School Children Helping Downtown

Jeff Davis Elementary School Counselor Roxie Crosby brought four students to last week’s Board of Education meeting to explain the school’s 7 Mindsets project to brighten up the Hazlehurst downtown area as part of the Be The Light Mindset.
Rory Chaney preceded the presentation by explaining to the board the Hazlehurst Mainstream plans to improve the downtown area and get the schools involved in the project. Crosby has spearheaded the elementary school’s involvement, and the children have already raised enough money to purchase the first new lamp post for the downtown area.
Students Carmen Coleman, Henry Richardson, Nancy Garcia and Levi Brewer guided board members through a Powerpoint presentation promoting the project.
Primary School principal Giner White and assistant principal Joey Floyd recognized a number of students for their accomplishments. The Best Behavior Blizzard Recipient, for the third time, was Cristal Hernandez Sanchez.
Students with top Reading Counts points were Truitt McBride, 500; Gracie Hopkins, 300; Said Sanchez, over 200; Jaylee Blanco-Hernandez, over 200; Bradee Lynn, over 200; Juan Chan Ramirez, over 200; Addison Wooten, over 200; Kenley Pearson, over 200.
The student with the greatest gains in reading level was Ivan Branch.
And the students with the greatest gains in literacy were Kindergarten – Nathan Rayo, 253 point gain; 1st grade – Bradee Lynn, 202 point gain; 2nd grade – Thomas Jackson, 154 point gain.
Superintendent Dr. Stan Rentz presented the WOW Award to high school lunchroom manager Angela Burkett and the Extra Mile Award to Crosby.
The board voted unanimously to approve a recommendation from Dr. Rentz that the system partner with Toombs County, Vidalia, Metter, Tattnall and Appling County school systems to lease the Cedarwood property in Lyons for $5,000 a year each to educate students with behavioral problems rather than providing a building locally. The Toombs County Board of Education planned to sell the facility and the school systems agreed to lease the property from the new owner.
The board heard an encouraging report from Finance Director Betty Corbitt that E-SPLOST receipts were averaging over $151,000 per month which she termed very good.
After meeting in closed session, the board ….
…. approved the 2019-2020 school calendar.
…. hired primary teachers Ashten Townsend and Haley Howell, high school special education teacher Priscilla Haynes, middle school science teacher Samuel King, and elementary principal Greer Smith.
…. accepted the resignations of Gayle Newham, Ches Cullens, Bobby Byron, Lucy Worthington and Jane Hatten.