Staff Changes, New Calendar, Old WCES Building Among Items Tackled by WCBOE

Staff changes, a new school calendar, and the future of the old elementary school were items tackled by the Wheeler County Board of Education in its monthly session on March 11.

The Board approved the following new staff members: Middle School classroom teachers for School Year (SY) 2025, Monti Winge and Amy McDonald; School Nutrition employees; full-time School Nutrition employee, Kerri Ellis and Monica Smith (substitute); classroom substitutes (pending a background check and course completion), Greg Chapman and Katlin Brown.

The Board also approved the resignations of Gabby Mackey and Val McRae, Food Service; Ginger Horne (as School Nutrition Director, only); Kathy Bevan and Caleb Smith, Wheeler County Elementary School. The Board accepted the resignations of Kathryn, Ivey Wanda Connell, and Raymond Van Houten, who are retiring.

The SY25 School Calendar was approved. New term classes begin with teacher workdays commencing on July 30 and ending on August 2, and students returning to classes on August 5.

School Superintendent Suzanne Couey updated the Board of the potential future of the old Wheeler County Elementary School, which was vacated when the School System opened a new K-12 facility in 2022. Since the old facility closed, the School System has incurred the expense of maintaining the site and, at one time, reached out to contractors about demolishing the structure in exchange for salvaged materials but received no response.

The issue was tabled until recently when another option for the site’s use was considered. School officials discussed the cost of having the building tested for mold and being remediated as a potential site for future growth, alternative students, or expanded CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) classes. The Board approved having Couey follow up with the Board’s attorney about creating an RFP for demolition of only part of the main structure and retaining the rest for future growth. The gym was not included in the potential demolition. ATSI Project Progress

Superintendent Couey updated the Board on the progress of the Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) project at the System’s middle school, noting Georgia Department of Education and RESA personnel visited the Middle School classrooms during the week previous to the Board meeting. Couey shared that GADOE staff complimented the district’s students and teachers and stated it was evident that the staff cared for their students and had established a positive learning environment The local School Board learned at its February session that the School System’s Middle School had been identified by the GADOE as an ATSI facility based on performance of its special needs students in English Language Arts.

Couey, Middle School Principal Ginger Horne, and Assistant Superintendent Ericka Cark met with GADOE personnel on February 8 to discuss the state’s monitoring process to guide the Middle School’s progress toward improvement. “We will be working with GADOE to support instruction in those areas,” Couey explained. Administrators were required to present an overview of school performance and growth to the GADOE as the improvement process progresses. The school will receive $10,000 to support practices to increase student achievement in English Language Arts. Superintendent’s Report

Couey reported that work on Wheeler Street behind the K-12 school building has been completed and new drains worked well after recent heavy rain. She also noted that quotes for new baseball field lights are high and other options will be pursued. She also said that work on drainage issues on the school playgrounds will need to wait until summer break because the task will be a big undertaking.

The Superintendent told the Board that the FAST program, which kicked off on February 29, has had good response. “Several families have already signed up for the next cycle,” Couey said.

Wheeler County was among 74 districts across the state to garner a $175,000 grant aimed at promoting parent engagement. The Safer Georgia Schools Grant was announced at the Wheeler County School Board’s September 11 meeting.

The grant supports implementation for FAST (Families and Schools Together) which is designed to “make a significant, longlasting impact on child and family behaviors.” The district is implementing two FAST cycles (one each semester) in each of its three schools with teams comprised of parent, school, and community representatives.

FAST is a GADOEendorsed internationally acclaimed parent engagement program shown to help children succeed in school by building stronger, more supportive relationships at home. Built on evidence-based practice and rigorously tested, FAST empowers parents to become more effective family leaders, connects families to school, and creates a community engaged in children’s well-being and education.

Board Approvals

The Board agreed to keep capital outlay savings funds with Wheeler County State Bank, and approved a quote from Anderson Concrete ($17,228.50) for adding sidewalks and handicapped access to the football stadium restrooms and greenhouse, as well as r-paving a driveway entrance that was removed as part of work on Wheeler Street.

Also approved were the following: field trips including Varsity Softball (East Georgia), FBLA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium for STEM activities); fundraisers including Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament (FCA), Doughnut sale (4th grade), Sneaker Ball (WCMS), and 10 Days of Cash (Variety Basketball Cheerleaders).

The next WCBOE session is scheduled Monday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Board Office in Alamo.