TC BOE Elects Vice Chair, Cites Staff Performance

The Toombs County Board of Education reelected Russ Benton as vice chair during the regular Board session on January 13.

In other business, the Board heard from Superintendent Barrett Waller about the “Seven Mindsets” program that promotes positive mindsets and behavior and which will be introduced into the K-8 schools next year. The program is a social-emotional learning tool for developing healthy life skills for both students and staff, Waller said. At the halfway point in the year for finances, the school system is at 43.87% of its budget with $7.6 million in reserves. An unexpected expense in support services, brought about by adjustments in pandemic revenues, pushed this expense to 292.39%, of the budget. This increase seems alarming but will be reconciled by the end of the year, Waller said. During the meeting, system personnel were recognized for exemplary performance of their duties. Debbie Woods, secretary and bookkeeper at Lyons Upper Elementary School, was awarded the WOW award for her services.

The Extra Mile Award for January went to personnel from Toombs County High School who acted quickly and efficiently to help diffuse a tense situation when a student was apprehended after bringing a weapon to the school on January 6. “We don’t like to call attention to these kinds of incidents, but these people should be recognized for the way they handed a difficult situation,” Waller said. The student was taken into custody by local police without any harm coming to the subject or others at the school.

Cited for their swift and professional response were TCHS Principal Marissa Morris, and Assistant Principals Garrett Cranford and Grady Hart.

Board members heard from the Toombs County FFA during the Spotlight on Schools. Chastity Denmark, Lauren Stanley and Joey Mumford talked about various activities, including livestock shows, and horticultural and shop programs, as well as leadership and public speaking opportunities afforded to FFA students.