NCSS Board Notes - SEPTEMBER 2024

The Newton County Schools Board of Education conducted its regularly scheduled Work Session on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, and its Business Meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. All documents presented to the Board are available to the public and can be accessed on our website.

Please note that Newton County Schools Board Meetings may be viewed live on the district’s YouTube channel. Additionally, archived meetings are also available for public viewing.

Note: Board member Mr. Eddie Johnson was unable to attend the September 17, 2024 meeting.

At the Work Session, Board Chair Abigail Coggin opened the meeting by acknowledging the recent tragedy in Barrow County, Georgia. She asked for a special moment of silence for the Barrow County community.

Calling it “one of the most tragic events in our nation’s history”, Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley provided remarks by reflecting on the events that occurred on September 11, 2001. Additionally, Dr. Bradley recognized first responders in Covington and Newton County. Sheriff Ezell Brown, Newton County Sheriff’s Office; Chief Philip Bradford, Covington Police Department; Chief Mark Anglin, Oxford Police Department; Chief Jason Cripps, Porterdale Police Department; Chief Ulric Bellaire, Newton County Schools Police Department; Chief Royce Turner, Newton County Fire Department; Chief Joe Doss, Covington Fire Department; Mr. Carlos Rhodes, Operations Manager for Central EMS; and Ms. Trudy Henry, Director of the Covington-Newton County 911 Center were all on hand to be celebrated by Newton County Schools for protecting and safeguarding our community.

At the Business Meeting, Dr. Bradley recognized National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15th to October 15th. National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the heritage, history, traditions, and cultural diversity of Hispanic Americans.

Dr. Bradley announced Newton County Schools has spent the month of September celebrating our school-level Teachers of the Year on social media, with special highlights of each one. Everyone is invited to come out to Porter Performing Arts Center next Wednesday, September 25th at 4:45 p.m. to celebrate all our teachers of the year and learn who is selected as the Newton County Schools’ Teacher of the Year.

Procurement Department Receives Award

Dr. Karen Dozier, Director of Procurement; Mr. Tony Smith, Property and Inventory Supervisor; Mr. Daniel Millner, Procurement Specialist; and Ms. Carolyn Hill, Department Administrative were recognized during the Work Session for the Procurement Department earning the prestigious 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. This award recognizes organizational excellence in public and non-profit procurement. Out of the 198 agencies recognized this year, Newton County Schools is one of only twenty-three school districts to receive this honor.

Board recognition during the Work Session also included students who were named 2024 AP Scholars. A slide presentation was shared during the meeting that showed each AP Scholar and his or her school. Alcovy High School and Newton High School produced ten AP Scholars each, and Eastside High School produced thirty-three AP Scholars. Each of the scholars received a certificate that was mailed to them.

Dr. Bradley pointed out that during the 2023-24 school year, participation in AP courses increased by 12.7%; the number of AP exams taken increased by 21.6%; the pass rate in AP courses increased by 6%; and the district produced fifty-nine AP Scholar with Distinction and AP Scholars with Honor.

During the Business Meeting, four student athletes were recognized for their remarkable accomplishments at last spring’s State Track and Field Championships. Jonas Davis, a senior at Eastside High School, was a member of the first-place state boys 4x400 meter relay team. William Sharpe, a sophomore at Eastside High School and the Newton College & Career Academy, was a member of the first-place boys 4x400 meter relay team. Jayda Duplessis, a senior at Newton High School, was a member of the girls 4x100 meter relay team that brought home a third-place award. Amerie Tolbert, a senior at Newton High School, brought home two awards from the State Track and Field Championships. She was a member of the girls 4x400 meter relay team that earned second place honors, and she placed third in the 400-meter dash.

The Covington Lions Club also was recognized at the Business Meeting. One of the district’s Partners in Education, the Covington Lions Club recently conducted free vision screenings for third-grade students across Newton County Schools. This initiative covered fourteen elementary schools, and, as a result, the club screened over 1,200 students. Of the 1,261 students screened, approximately 370 were identified as having some type of vision issue. These students were referred to America’s Best Eyewear, and through a special voucher program sponsored by the Covington Lions Club, each of these students will receive a comprehensive eye exam and two pairs of glasses at no cost to their families. Members of the Covington Lions Club were present during the meeting, and Dr. Bradley thanked them for their partnership with Newton County Schools.

To view the presentation in its entirety, please click on this link.

Chief Learning and Leadership Officer Tracy Blackburn presented a report outlining the district’s goals for the 2024-2025 school year. These goals were aligned to the Board of Education's organizational priorities set in the spring of 2024, and they are aligned to the three main priorities that have been identified - Academics, Operations, and Culture and Engagement. In her presentation, Ms. Blackburn Identified key strategies that will be implemented to achieve each goal.

