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.)

• Andrew De Gannes, Executive Director of Personnel

Academic Calendar for 2026-2027 Revised

Board members approved a revision to the 2026-2027 academic calendar. This revision moves Fall Break to October 12-16, 2026. For more information, click here. To view District calendars, click here.

Renaissance Suite Renewed

Board members approved the renewal of Renaissance products services district-wide to support universal screening, progress monitoring, differentiated instruction, and the prediction of student proficiency and mastery of state standards. The comprehensive Renaissance Suite includes: SchoolCity, EduClimber, Nearpod, Star Comprehensive Suite, Accelerated Reader, Freckle, Lalilo, myON Reader, and myON News. Renaissance also provides year-round professional learning and technical support, ensuring District educators are equipped to maximize the platform’s capabilities. This is funded by General Funds and professional learning services from Title Funds. For more information, click here.

District Long-Term Facilities Plan Approved

Board members adopted resolutions approving a modification to the Local Facilities Plan and authorizing the Superintendent to submit the final Local Facilities Plan to the Georgia Board of Education for approval. For more information, click here.

Network Switch Replacement Approved

Board members approved a contract for the District’s upgrade of network switches. To maintain the integrity of the network built to serve schools and District offices, the District must continue to upgrade network switches roughly every five years. These are for a core data center and routing switches at each school/facility. For more information, click here.

Board OKs Purchase Order for Propane Services

Board members approve a purchase order with Ferrellgas LP for the provision of propane fuel services beginning July 2026, to ensure uninterrupted operations and continued compliance with District procurement policies. Propane fuel is a critical operational resource for the District’s transportation fleet and related services. To ensure continuity of service, cost efficiency, and compliance with procurement standards, the District initiated a formal solicitation process to evaluate qualified vendors and obtain competitive pricing. For more information, click here.

Ballistic Window Film Installation Funded through Security Grant

Board members approve the installation of ballistic-resistant window films at designated District facilities. The District has received funding for each location from the School Security Grant. This initiative strengthens campus security by reinforcing vulnerable glass areas, reducing forced-entry risk, and mitigating glass fragmentation during critical incidents. 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 EE, Food Services Management (ACTION - Second Reading)
• Policy EEE, Wellness Program (ACTION - Second Reading)
• Policy JGI- Child Abuse or Neglect (INFORMATION - First Reading)
• Policy JGJ - Crisis Intervention (INFORMATION - First Reading)
• Policy JGJA - Suicide Prevention (INFORMATION - First 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.

Multiple district staff members, led by Deputy Superintendent Dr. Katika Lovett, presented to Board members about THE PUSH. The presentation showed Board members a snapshot of how THE PUSH is being implemented across Bibb County School District. It highlighted the strategies, supports, and school-level actions currently underway to strengthen instruction, increase student attendance, and accelerate academic achievement. For more information, click here.

• CELEBRATIONS & APPRECIATION: Thank you to schools and departments throughout the District for bringing recognition and awareness to individuals who support the operation of our schools and district! We are grateful for the invaluable support received from our social worker crew in support of everything that happens in our schools and community. In terms of our maintenance and grounds workers, we should give them a word of thanks every time we walk across well-manicured grounds and into well-lit, air-conditioned, functioning buildings. Procurement is one of our most important processes, keeping us in line with ethical spending and purchasing practices. It is also Youth Art Month, and The 567 Center for Renewal has featured our young creators who have worked hard to develop their artistic voices. This evening, we are also celebrating School Board Appreciation Week, which is recognized each year across the state as a dedicated time to honor the leadership, service, and commitment of local school board members. Their service makes a lasting difference in our schools and communities.

• HOWARD STUDENT’S DESIGN GOES NATIONAL: Congratulations to Tabias Williams, a Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Georgia and Howard High School senior, who was celebrated recently for being selected as one of 22 finalists nationwide in a mobile phone case design contest hosted by Cox and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

• STATE SUPERINTENDENT PRESENTS AWARDS: State Superintendent Richard Woods visited Bibb this month to present achievement banners to 9 schools that were recognized as Literacy and Math Leader schools for the 2024-25 school year! The following schools were honored as Literacy Leaders: Alex II, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Springdale Elementary and VIP Academy. The following schools were honored as Math Leaders: Appling Middle, Ballard-Hudson Middle, Burdell-Hunt Magnet, Howard Middle, Miller Magnet Middle and VIP Academy. Schools received these designations for students showing growth and proficiency in key areas of the Georgia Milestones assessments.

