NCS Board Notes - FEBRUARY 2025

Welcome to Newton County Schools Board Notes

The Newton County Schools Board of Education conducted a combined Work Session/Business Meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. All documents presented to the Board are available to the public and may 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.

Welcome

Board Chair Abigail Coggin opened the meeting by expressing her gratitude to everyone who convened for the district’s inaugural State of the District event. She spoke about the students who performed and the highlights regarding academic achievement. “It was all very nice. It was also a reminder of the opportunity ahead of us – an opportunity to move into a new era of achievement and excellence,” said Mrs. Coggin.

To see highlights from the State of the District, please click on this link.

During his welcome, Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley acknowledged February as Black History Month. He spoke about the district-wide Black History Month celebration, which focused on the unique impact of Black women across the generations.

Dr. Bradley also highlighted the district’s SPORTY Awards Program, which was held earlier in February to recognize the many support professionals who serve students, families, and staff. He recognized Dr. Kelly Parker from Newton High School as the district’s 2025 Counselor of the Year and School Social Worker George Hutchinson, who was named 2025 Support Professional of the Year. To see highlights from the SPORTY Awards Program, please click on this link.

2025 SPORTY and COTY Recognition Program

Next, Dr. Bradley noted the district’s Literacy Extravaganza, which showed the district’s elevated commitment to literacy both inside of the classroom and throughout the community. The event featured book giveaways, arts and crafts, literary speakers, and book readings.

He reminded the community that the district’s E-SPLOST VI kickoff has begun with groundbreaking ceremonies for the athletic complexes at Alcovy, Eastside, and Newton High Schools.

Finally, Dr. Bradley pointed out that the afore-mentioned efforts are not random, feel-good activities, but they are strategically planned and executed to ensure that Newton County Schools continues to move in a positive direction through work that reflects the district’s goals and honors the passions of the community.

Board Recognitions

Region One-Act Play Winners Celebrated

The district’s high schools all recently competed in the region one act play competition. Each school’s production and several members of each cast won awards recognizing their excellence. The schools and their award-winning students were recognized during the school board meeting.

Alcovy High School’s performance of “Once on this Island” won the overall award for Best Technical Elements. Sole’ Hughes and Corinne Thomas received All-Star Cast Awards. Ms. Zora Umedi is the drama teacher and theatre director at Alcovy High School.

Eastside High School’s performance of “Seussical the Musical” earned awards for best costumes and makeup. Matthew Lynn won the Best Actor Award at the regional competition, and Matty Lumpkin and Imani Palmer won All-Star Cast Awards. Ms. Kennedy Lynn is the drama teacher and theatre director at Eastside High School.

Newton High School’s performance of “Property Rites” won the overall third place award at the regional competition. Dylan Staley, Laila Smith, Morgan Roach, Addison Brown, Nata-Leah Ramsay, Braelyn Mueller, Liliana Cuadros, Aminah Morgan, Anya Gayle, Bailey Fuller, Kaylah King, Tayeler Maxey, and Rileigh Greene all received All-Star Cast Awards. Ms. Nala McCamy is the drama teacher and theatre director at Newton High School.

Superintendent's Reports

Academics: Literacy Blueprint Update – Mrs. Tracy Blackburn, Chief Learning and Leadership Officer

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

Tracy Blackburn, Newton County Schools’ Chief Learning and Leadership Officer, provided an update on the district's Literacy Blueprint, emphasizing literacy as a key organizational priority. The purpose of the Literacy Blueprint is to clearly define what literacy instruction will look like in every classroom throughout Newton County Schools. The Board of Education has been clear in its desire to improve literacy, with goals to increase the percentage of students reading at grade level and improve performance on the Georgia Milestones Assessment (GMAS) in English/Language Arts.

To achieve these goals, Mrs. Blackburn highlighted the fact that the district will implement a comprehensive literacy strategy aligned with the Science of Reading. The Teaching and Learning Team has been working on creating a district-wide literacy plan, reviewing successful practices from other districts, and collaborating with local educators. This plan will define literacy instruction across all classrooms and include key commitments such as empowering educators, strengthening early literacy, supporting literacy in grades 4-12, engaging families, and tracking progress.

The plan also includes professional development in structured literacy for elementary schools and systematic phonics instruction for K-3 students. Interventions will support struggling readers, and regular communication with parents will help track student progress. For grades 4-12, cross-curricular literacy strategies and additional support for struggling readers will also be implemented.

The report went further to share that in the coming months, the Literacy Blueprint will be refined by a task force of district leaders, educators, and community partners. Key next steps include expanding the REAP Literacy Pilot (currently underway at South Salem Elementary and East Newton Elementary), training teachers in the Science of Reading, and introducing targeted interventions for older students. By 2026, the district will integrate literacy strategies across all subjects and provide ongoing professional development.

