Tift County School Board holds swearing-in ceremony

Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette CNHI

TIFTON — A room full of supporters were present at Tuesday night’s Tift County Board of Education meeting for the swearing in of chairwoman-elect Kim Rutland for District 7 and new board members Gannon Hall for District 3 and Dr. Kim Ezekiel for District 1. Members were sworn in by Tift County Probate Court Judge Suzanne Carter Johnson. Rutland replaced Dr. Shawn Utley; Hall replaced Rutland; and Ezekiel replaced Betty Parson.

Superintendent Patrick Atwater welcomed visitors. He thanked them for their support for the new members and their ongoing support for the remaining board members.

Atwater told the new members before they were sworn in that serving on the board of education is “a very rewarding position.”

He also thanked Johnson for her services and congratulated her on her reelection as probate court judge.

Rutland thanked everyone and commented that it’s not an easy job when someone runs for public office. However, she stated, it’s great to have that family support, as well as support from friends. She thanked her husband for being behind her while she has served on the board.

Board member John Smith noted that the longest serving board member, Parson, who was present at the meeting, is passing the torch to her niece, Ezekiel. He stated that this is historical.

Also, Smith was nominated as vice chairman.

“I look forward to serving,” he said. “I have served in this capacity before.”

During the meeting, SFC Stan Stalnaker, Tifton’s Georgia State Patrol post commander, spoke to the board. Atwater introduced Stalnaker and stated that it was a pleasure having him at the meeting.

“In the last 12 months, we have seen an extreme interest in the Georgia State Patrol on the state and local level,” he said.

He further stated that whenever there’s an event at any of the local schools, Stalnaker is on the phone wanting to know what assistance the local GSP can offer.

Atwater thanked Stalnaker for his past and future support.

Stalnaker congratulated the new board members and thanked Atwater and the board for inviting him to the meeting. He informed them that the local Post 13 is undergoing fundamental challenges. He said they’re trying to branch out some, such as by “trying to change the mindset of funds spent from the department as an investment in public safety.”

Stalnaker stated that this is one way that they’re trying to reach out to customers, including the Tift County Board of Education. He noted that periodically, local troopers conduct school zone patrols.

They also watch for motorists illegally passing a school bus when its stop arm is out.

In addition, Stalnaker mentioned that they do periodic checks at local schools, not just at the high school.

“We try to be a visible present,” he said, noting that they try to be as quiet as possible without disrupting the school day.

However, these periodic checks are something that they can’t do every day. He stated, “The manpower won’t allow it.”

Stalnaker said they want the checks to be random. It adds an extra level of security, he stated.

Also, he told members that his troopers are trained in active shooting response in certain situations. He assured that they’re refreshed on it, as well as other posts in the state.

Stalnaker mentioned other areas they are trained in and then told the board, “We’re here if you need us.”

Rutland stated to Stalnaker, “We appreciate you being in our schools...we appreciate what you do.”

Atwater and board members thanked Stalnaker.

Furthermore, teacher Becky Aikens was recognized. Mickey Weldon introduced her and stated that she was chosen to serve on a state level task force to look at a tiered certification system for Georgia. Aikens told the board that this was quite a surprise and honor. She shared a few details about the task force and the tiered certification system.

She said she learned about the “school law and legal rulings that govern us throughout the state.” She stated that the task force group is made up of about 30 people across the state, including four or five teachers, superintendents, professional learning directors, etc.

“It’s going to be very educational to me,” Aikens said. “I really do enjoy representing Tift County and this part of the state.”

She stated that there are certainly a lot of questions concerning the tiered certification system, which should have an impact in recognizing accomplishments in education.

She told the board that the task force will first tackle how many tiers Georgia needs to have. She noted that the state could be looking at having a five tier certification system.

The system will most likely be rolling out in 2014, Aikens said. She informed members that she would take back any questions they had to the next task force meeting.

Tammie Smith, public relations director, discussed Tift County’s Parent Involvement Program. She stated that the program has always been a strong component of Title 1 schools. She introduced district parent liaison director, Vickie Childers, who gave a brief update on the program. She provided all board members with a folder of information on the program, as well as let them look through some notebooks of documented information on all of the activities that they do.

Childers said a parent resource center is at every local primary school.

According to a brochure on the program, the goal of their parent liaisons is “to help parents in choosing appropriate educational materials to assist students in their academic growth and to provide training in the form of informational workshops for parents.”

Childers stated that they have conducted several workshops for parents.

“We want parents to stay abreast of all of the new things happening,” she stated.

The parent liaisons were also present at the meeting. The board thanked them for what they do.

Other topics discussed at the meeting included:

• Robby Dasher, director of operations, informed the board that the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax project at Eighth Street Middle School is complete, and construction on the kitchen at Tift County High School Northeast Campus is expected to be “substantially” completed by Feb. 5. He noted that the contract completion date for the kitchen was Jan. 21, but due to weather related issues, the date had to be pushed back two weeks. He also told board members that new carpet was put in the band room at Tift County High School during Christmas break. He added that the band and chorus rooms were painted.

• Clinton Guess gave the financial report. He told the board that all bills are paid, and 78 percent of taxes have been collected. Also, he noted that there will be a two percent bump in social security — a teacher who makes a $30,000 to $40,000 salary, the payment will be $600 to $800 a year. He added that above-the-line deduction, however, will continue. Atwater said Tift County is one of the few counties that pays social security. He stated that $3.2 million goes to paying social security.

• Dasher discussed the first reading of Board Policy EDDB — Walkers and Riders.

• The board voted to keep their regular monthly meetings the same — the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Tift County Board of Education office. Also, board committees were appointed.

To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321.

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