Prior to the opening of its regular meeting on December 18, 2017, the Greene County Board of Education, along with a community gathering, was entertained with a special Christmas presentation by students enrolled in the after school programs of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Students from Eutaw Primary School and Robert Brown Middle School presented dance ensembles, poetry and Christmas Caroling. The event culminated with the lighting of the Christmas tree and the appearance of a jolly “Santa.” The students were presented gifts and refreshments.
In his monthly report, Superintendent James Carter emphasized the system’s continuing goal of improving academic performance for all students. “School principals and teachers must be held accountable for closing the achievement gap. Our focus must shift now on recruiting and retaining talented principals and teachers, a task that is very challenging,” he stated.
Dr. Carter explained that if we are to improve academic performance for all students, there must be a shift in how we teach our students. “School classrooms must be re-designed to meet the needs of students in the 21st Century. We can’t continue to place students in classrooms where all they see is the back of another student’s head. Each school must create a team of leaders to manage instructional programs,” he said.
In his update on the system’s school property, Carter announced that, to date, he has received five offers on the purchase of the former Carver School and two offers on the former Paramount School.
In other business, the board approved the following personnel items recommended by the superintendent.
* Resignation of Rebecca Coleman from the 21st Century Community Learning Center.
* Employment of Dorothy Powell, Jacqueline and Latasha Harris as Bus Aides.
* Employment of Latoya Consentine as substitute bus driver.
* Additional service contract at Robert Brown Middle School for 2017-18 academic year (separate contracts): Janice Jeames as Assistant Girls Basketball Coach.
* Additional service contract at Greene County High for academic year 2017-18 (separate contract) Jason Booth as Assistant Baseball Coach; Fentress Means as Assistant Basketball Coach.
Administrative services approved by the board include the following.
*Worthless Check Policy;
* Uncollectiable Meal Charge Policy.
* Field Trip requests: Greene County High to Dollywood, TN, April 20, 2018; Robert Brown Middle to National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, TN; Robber Brown Middle to Education Day at Six Flags Over Georgia, April 27, 2018.
The following instructional items were approved by the board.
* Voluntary Religious Expression Policy
* 21st Century Community Learning Centers Staff Handbook
* 21st Century Community Learning Centers Parent Handbook.