Barrow Updates Board on Safety and Staff Recruitment
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During the November 18 meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting, Assistant Superintendent Scott Barrow provided the Board with an update on safety and staff recruitment within the district.
Barrow shared that on October 29, he worked with School Resource Officers Melinda Williams and Rodney Helms to complete a door lock audit at each campus, during which they made sure that each school’s doors were locking efficiently. “We did find one room that was locked but would pop open if you pulled on it, so we got that fixed and taken care of,” he told the Board.
The assistant superintendent also informed the Board that he, Superintendent Ronda Hightower, and others within the school had met with the Centegix alert badge officials through Zoom to give usage feedback on the devices and gain information on how to best utilize the equipment. “We found out some things on our end that we can do and asked them to help us with a few things, so it was a good meeting,” Barrow commented.
He also said that he had been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Georgia Emergency Management Agency to try to secure a grant that could pay for the mitigation of damage from Hurricane Helene that may not be covered by insurance.
In regards to staff recruitment, Barrow told the Board that the state was now providing apprenticeship funding through the Georgia Department of Labor. “They’re doing that to help areas in need as far as short supply, and teachers happen to be on that list,” he explained.
According to Barrow, a teacher apprenticeship program is being developed through the Technical College and University Systems of Georgia, which will allow districts to recruit people to work parttime or full-time within schools while completing the necessary classes to become a teacher. He even said that some upper level classes may be bypassed through the hands-on experience these paraprofessionals will gain in the school system, and that student teaching will be able to be completed at the school where the teaching apprentice works. Funding is available for the paraprofessionals’ salaries and tuitions through the Georgia Department of Labor. “It’s just another way of getting folks into teaching professionally,” he summarized.
Another staff recruitment tool which Barrow said the school is utilizing is the partnership between the district and Brewton-Parker College, as he informed the Board of the Future Educator Tour and Presentation that occurred on November 19.
On November 19, Brewton-Parker College juniors and seniors in the education program toured Montgomery County Middle/ High School and listened to a presentation at the district’s board office.
“One thing we have found out is that if you can get those college students that are interested in education in your building – let them do their observations, practicum, and student teaching – they get familiar with their surroundings and build relationships with students and staff there. Then, you have a much better chance at hiring them,” he emphasized.
Barrow ended his report by reminding the Board that funding would soon be coming to the school for safety upgrades because of a recently received grant, and that decisions on purchases would come soon as a result of that.