Newton County Schools’ 2024-2025 academic goals are:

• Increase the Percentage of Students in Grades 3-12 Reading on Grade Level
• Increase Overall Percentage of Proficient and Above Learners in English Language Arts (ELA)
• Improve Mathematics Performance in Grades 4, 7, and Algebra Concepts and Connections

• Design and Implement a Comprehensive, District-Wide Literacy Strategy Aligned to the Science of Reading:
• Design and Implement a Universally Applied Instructional Framework and Balanced Assessment System
  
  

The academic goals and strategies represent our commitment to ensuring that all students in Newton County Schools have the opportunity to achieve academic excellence. By focusing on both literacy and mathematics proficiency and by implementing evidence-based instructional practices and interventions, we are confident that we can make significant progress toward these goals.

Newton County Schools’ 2024-2025 operational goals are:

• Improve staff compensation
• Improve core business functions related to the timely acquisition of essential resources
• Increase board and community transparency
• Improve organizational effectiveness and productivity

The operational goals and strategies represent our commitment to building a more efficient, effective, and transparent district that meets the needs of our students, staff, and community. By focusing on key areas such as staff compensation, resource management, and organizational alignment, we are confident we can achieve significant improvements in our district’s operations and build a stronger foundation for future success.

Newton County Schools’ 2024-2024 goals for culture and engagement are:

• Curate a modern, elevated, and more recognizable school district brand
• Expand district and staff recognitions
• Improve overall staff satisfaction
• Increase staff retention

Acknowledging that the most obvious metric the community uses to judge a school district’s performance by is its high school graduation rate, Ms. Blackburn spent some time discussing graduation rate. She pointed out that graduation rate is a community metric that is not directly tied to Academics, Operations, or Culture and Engagement. Instead, it reflects a range of factors beyond student achievement and performance.

We are hesitant to articulate a specific, district-wide aggregate graduation rate goal because it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to manage and/or control. Additionally, some of our high schools are significantly disadvantaged because of their high rates of transiency.

Our approach and expectation for graduation rate is that our district average exceeds the state; meaning, the average graduation rate of our three high schools exceeds the state average for a given year. In Georgia, high school graduation rates are calculated by giving each student equal weight in the overall figures, regardless of the size of the school. This approach ensures that every student has an equal impact on the state, district, and school graduation rates, rather than skewing the results based on school size.

Ms. Blackburn concluded by presenting the district’s aspirational goals. Aspirational goals highlight opportunities for significant areas of growth and development for our district, and they align with our mission of achieving excellence for all children and reflect our commitment to providing equitable educational opportunities for every student. Aspirational goals set a vision for where we want to be, guiding our strategic planning and resource allocation as we strive to expand opportunities and enhance educational outcomes for all students.

Newton County Schools’ aspirational goals are:

• Increase underrepresented subgroup (Black and Hispanic) participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses
• Increase Black and/or Hispanic male participation in Dual Enrollment and AP/Honors Courses
• Increase the number of gifted-identified students
• Increase the number of Advanced Placement course offerings district-wide
• Increase overall Dual Enrollment participation percentage
• Increase the overall number of CTAE Pathway Completers

To view the presentation in its entirety, please click on this link.

Dr. Shelia Thomas, Chief Strategy and Support Services Officer, presented the process for developing the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school calendars, employee workday calendars, and the professional learning calendar (for teachers). Dr. Thomas pointed out the plan has been crafted with careful consideration and aims to incorporate the valuable input of our students, employees, parents, and community stakeholders.

The purpose of the district’s calendar development process is to create a transparent, data-driven approach that guides the creation of our school calendars for the next two years. Transparency is crucial as it provides opportunities for open communication with all stakeholders, ensuring that every step taken is informed by accurate data and reflects the needs of the school community.

The first goal is to ensure that the voices of all stakeholders—students, parents, employees, and community members—are not only heard but are integral to the decision-making process. By actively incorporating stakeholder input, Dr. Thomas said the aim is to develop school calendars that truly meet the needs of all students within Newton County Schools.

Additionally, this process is aligned with the district's organizational priority to enhance communication efforts both internally and externally. The goal is to achieve organizational clarity and transparency, ensuring that everyone involved has a clear understanding of the process and its outcomes. By doing so, the district fosters trust and collaboration, which are essential for shared success.

In her presentation, Dr. Thomas discussed several critical considerations that will guide the work of developing the calendars.