• BIBB FLEX WINNER ADVANCES TO STATE: We are thrilled to announce that KaiAnna Curry, Cariel Lewis, and Dana Thomas of Northeast High School – founders of The Cozy Wick – have been named the winners of the 2026 Bibb County FLEX Competition. The competition, held yesterday at the Tubman Museum, showcased the incredible entrepreneurial talent of local students. The Cozy Wick team received startup funds from the Griffith Foundation and advances to the Georgia FLEX Competition for the opportunity to win up to $10,000.

• CAPITOL CELEBRATIONS OF STAFF, STUDENTS: The District is filled with talent, and they have been representing us at the State Capitol this month! Tonja Simmons Lee, Coordinator for School-Based Mental Health and President-Elect of the Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia, joined colleagues for Licensed Professional Counselors Day. Governor Brian Kemp recognized the vital role counselors play in supporting mental health and wellness across our state. Robbie Bartlett, Bibb County Young Farmer and Rutland High Instructor, visited the Capitol for Georgia Young Farmer Day and GACTE Day! Guests had the opportunity to share about the impact of agriculture in Bibb County and the important role CTAE and agricultural education programs play in preparing the next generation of farmers and industry leaders. Dr. Danielle Jones, Homeless & Foster Care Liaison, was honored on Women’s Day at the Capitol! She was recognized by state legislators as one of Georgia's 100 Women of Excellence in honor of her of work with students and families experiencing homelessness. Vineville Academy of the Arts students Luna Archer, 2nd grade, and Alayna Murillo, 3rd grade, had a wonderful experience with their families at the Capitol Art Exhibit in Atlanta. They met State School Superintendent Richard Woods and discussed their artwork and the importance of art in their education. Thank you all for an amazing job of representing Bibb County Schools at the Capitol!

• MERCER PRESENTS ANTHROPOLOGY 101 AT CHS: Anthropology students from Mercer University visited Central High to launch their "Anthropology 101 in 2 Hours" program. This program introduced IB students to a variety of topics in the field of anthropology, including how it connects to courses like biology and other classes they're taking in high school.

• SECOND GRADE VISITS OCMULGEE MOUNDS: Bibb County second graders visited the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. Students explored the grounds, learned about the area’s history, and discovered why the mounds are such an important part of our region’s heritage.

• LIGHTSPEED AWARD FOR CYBER SAFETY: BCSD has adapted Lightspeed Alert to ensure we have timely responses to student challenges. This gives us a way to react in a proactive manner by addressing students before they take actions that may negatively impact their own safety or that of their peers. As we onboard this product, we have engaged district leaders, school building administration, and our Campus Police force. And recently, Lightspeed recognized our work with Innovation for Impact Award

• GEAR UP PROGRAM IN ACTION: Rutland Middle School recently hosted a GEAR UP Pathways to Success Stakeholder Night. Families learned about Georgia Milestones preparation, Math and ELA tutoring opportunities, and ways to track student progress and set academic goals. And, GEAR UP students from all BCSD middle schools recently participated in a learning experience at iFLY Atlanta. Students engaged in hands-on, experiential STEM activities led by STEM educators and explored physics concepts like airflow, force, and velocity inside a vertical wind tunnel, connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications.

• DEFP TEAM-BUILDING AT ‘WOMEN BUILD’: It is International Women’s Month, and the incredible women of District Effectiveness and Federal Programs rolled up their sleeves at BCSD Women Build Day, partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build homes and serve our community.

• PARTNERS BECOME PRINCIPALS FOR A DAY: The Bibb County School District hosted its 10th annual Principal for a Day. About 40 community members walked in the footsteps of principals and learned about the day-to-day operations of running a school. Thank you to all of those who supported this initiative!

