Principal Richard Fisher of Len Lastinger Primary School is shown recognizing some of his teachers at a recent Tift County Board of Education meeting.

TIFTON — The Tift County High School Blue Devil Brigade has been invited to march in the 2017 Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana.

At a recent Tift County Board of Education meeting, band director Curt Kimbrough said the dates of the proposed trip is Dec. 30 – Jan. 3, 2017. He said this is a prestigious event — one of the four major bowls that is offered in the country. He said they’re excited about the invitation.

“It’s a major honor just to be asked,” he said.

Kimbrough said bands from all over the country will participate in different bowls of this type. They have formed a committee of band parents.

He explained to the board that they would perform during half-time at the game, which is scheduled for Jan. 2, 2017. He said also participating will be nine other bands. He said part of the performance will be televised. Kimbrough mentioned that there will also be a Sugar Bowl parade on New Year’s Eve, which they will march in. Students will have the opportunity to have dinner and meet other students from around the country.

Kimbrough said what’s also very exciting is that local students in the band will be able to visit a historic place and experience the great parts of New Orleans. The greatest task will be financing the trip, which is budgeted at $900 per student, which will cover everything.

Kimbrough projects about 150 students to join the Tift County High School Blue Devil Brigade next year. He said they have devised a payment schedule beginning in January, to offset the cost.

At first concerned about the price when invited, Kimbrough said he learned this is a great opportunity and possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some kids. He said their plans to help with finances will include approaching donors and possibly doing a concert. He feels confident in getting the trip cost down to $600 per student.

Kimbrough assured the board that every band student (upcoming ninth graders through seniors) will have the opportunity to go. He said it’s important that every student has “skin in the game,” and all will have the opportunity to earn their way. He noted there will be chaperones, and there is a package available for parents to go as well.

Kimbrough said he wants at least 90-100 kids to participate. His top concern for this trip is safety.

The money for the trip is not due until November 2016. Kimbrough said he hopes to know by May where they stand financially. He noted payments are refundable except in December.

The board approved the band’s request to move forward with the process of participating in the 2017 Sugar Bowl. Band parents were present at the meeting.

Additionally, Principal Richard Fisher of Len Lastinger Primary School gave an update since the school, along with Annie Belle Clark Primary School, were listed as focus schools earlier this year by the Georgia Department of Education.

Fisher recognized some of the teachers in the crowd and said, “We appreciate all of their hard work.”

He said they have made huge steps in the area of reading and writing, the rigor has increased and they have become very transparent.

Fisher said one of their big pushes this year is creating enthusiasm for reading and writing. He said there has been improvement in Accelerated Reader points, with kids really enjoying it. He said they have a program called Buzzing with Books and kids are also recognized as a super reader.

Fisher said they’re working on common assessment across grade level. He said they’re pulling data in every subject and are also focusing on math.

“We want to be a five-star school,” Fisher said, noting they’re working hard on attendance by coming up with different incentives.

Also, Mickey Weldon, chief academic officer with Tift County Schools, went over the new Milestones assessment results. He said they put together a book of data for the board. He commended the state on reporting more detailed data back to them concerning the Milestones.

When briefly going over the data, he said instead of three levels in years past, there are now four levels: beginning learner (0-67), developing learner (68-79), proficient learner (80-91) and distinguished learner (92-100). He said this gives them one more layer to recognize where kids are.

Weldon said students are still reading at a very high level compared to the rest of the state but are deficient in writing. He noted they’re asking students to do a lot more than they had in years past at a much younger age.

When asked by Vice Chairman John Smith how Tift County did overall, Weldon said they have to look at each subject — in some subjects, students performed very well at the state average or better and some they did not. He explained there’s no consistency across the system.

“I think overall we did OK,” Weldon said, noting they didn’t fare as well in English Language Arts and science.