NCS Board Notes - NOVEMBER 2025

Welcome to Newton County Schools Board Notes

The Newton County Schools Board of Education conducted a combined Work Session/Business Meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. 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.

Board Chair Abigail Coggin opened the meeting by wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving, with a reminder to be safe as we usher in the holiday season.

Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley began his remarks by acknowledging Veterans Day, which was observed on November 11, 2025. He extended a special thank you to Board members Eddie Johnson and Anderson Bailey for their service to the nation during their time as members of the United States Army. In this same vein, Dr. Bradley also extended words of gratitude to all school district employees who are veterans of the armed forces. “Through your example of service, we are all better off,” said Dr. Bradley.

Veterans-Anderson Bailey and Eddie Johnson

He also acknowledged November 17 – 21, 2025, as American Education Week, noting that the week’s commemoration is a time to celebrate the dedicated efforts of individuals who work in public education. “This recognition, in my view, is about every person who makes a school system work – from teachers to Instructional Technology Specialists and everyone in between,” said Dr. Bradley. Public education plays an important role in our community, and Dr. Bradley saluted everyone who shows up for students.

Noting the district’s efforts to ramp up parent engagement, Dr. Bradley recognized National Parental Involvement Day, which is on November 20, 2025. He pointed out how the district’s parent liaisons and parental points of contact are in place to carry out Newton County Schools’ commitment to encouraging parents to be involved.

Finally, Dr. Bradley featured the opening of the district’s only school-based grocery store, which is located at Alcovy High School. Watch our video for highlights from the grand opening.

Athletic Teams Celebrated

Sports teams from two of the district’s schools were recognized during the meeting, and coaches and player representatives from each team were on hand to accept honors on the teams’ behalf.

The Veterans Middle School Lady Generals had a winning season, with eight wins and one loss. Their remarkable run this season concluded with them winning the 2025 New Rock region championship in girls' softball. Representing the Lady Generals at the meeting were team members Camarri Carr, Demi Johnson, and Laylah Nyree, along with their coach Glory Seay.

Three softball players, coach, and school board chair

The Eastside Lady Eagles softball team were recognized for making an impressive run to become the 2025 Georgia High School Association 4A state champions. Representing the Lady Eagles at the meeting were team members Avery Jewell, Cadence McCullough, Donée Morain, Eva Davis, Kylee Lawrence, Allie Vuaghn, and Savanna Griffin. The players were joined by head coach, Heather Wood; assistant coach, Shane Griffin; and school athletic director, Champ Young.

Eastside softball players, coach, principal, and school board chair

Several of the Lady Eagles were recognized for receiving individual player awards from the Region.

Cadence McCullough - All-Region Second Team
Donée Morain – Region 8-4A Player of the Year
Eva Davis – Region 8-4A Co-Pitcher of the Year
Kylee Lawrence – Region 8-4A Co-Pitcher of the Year
Allie Vaughn – All-Region First Team
Savanna Griffin – All-Region First Team
Jayah Johnson - All-Region First Team
Ansley Hartman - All-Region First Team

Informational Item: Quarter One Quarterly Report – Mr. Benjamin Roundtree, Chief of Staff

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

Benjamin Roundtree, Chief of Staff, presented the Quarter One Quarterly Report. Quarterly Reports monitor and communicate progress toward the Board’s annual priorities and ensure broad awareness of district productivity, performance, and organizational status.

Advancing Academics, School Improvement, and Student Supports

For 2025–26, priorities include:

Strengthening the district’s literacy foundation and clarifying its literacy philosophy and strategy
Strengthening the instructional core through research-based practices, interventions, and rigorous Tier 1 instruction

Literacy remains a central focus. In Quarter One, the Learning and Leadership Division advanced foundational reading instruction using research-based strategies, targeted interventions, and coordinated supports.

The Reading is Essential for All People (REAP) program expanded to six elementary schools. Additional schools received literacy training through Let’s Read Georgia for All Schools, providing coaching and modeling to strengthen structured literacy practices in K–3 classrooms.

A Literacy Leaders Committee was established, and work with Archway Partnership stakeholders is informing the district’s Literacy Blueprint to ensure it reflects local needs and priorities.

The district made significant progress on its instructional framework, sharing core elements with schools while allowing flexibility. Teachers also engaged in curriculum and standards training.

Quarter One saw the launch of the Balanced Assessment System. Early feedback is guiding refinements to reduce testing burden and deepen staff understanding of assessment data. Teachers are now using Personalized Learning Pathways from the universal screener to provide targeted support in reading and math.

Professional learning continues to underpin all instructional work, supported by teacher input gathered through the Teacher Advisory Council, surveys, and focus groups.

Advancing Operational Effectiveness

Priorities include:
Advancing school safety

Developing a multi-year Strategic Plan
Identifying operational efficiencies
Evaluating district-wide facilities for future needs and modernization

Safety enhancements include investments in personnel, secure design, communications systems, and technology. This year, random weapons screenings in middle and high schools were fully implemented, and random K-9 searches were reinstated. The EPIC System is now active in all schools, supported by a multi-million-dollar FY 2026 investment and upgrades to the SAFE System.

Strategic Plan development is underway. A Community Engagement Meeting facilitated by the Georgia School Boards Association and an accompanying survey generated nearly 1,800 responses, providing essential input for the plan.

The Operations Division began updating the Local Facilities Plan to evaluate and position district properties for instructional, operational, and long-term needs.

Advancing Culture and Engagement

Priorities include:

Developing a Tier I behavior support and intervention framework
Deepening community and stakeholder engagement

Quarter One work centered on researching state and national behavior support models and evaluating current district practices. A Hispanic Family Engagement initiative is being developed, informed by needs assessments, faculty input, and community partnerships. A framework for the 2026 Legislative Priorities was also created, emphasizing taxpayer relief, increased state funding, stronger student supports, and enhanced safety, guided by results from the Legislative Priorities Input Survey.