• State requirements for instructional days
• Independent Learning Days
• Calendars for surrounding school systems
• Inclement weather days
• Balanced school calendar

Other important considerations include:

• Election Day
• Full-time equivalent (FTE) day
• Breaks
• Testing windows
• Professional development

Dr. Thomas spoke about the importance of input and feedback from the district’s stakeholders, and she acknowledged how everyone’s feedback will directly influence the decisions that are made to create calendars that best support our students' educational experiences and overall well-being. She presented the timeline for developing the calendars.

• In August 2024, district staff began researching the surrounding counties to review their school calendars.
• In September 2024, the district will launch the Stakeholder Input Survey to gather initial input. This survey provides an opportunity for stakeholders to share their thoughts regarding items that should be considered when developing the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school calendars. Calendar options will be developed.

• In October 2024, these options will be shared with district leaders and further feedback will be collected through the Stakeholder Input Survey. This survey provides stakeholders with an opportunity to review the proposed calendar options and to provide feedback on their calendar preferences.
• In November 2024, the proposed calendars will be presented to the Board of Education. Dr. Bradley will make a recommendation to the Board to adopt the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school calendars.
• In December 2024, the Board of Education will vote on the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 calendars.
  

To view the presentation in its entirety, please click on this link.

Dr. Michael Barr, Chief Operations Officer, presented a report about enrollment trends and school capacities. In the presentation, Dr. Barr talked about population trends in Newton County, national and district school enrollment trends, and school enrollment capacity. He highlighted the city and county’s current population; population projections; and housing patterns – all which impact school enrollment capacity.

Dr Barr pointed out that two population trends in Newton County significantly impact student enrollment. The first is a decrease in the share of the population that is 0 to 4 years old, which decreased from 7.5% in 2010 to 6% in 2022. Additionally, the share of the population that is 65 and older increased from 9.9% in 2010 to 13.5% in 2022.

The school district is experiencing a slight decline in student enrollment, with projections showing a 2.8% decrease over the next several years; however, the current capacity across schools is sufficient for the current student population, with room for a 17.4% increase. No schools are overcrowded, and the district is well-prepared to accommodate more students if enrollment increases.

To view the presentation, please click on this link.

To view the presentation, please click on this link.

As of September 3, 2024, there were 18,628 students enrolled in Newton County Schools.

A. Requested Board Action Relative to Hospital Indemnity and Accident Insurance

The Board approved hospital indemnity and accident insurance plans offered by United of Omaha Life Insurance Company. The Business Services team reviewed the existing employee benefits portfolio and compared it with other districts. Through analysis, they identified several benefits that are increasingly being adopted by comparable districts to attract and retain top talent. Hospital indemnity insurance offers cash payments to help cover costs for hospital stays due to illness or injury, while accident insurance provides lump sum payments in the event of injury or death resulting from an accident. Incorporating these benefits into the district’s portfolio will help Newton County Schools stay competitive and responsive to employee needs. The effective coverage date for benefit-eligible employees is January 1, 2025.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

B. Requested Board Action Relative to Purchase of Auditing Services

The Board approved the purchase of annual financial and compliance auditing services from Mauldin & Jenkins Certified Public Accountants, LLC. The school district is required by law to have an annual financial audit. In addition, a program-specific audit is required. Services provided by Mauldin and Jenkins would include the preparation of the School District’s financial statements, a Single Audit of two major programs, and a performance audit of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Education (ESPLOST). The estimated cost is not to exceed $72,000.00 and will be paid for with FY 25 General Funds and School Nutrition Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

C. Requested Board Action Relative to Purchase of Virtual Instructional Services

The Board approved the purchase of virtual instructional services from Proximity Learning of Austin, Texas. Proximity Learning provides live-streamed teachers into K-12 classrooms across the nation. Using just a computer, students can interact with teachers, work in groups, or ask questions in real-time. Proximity Learning teachers are background checked, certified and experienced. They also hold certifications from the National Virtual Teacher Association, ensuring their instruction will be effective. The instructors are not attempting to take positions away from a district’s existing teaching pool. Rather, they can form a valuable supplement to school systems where there is a lack of certified teachers in unique or specialized fields, or who suffer from the current teacher shortage crisis. The total cost is $89,149.89 to be paid for with FY2025 General Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

D. Requested Board Action Relative to Renewal of Teacher Engagement Services

The Board approved the purchase of teacher engagement services from Teach Upbeat, LLC of Brooklyn, New York. Teach Upbeat, LLC is an organization designed to support school systems in one of their more important tasks—keeping quality teachers engaged and deployed in the classroom. The Upbeat survey offers a simple, statistically-sound method for understanding teacher engagement and yields consistent, actionable insights regarding what is motivating our employees and ultimately influencing their decision to stay or leave their school. Principals receive reports delineating the strengths and areas of growth at their school that influence teacher engagement and retention. They then work with Teach Upbeat leadership coaches to review the data, develop plans and focus on the next steps to improve the work environment and ultimately, retain more quality staff. The total contract value is $45,600.00 to be paid for with FY 2025 Title II Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

