Schools having success

The educational success of Jeff Davis County’s schools was front and center Monday night at the Board of Education’s October meeting.
And perhaps the highest accolades went to the high school where the 2023 graduation rate has been calculated at 96.5% — 12 percentage points higher than the state average of 84.4%. At Monday’s meeting, School Superintendent Dr. Chris Roppe recognized the accomplishment, which he said was the second highest graduation rate in 1st District Regional Educational Service Agency, better known by its acronym RESA. The top rate in the 1st District was Glynn County whose graduation rate was only 0.1% higher than Jeff Davis High’s. There are 35 high schools in the district, representing 17 counties.
Dr. Roppe recognized high school principal Dr. Greer Smith and his staff and students for the accomplishment.
Dr. Roppe also said he was proud of the leadership teams at the primary and elementary schools for the elementary school’s designation as a Title I Reward School by the Georgia Department of Education. Reward Schools rank in the top 5% of Title I schools in the state making the most progression improving the performance of all student subgroups by comparing content mastery scores from the most recent two years of assessments. The scores are based on the performance of third grade students on the Georgia Milestones. Dr. Roppe congratulated both the primary and elementary administrators and staff for their “relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Monday’s meeting kicked off with Middle School Principal Dr. Brent Coleman recognizing the school’s cross country teams. The girls finished second in the conference while the boys finished third.
School system Technology Director Kelly McLoon gave an update on cyber security, cyber attacks and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how they affect public schools. In March and April the technology across the school system was updated and the schools are in good shape technologically, he said.
“Cyber security and AI are the two big things right now,” McLoon said.
In other action, the board ….
… approved memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Hazlehurst and Jeff Davis County to continue providing school resource officers in each of the schools.
… put on the table for 30 days for public review an updated policy on financial reports. Dr. Roppe said the last time the policy had been reviewed was in 2011 and Finance Director Betty Corbitt and Director of Assessment and Accountability Debbie Hobbs felt it was in the school system’s best interest to update the policy.
…. heard a financial report from Mrs. Corbitt.
…. accepted the resignations of primary school nurse Jacie Edge and custodian James Bryant.
…. approved the retirements of middle school counselor Ralph Edwards, elementary school counselor Autumn Underwood and Chief Financial Officer Betty Corbitt.
…. approved recommendations to hire primary school nurse Tiffani Graham, middle school nurse Donna Bohannon and high school custodian Lamar Carter.
…. based on the quotes received for a tennis field house, agreed to reevaluate the project through guidance from the board architect.