Advancing Innovation and Organizational Stability

Priorities include:

Strengthening workforce development pathways aligned with industry needs
Investing in the growth of current and aspiring leaders

The district unveiled its comprehensive workforce development framework, aligning education, industry, and community partners to support Georgia’s talent pipeline. Professional development for leaders continued. The inaugural THRIVE Aspiring Principals Academy cohort is nearing completion, while middle school principals participated in targeted coaching through the University of Virginia Partnership for Leaders in Education. Their work included developing 90-Day Plans and refining systems for support, training, and accountability.

Advancing Innovation and Organizational Stability

Reflections and Comments from School Board Members

Mr. Trey Bailey thanked district staff for considering the feedback from teachers regarding the Balanced Assessment System. He said he wants teachers to know “we are student focused and teacher aware.”

Mrs. Shakila Henderson-Baker expressed concern about teachers’ mental health. She questioned whether the district is giving educators enough time to master what they are being asked to do.

Advancing Operational Effectiveness: 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.

Business and Informational Item: 2026 Legislative Priorities – Mr. Benjamin Roundtree, Chief of Staff

To view the 2026 Legislative Priorities, please click on this link.

Benjamin Roundtree, Chief of Staff, presented the 2026 Legislative Priorities. He began by providing an overview of what happens during the Georgia General Assembly’s legislative session. The state’s legislators, including Newton County’s local delegation, return to the Capitol to introduce, debate, and vote on legislation that impacts every aspect of life in Georgia - including public education. During the session, lawmakers consider budget proposals, review policy changes, and make decisions that determine funding levels, program priorities, and regulatory requirements for our schools.

As has been the case in recent years, the General Assembly places significant focus on education. As a result, it is essential that Newton County Schools’ perspective is clear, data-driven, and aligned with the needs of the local community. Having legislative priorities is vitally important because they allow us to elevate the issues that matter most to Newton County Schools and ensure that the local delegation understands both the district’s challenges and opportunities.

This year, the Board was intentional about grounding its priorities in the voices of staff and the community. As you may recall, a legislative priorities survey was conducted earlier this fall, and feedback from families, employees, and stakeholders was gathered. After reviewing the data, several clear themes emerged, which helped to shape priorities that are organized around the following areas: increasing funding; providing relief to taxpayers; expanding access and opportunity for students; strengthening the educator pipeline and advancing teacher compensation; reimagining school evaluation systems; advancing workforce development; elevating local control; and supporting mental health and safety measures.

In his report, Mr. Roundtree highlighted two areas that were most prominently mentioned in the survey.

Taxpayer Relief

Newton County continues to experience rising property values, resulting in annual increases in local tax bills - even as the Board of Education has reduced the millage rate to historic lows. At the same time, the school district faces a growing burden under Georgia’s Local Fair Share requirement, which has increased 46% for Newton County Schools over the past four years, while other school districts have reported increases of just 20%. This shift places a larger share of the responsibility for funding education on local taxpayers.

Despite the Board’s efforts to provide relief, the cost of operating a well-functioning school system rises each year. By refining the QBE formula to reduce over-reliance on local property revenue, the state can help protect taxpayers while sustaining the funding necessary to serve all students well. This was one of the most frequently cited concerns in our community feedback and is reflected accordingly in the legislative priorities.

While we advocate for a position, we also offer a solution. Our priority around taxpayer relief elevates the potential of providing local Boards of Education with flexible, voter-approved funding options such as an Education Local Option Sales Tax (ELOST), whereby districts can reduce reliance on property taxes while maintaining stable resources for day-to-day operations. To that end, we strongly advocate for this position and others that speak to the voices and concerns of our community around taxpayer relief.

Strengthen the Educator Pipeline

Also highlighted is the district’s priority to strengthen the educator workforce – namely around compensation. District employees and families repeatedly emphasized the need to recruit and retain highly qualified educators. Newton County Schools, like many districts across Georgia, is competing for a shrinking pool of teachers and support staff. Families expect stable, well-staffed schools, and educators want to know their work and experience are valued. When compensation keeps pace with job demands and the rising cost of living, the school district is better positioned to attract strong candidates and retain the talented educators who already are serving our students. This was one of the strongest themes that emerged from the survey, and it is a central component of our legislative agenda.

Reflections and Comments from School Board Members

Mr. Trey Bailey says he loves the new format, especially the “Why it Matters” sections. He also said he thinks these are great priorities.

Mrs. Shakila Henderson-Baker requested that a “Legislative Issues” breakfast be held. She said this would give the district an opportunity to present the priorities to the local legislative delegation and have a dialogue about them.

Business Items and Informational Items: Enrollment Report – Mr. Benjamin Roundtree, Chief of Staff

As of November 3, 2025, there are 18,359 students enrolled in Newton County Schools.

A. Requested Board Action Relative to Policy IDFA

The Board reviewed suggested revisions of Policy IDFA: Equity in Sports, which would comply with Senate Bill 1. The policy will remain on the table for public review and input with the Board scheduled to vote on the policy at its December 2025 meeting.

On the table for public review.

B. Requested Board Action Relative to Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Amendment

The Board approved a budget amendment which was presented to close out completed capital projects and reallocate the remaining balances to current, Board-approved projects. All adjustments are within previously authorized budgets and align with the district’s established capital improvement priorities. The amendment ensures that unused funds from completed or fully reconciled projects are redirected to support ongoing construction, renovation, and improvement efforts currently underway. No additional funds were requested.