• I’LL BE WITH YOU IN CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME: The Cherry Blossom Festival begins tomorrow, March 20, and the entire District is going pink! Several of the District’s art instructors created art pieces for the Parade of Poodles exhibition, the Cherry Blossom Royal Court features 2 Bibb students and a former educator this year, the District will PINK OUT with a shirt featuring artwork by a Vineville Academy student, CTSO students will volunteer and engage at the Park next week, a Howard Middle teacher won a cherry ice cream party from Petals the Poodle in the Cherry Blossom Door Decorating competition, our students and staff will be participating in the parade this weekend, and we really hope you will Meet Me at Carolyn Crayton Park on Wednesday evening to discuss topics of learning and family engagement!

• READ ACROSS AMERICA: Thanks to those who made it out to read to students for Read Across America. As we continue to PUSH literacy, every effort helps to turn the light on in a student!

• SAY YES TO BCS: The Bibb County School District Human Resources Division hosted its annual Teacher Recruitment Fair at Westside High School. More than 200 candidates attended the fair, and 30 walked away with signed contracts for next school year!

• HR HOSTS BIOMETRIC SCREENINGS: The HR Division also hosted BCSD’s Annual Biometric Screening Event this month! This impactful wellness experience featured special guests and health experts, and employees could earn wellness incentive points by attending. A total of 81 biometric screenings were conducted, 14 mobile 3D mammograms, and 13 mobile prostate cancer screenings! Thank you to our health partners for helping us to make wellness a priority!

• MENTORS BRING 4-H TO BALLARD-HUDSON: The Mentors Project of Bibb County announced a new partnership with Fort Valley State University’s Cooperative Extension 4‑H Positive Youth Development Program, uniting two mission‑driven organizations to empower Bibb County’s next generation of leaders. Together, they’re connecting Ballard-Hudson Middle students with caring adult mentors and hands‑on 4‑H learning experiences. This past weekend, 7th and 8th graders participated in the 4-H District Project Achievement. Five students gave speeches and one student gave a musical performance on the saxophone, as they competed against students from other counties in Georgia. Students, we are very proud of you and your accomplishments!

• ASYNCHRONOUS DAY LEARNING: The possibility of severe weather this week didn’t stop learning from taking place! While the District shifted to an Asynchronous Learning Day, parents submitted photos of students busy at the work of learning! Thank you to our community partners for donating gift cards for a random drawing celebrating our resilient students and their parents!

• MEET ME AT THE BARBERSHOP: The first event in the Meet Me Where You Are series took place last week with Meet Me at the Barbershop! This was an amazing evening of conversation, mentorship, and preparation for the Milestones. Don’t forget that you can join us for this series!

• ON THE HORIZON: MEET ME WHERE YOU ARE: Save these Dates! Meet Me Where You Are is a districtwide family engagement strategy that includes Meet Me at the Barbershop, Meet Me at the Park for Cherry Blossom Festival, and culminates with Meet Me at the Mall 2026. We are fully in the active planning phase for this year’s series, with a shared focus on literacy and attendance across all experiences, and we hope to see you at these events!

GSBA School Board Appreciation 2026

We would like to join schools and districts across the state in celebrating our School Board members for GSBA School Board Appreciation Week, which was officially held last week. We’d like to thank our board members for their dedication to public education and continuing service for children in our school district.

Mrs. Myrtice C. Johnson, District 1

Dr. Henry C. Ficklin, District 2

Mrs. Kristin C. Hanlon, District 3

Mr. Barney T. Hester, District 4

Dr. Sundra M. Woodford, District 5

James M. Freeman, District 6

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

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

Partnership Impact Award

Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce

2026 Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia Youth of the Year

Each year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Georgia names a Youth of the Year. This honor is bestowed by each local club on a teen that exemplifies the type of leadership that the organization is trying to develop in the next generation. At Central High, Sanyia Davis participates in the school’s International Baccalaureate program. Additionally, she dances as part of the school’s fine arts pathway. These efforts and more resulted in her selection as not only the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Georgia Youth of the Year for 2026, but also the state level winner! She will represent the Clubs at regional competition in Atlanta in June.

Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council

Superintendent Dr. Dan A. Sims regularly meets with various advisory councils to discuss matters that are important to the District. This includes a Student Advisory Council, made up of students from each of the District’s middle and high schools. These student leaders provide feedback on District initiatives while giving our 21,000 students a direct link to the Superintendent and other leaders. Thank you to these students for their feedback and participation.

