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Glynn Panel Ready to Address School Issues Board of Education Selects Chairman, Vice Chairman and Attorney for the District.

Posted on: Friday, 27 January 2006, 18:00 CST

By TERESA STEPZINSKI

BRUNSWICK -- New leaders in place, the Glynn County Board of Education is ready to tackle the new year.

Dave Smith Jr. was elected chairman Tuesday night by an unanimous vote of his six colleagues on the panel. He previously had served as board vice chairman.

In a 5-2 vote, Shaw McVeigh was named vice chairman. Also nominated, board member Venus Holmes voted for herself. Board member LaVerne Cooper also voted for Holmes.

The board voted unanimously to keep Brunswick lawyer Andrew Lakin as the school system's attorney. In addition, the board agreed to continue using the Gainesville law firm of Harben and Hartley, which specializes in education law, as needed.

The chairman, vice chairman and attorney positions are one-year posts.

Smith said his objective "is for us to be unified as we go forward." He noted that the school system is preparing to embark on a series of projects and improvements intended to enhance education opportunities for students.

Getting off accreditation probation previously imposed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has cleared the way for progress in the 12,000-student district, he said.

"Probation was a huge cloud that had to go away. It stifled a lot of things that the board needed to do," Smith said.

The association took the district off probation last month following a review team inspection Nov. 10 that showed the board "has made significant strides in refocusing its energies on the educational welfare of the students."

Board members have shown the "commitment and professionalism" needed to provide leadership for a quality school system, according to a post-inspection progress report issued by the review team.

That is a turnaround from 2004, when the association placed the district's accreditation on probation because of misconduct by some board members, such as interfering with district administrators and meddling in school operations.

Smith credited Superintendent Michael Bull, who arrived in August, with fostering a spirit of honesty, openness and cooperation among board members and administrators that will be the foundation for future achievement in the district.

"The primary issue I see in the coming year is to support Dr. Bull and the staff's efforts to improve student achievement. We are going to be very supportive of him and do what is needed to support the teachers in the classroom," Smith said.

Bull has implemented student assessment programs as well as intervention plans designed to better identify pupils who are at risk of falling behind academically and get them the added instruction that they need to meet achievement standards.

Improving school district facilities is another key issue this year, Smith said.

"We are going to do a very systematic study of our facilities in the coming months and will be refining our plan with input from the public," Smith said.

Meanwhile, the board and Bull soon will sit down together to begin work on the 2006-07 school district budget. The board's handling of the budget, Smith said, could determine if residents will support a possible special 1-cent sales tax referendum -- tentatively planned for September -- to raise money to help pay for school construction, renovation and other improvements, he said.

"It's my hope that the board and administration can reduce the [school district] property tax rate with this budget," Smith said.

Overall, Smith said he is optimistic about the coming year.

"I'm very encouraged," he said. "There is no doubt in my mind that the board is working together, and we are in a much better place than we were 12 months ago."teresa.stepzinski@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405

Source: Florida Times Union

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