Looking ahead, the district will continue refining our literacy efforts to ensure long-term sustainability through continued training and support, making sure literacy progress remains a priority.

Operations: Weapons Detection Systems Pilot – Dr. Michael Barr, Chief Operations Officer

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

Dr. Michael Barr, the district’s Chief Operations Officer, provided an update on the district's weapons detection systems pilot, which was initiated following two safety incidents early in the 2024-25 school year. He reminded the Board of a series of events that has provoked strategic actions. First, in August, a weapon was found at Sharp Stadium, and in September, a shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in a neighboring district. This led to an increase in threats and arrests, including fifty-seven threats investigated in September, twenty-five in December, and thirty-three in January. Although the number of incidents has decreased since that time, the district continues to take all threats seriously, with both arrests and weapons found on campuses declining since September.

In response, Dr. Barr went further by explaining that the Board of Education approved the purchase of weapons detection systems for Sharp Stadium in September 2024, which were deployed on November 5. The implementation required additional event staff to ensure smooth operations, marking a key step in enhancing security at school events.

To engage the community, the district held a Safe Schools Forum and conducted a survey, with 93% of respondents supporting weapons detection systems in middle and high schools. As a result, the Board approved a pilot program for these systems across secondary schools, aiming to assess their feasibility. Dr. Barr outlined the preparation steps, including site assessments at each middle and high school, staff training, and finalized logistics for implementation.

The weapons detection systems, he noted, will be used randomly starting in the first week of March, continuing through the school year. The district’s safety and security team will also closely monitor the process and adjust as needed to ensure effectiveness.

Finally, Dr. Barr emphasized that weapons detection systems are just one part of a layered approach to school safety – and that the district's framework includes four key pillars: people, plans, and procedures (staff roles, training, and protocols); investments in infrastructure (personnel, building design, communication systems, and technology); the Student Code of Conduct (promoting a safe, respectful environment); and mental health support (access to professional care for students).

Operations: Construction and ESPLOST Report– Dr. Michael Barr, Chief Operations Officer

To view the presentation, please click on this link.

Finance: Financial Report– Ms. Erica Robinson, Chief Financial Officer

To view the presentation, please click on this link.

Finance: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Outlook – Ms. Erica Robinson, Chief Financial Officer

To view the presentation, please click on this link.

Erica Robinson, the district’s Chief Financial Officer, presented an overview of the FY26 budget outlook.

Ms. Robinson began by detailing Governor Kemp’s proposed budget which includes key allocations for schools - such as $305.9 million for enrollment growth and teacher experience, $21.4 million for Dual Enrollment, and $872,000 to fully fund the school psychologist ratio. Other proposed allocations include $543,000 for custodian supplements, $10.3 million for pupil transportation, and $100.3 million for an increase in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) employer contribution. The state is also increasing its contribution to health insurance premiums by $173.7 million for certified personnel, and $20 million in bonds is proposed for new school buses. Additionally, the Governor is proposing $7.3 million for vocational education equipment. However, there is a $112.9 million reduction in the Georgia Equalization Grant, which will balance disparities in funding across districts.

Ms. Robinson also presented initial revenue projections for Newton County Schools, including $1.9 million for health insurance increases and $2.2 million for enrollment growth, teacher experience, and TRS contributions. It is important to note that the district anticipates a decrease in Equalization funding and a $5 million increase in the local five mil share which will result in a reduction of available funds.

Ms. Robinson continued by specifically highlighting the district’s FY ’26 budget priorities, as expressed by the Board of Education and by staff members – which include compensation improvements, personnel enhancements, and exploring operational efficiencies among those standing out above most others.

In closing, it was mentioned that state mandates, such as increases in health insurance premiums and TRS contributions, will assuredly impact the FY26 budget. Going forward, the district will continue to analyze staffing needs, review instructional resources, and identify potential cost savings while maintaining high-quality services.

Ms. Robinson added as a final note that to align with district priorities, budget updates will be provided in March, April, and May 2025, with a budget overview, tentative budget, and hearings before final adoption.

Business Items: Enrollment Report – Mr. Benjamin Roundtree, Special Assistant to the Superintendent

As of February 3, 2025, there are 18,828 students enrolled in Newton County Schools.

New Business

A. Requested Board Action Relative to Resolution 2025-1 to Opt Out of the Homestead Exemption Otherwise Granted by O.C.G.A. 48-5-44.2

Dr. Bradley affirmed that the Board has complied with all the procedural mandates of House Bill 581. Subsequently, the Board approved and adopted a resolution to opt out of House Bill 581 which, among other things, created a new code section which provides for an exemption on a person’s homestead from ad valorem taxes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of that homestead, including any final determination of value on appeal exceeds its previous adjusted based year assessed value. The bill allowed local school systems to opt out of the homestead exemption by adopting a resolution to do so by March 1, 2025.