E. Requested Board Action Relative to Purchase of Plagiarism Prevention Software

The Board approved the purchase of plagiarism prevention software from Turnitin LLC, of Oakland, California. Turnitin is a program that checks for original thinking skills and provides a plagiarism prevention service by providing feedback for citation mistakes or inappropriate copying. When students submit assignments, Turnitin compares them to text in its massive database of student work, websites, books, articles, etc. This learning technology tool helps students meet writing expectations and learn how to properly reference and cite. Additionally, the platform is reconfigured to include Artificial Intelligence (AI) detection which deters students from copying directly from an AI source. The total cost is $35,462.00 to be paid for with FY 2025 General Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

F. Requested Board Action Relative to Purchase of Instructional Resources

The Board approved the purchase of Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe curriculum. State Board Rule 160-4-2-.12 required annual age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education in grades kindergarten through nine. Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe is a primary prevention curriculum aimed at stopping and preventing child abuse and neglect. Instructors teach children how to identify and build skills to resist all types of child abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, bullying, and cyberbullying. There are two lessons per grade level. Trained teachers from our school district will deliver the lessons. The purchase includes an annual license to the online platform with the full curriculum and two age-appropriate scripted lessons per grade level, all facilitator training, parent engagement pieces, teacher reinforcement activities, and all take home items for the students, as well as resources for parents, teachers, facilitators, and school administrators. The Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe curriculum is one that is recommended by Georgia’s Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force. The total cost is $26,932.00 to be paid for with FY 2025 General Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

G. Requested Board Action Relative to Purchase of Intervention Support Resource

The Board approved the purchase of an online assessment with a connected instructional platform to support middle school reading and math interventions from Curriculum Associates. I-Ready identifies and addresses skill deficiencies, while promoting acceleration and provides a single platform that helps teachers use data to differentiate instruction with digital and print resources. The program informs decision-making at the student, group, class, school, and district levels. The i-Ready Diagnostic, available for Grades K-12, is user-friendly and easily actionable, offering educators at any level of experience, including tutors and support staff, the ability to holistically identify and address learning loss through formative assessment and growth monitoring. I-Ready Personalized Instruction improves student learning outcomes by connecting assessment directly and explicitly to supportive, effective instruction. Lessons provide a consistent best-practice structure and build measurable, conceptual understanding. The total cost is $150,877.34 to be paid for with FY 2025 General Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

H. Requested Board Action Relative to Purchase of CTAE Computers and Associated Peripherals

The Board approved the purchase of CTAE computer and peripheral equipment upgrades from ByteSpeed LLC. The Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Program provides both innovative and traditional programs of study via career pathways in middle schools, high schools, as well as the Newton College and Career Academy. Computers and peripherals are replaced on a five-year cycle to ensure students have access to industry-standard technology within our labs. While student Chromebooks can be used in some CTAE programs, others require more computing power and hardware to meet industry-standard instruction. CTAE labs that fall within that category will continue to be renewed on a five-year cycle. With this purchase desktop computers and peripherals will be provided to Newton High School, Newton College & Career Academy, Clements Middle School, Cousins Middle School, Indian Creek Middle School, Liberty Middle School, and Veterans Memorial Middle School. The school system will use a State of Georgia contract to purchase the computers and peripherals. The total cost is $117,755.00 to be paid for with FY 2025 Local CTAE Budgeted Funds and FY 2025 CTAE Perkins V Grant Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

I. Requested Board Action Relative to Purchase of Educational Support Resources

The Board approved the purchase of educational support resources from IXL Learning of San Mateo, California. Individual schools are allowed the flexibility to use their allotted Title I funds in a way that supports and aligns with strategies identified in their Title I Schoolwide Improvement Plan. Accordingly, select schools have chosen to invest in IXL Learning, Inc., an educational technology company that provides personalized learning experiences across subjects and grade levels. IXL is designed to adapt to each student’s skill level, providing tailored practice problems that help reinforce learning and mastery of various topics. One of the standout features of IXL is its real-time analytics, which allows teachers and parents to monitor student progress in detail. Schools included in this purchase are East Newton Elementary School, Fairview Elementary School, Livingston Elementary School, and Rocky Plains Elementary School. The total cost is $41,090.00 to be paid for with FY 2025 Title I part A Allocations, upon approval.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