Appling Middle School - Kyleigh Veal, 7th grade and Jamar Smith, 7th grade

Ballard-Hudson Middle - School Aki Tyler, 7th grade and Essence Brown, 8th grade

Howard Middle School - London Brooks, 8th grade and Micah Lamb, 8th grade

Miller Magnet Middle School - Rebecca Sinyard, 8th grade and Aiden Stephens, 8th grade

Rutland Middle School - Raina Mullis, 8th grade and Ariel Abrams, 7th grade

Weaver Middle School - Jo’Vante Passard, 8th grade and Caylee Rembert, 6th grade

Central High School - Journee Woodard, 12th grade and Cortney Rodgers, 12th grade

Howard High School - Taylor Deshazer, 10th grade and Jayla Walker, 10th grade

Northeast High School - Carlos Daniel, 11th grade and Kamryn Parker, 12th grade

Rutland High School - Karmen Hill, 10th grade and Christian Tarpley, 12th grade

Southwest High School - Jeffery Alexander, 12th grade and Jha’karliah Hodge, 11th grade

Westside High School - Madison Pritchard, 9th grade and Anthony Horton, 10th grade

VIP Academy - Gabriel Patterson, 7th grade and Shaelin Calder-Denny, 11th grade

Young Georgia Authors 1st Place Winners

Each year, District students participate in the Young Georgia Authors competition, beginning with competition here against other Bibb County students. From there, the best written works advance to the regional competition. This year, I am proud to highlight that 7 Bibb students placed at regional competition, and THREE of our students placed FIRST at region and will be advancing to the state level.

Asher Walters, Kindergarten, Alexander II Magnet School

Samantha Fraga, 1st grade, Springdale Elementary School

Kensely Cotton, 2nd grade, Heritage Elementary School

Erika Gay, 3rd grade, Vineville Academy of the Arts

Ja’Karter Dennis, 4th grade, John R. Lewis Elementary School

Jaxon Bowe, 5th grade, Florence Bernd Elementary School

Ava McClendon, 6th grade, Appling Middle School

Dixie Adams, 7th grade, Rutland Middle School

Karma Thornton, 8th grade, Miller Magnet Middle School

Phuong Nguyen, 9th grade, Westside High School

Jordan Anorue, 10th grade, Central High School

Cuong Nguyen, 11th grade, Westside High School

Mary Oliver-Burnette, 12th grade, Northeast High School

2026-2027 SkillsUSA Georgia State Officer

Student organizations are a vital part of school life, including those that are focused on potential career pathways. One such organization is SkillsUSA, which seeks to prepare students for a variety of future careers during their high school years. Recently, Izabella Rivers, Southwest High School, was elected as a state officer for SkillsUSA Georgia for the 2026-2027 term. This will allow her to represent Southwest and Bibb County as she connects with career-minded students from across the state.

Region 2-A Division 1 Championship

The District prioritizes supporting students in all of their endeavors, including interscholastic athletics. This season, the Patriots went 27-7, including a perfect 13-0 record in Region 2-A, Division I to finish the season as region champions for the second consecutive year. They won 18 straight games to start the 2026 calendar year, including a run through Woodville-Tompkins, East Laurens, Model and Vidalia in the state playoffs to reach consecutive state title games for the first time since 1979. While this run did not result in a state title, there was plenty to be proud of. Senior guard CJ Howard finished his career with more than 1,500 points, and senior Chase Dupree cleared the 2,000-point mark. During his senior year, Dupree led the Patriots in rebounds with 4.9 per game, assists with 3.6 and steals with 2.9. Congratulations, Patriots, for a stellar season.

Georgia Athletic Directors Association – President

At the Georgia Athletic Directors Association’s Annual Conference in February, Coach Grooms was named the organization’s president for the next year. This organization seeks to train and serve coaches and ADs across the state in a way that supports the development of student-athletes. Coach Kevin Grooms has served as the District AD since 2021, after a successful career as a head basketball coach and AD at Northeast High School. He has been actively engaged in GADA, serving previously as Membership Chair, 2nd Vice President, and 1st Vice President. He also has served as Faculty Chair with both GADA and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

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.