School – FBLA Awards

Ronald Smith – Region Officer

Amiyah Coach, JaQuan Whaley, A’Kadea Ivey, Kaydin Aaron, Maressa Thompson, Nia Rouse – Introduction to Business Procedures

Dylan Grose - Organizational Leadership

Ashanti Coach - Healthcare Administration

Thomas Rutland - Economics

Quincy Wilmore - Introduction to Retail & Merchandising

Amiyah Coach - Introduction to Business Communications

Jael Smith - Introduction to Public Speaking

Central High School – DECA Awards

Central High School Marketing Store – School-Based Enterprise Gold Recertification

The following Board Members were present at this meeting:

Mr. Daryl J. Morton, At-Large, Post 7 - President

Dr. Sundra M. Woodford, District 5 - Vice President

Mrs. Kristin C. Hanlon, District 3 - Treasurer

Ms. Myrtice C. Johnson, District 1

Dr. Henry C. Ficklin, District 2

Mr. Barney T. Hester, District 4

Mr. James M. Freeman, District 6

Dr. Lisa W. Garrett-Boyd, At-Large, Post 8

To learn more about Bibb County Board of Education members, click here.