J. Requested Board Action Relative to 21st Century Community Learning Centers Programs

The Board approved accepting and using 21st Century Learning Center grant funds. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program is a federally funded grant program supporting the creation of community learning centers throughout the country. The centers provide after-school academic assistance for children, especially those economically disadvantaged or facing other barriers to success. The program is designed to assist students in meeting state and local standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math. It also provides students with a broad spectrum of enrichment activities that complement their regular academic programs. The school system will use five grants totaling $1,715,000 to fund after-school programs for 680 students at thirteen schools. The schools include Alcovy High School, Clements Middle School, Cousins Middle School, Eastside High School, Fairview Elementary School, Flint Hill Elementary School, Heard-Mixon Elementary School, Indian Creek Middle School, Liberty Middle School, Middle Ridge Elementary School, Porterdale Elementary School, Veterans Memorial Middle School, and West Newton Elementary School.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

K. Requested Board Action Relative to Renewal of Contract for Fire Sprinkler Repair Services

The Board approved the renewal of a contract for fire sprinkler repair services from Acom Fire Solutions of Stockbridge, Georgia. The scope of work includes providing fire sprinkler, hydrant, suppression systems, and extinguisher repairs. The vendor has performed satisfactorily, met all contractual requirements, and has agreed to continue under the same terms and conditions of the original contract. The estimated contract value for the school system is $75,000.00 to be paid for with FY 2025 and upon approval, FY 2026 General Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

L. Requested Board Action Relative to State Capital Outlay Funding

The Board approved three applications for Capital Outlay Funding for FY 2026 from the Georgia Department of Education. In January 2024, the Board approved the local facilities plan for the effective period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029. Included are facility improvement projects identified as priorities. Subsequently, a request for State Capital Outlay funding for the projects, including renovations at East Newton Elementary School, and roof replacement at both Oak Hill Elementary School and West Newton Elementary School, has been developed by the facilities department and reviewed by the Georgia Department of Education. The applications will be submitted to the Georgia Department of Education for final approval.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

M. Requested Board Action Relative to Facilities Usage

The Board approved the use of the baseball field at Eastside High School by the Newton Naturals. Newton Naturals requested to lease the baseball field at Eastside High School on select evenings for baseball practice and the school principal consented to the arrangement.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

N. Requested Board Action Relative to Surplus Property

The Board approved select items to be declared as surplus and disposed of per Board Policy DO. The school system makes every effort to redistribute and reuse its equipment and property throughout the component’s useful life, or as long as practical. Items are only designated as surplus when they are deemed no longer necessary for school purposes. They are then aggregated and disposed of utilizing one or more of the approved methodologies outlined in Policy DO. Care is taken to discard items in as environmentally friendly manner as practical.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

O. Requested Board Action Relative to the Purchase of Safety Equipment

The Board approved the purchase of safety equipment from GHX Inc. The school system will use a contract managed by a national purchasing cooperative to purchase the safety equipment. The total cost is $77,496.40 to be paid for with Capital Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

P. Requested Board Action Relative to Contracts for Instructional Services

The Board approved contracts with multiple vendors for instructional services to be renewed for an additional contract term. The school system is responsible for recruiting and retaining qualified teachers. To fulfill this responsibility, the school system uses the services of international teacher placement agencies to provide fully certified, experienced teachers for critical teaching fields, such as math, science, special education, and foreign languages. The vendors and their contract amount are as follows: Edu Infotech International Resources, Inc. for $717,593.76; Knowledge Resources Group, Inc. for $1,320,435.60; Future Promise Educational Services, Inc., for $319,426.96; and Intalage for $408,500.00. The total costs will be paid from FY 2025 General Funds.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

Q. Requested Board Action Relative to approval of Proclamation

The Board approved and adopted a resolution designating October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day to recognize that white canes enable blind people to travel safely and independently, allowing them the4 ability to achieve a full and independent life and the capacity to work productively.

APPROVED by 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

R. Requested Board Action Relative to Superintendent’s Recommendations in Executive Session

The Board approved recommendations from Superintendent Duke Bradley that were discussed in Executive Session.

APPROVED by 5-0 vote on September 10, 2024 and 4-0 vote on September 17, 2024.

At its September 17, 2024, meeting, the Board of Education approved the purchase of weapons detection equipment, specifically for Sharp Stadium. Safety is the school district’s number one priority, and this equipment will help keep our community and guests safe.

Email: info@newton.k12.ga.us
Website: www.newtoncountyschools.org
Location: 2109 Newton Drive NE, Covington, GA 30014, USA
Phone: 770-787-1330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewtonCountySchools
Twitter: @NewtonCoSchools