New for 2015-16 school year in Harris, Chattahoochee counties
While public school students in Muscogee County, Phenix City and Russell County are milking the final days of their summer vacation before returning to classes Monday, their peers in Harris and Chattahoochee counties are even closer to starting the 2015-16 school year.
Chattahoochee County begins Wednesday and Harris County on Thursday. Here are highlights of what's new in those school systems. We will publish our preview of the Muscogee County, Phenix City and Russell County districts Sunday.
<b>Harris County</b>
During its legislative session this year, the Georgia General Assembly Georgia passed Senate Bill 132, aka the "Move On When Ready Act," to amend the Quality Basic Education Act and make it easier for high school students to dually enroll in college courses.
"The district believes that this will encourage more students to enroll in college courses while still at Harris County High School," Jeff Branham, the district's human resources director and chief information officer, told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email on behalf of superintendent Jimmy Martin.
Branham also said Harris County continues to implement House Bill 91, which retroactively eliminates the state's graduation exams so students who failed to graduate because of those requirements now can apply to receive their diploma.
New leaders: Melissa Hayes was promoted to fourth-grade teacher to assistant principal at Park Elementary School after her predecessor resigned, Branham said. Cheryl Johnson was promoted from transportation director secretary to assistant transportation director after her predecessor retired, he said.
New education initiative: Thanks to a grant from Kia Motors, the district will implement more activities related to science, technology, engineering and math, Branham said. Harris County is one of four school districts to share the three-year gift of more than $1 million. The district won't know its specific amount until Aug. 11, he said, but it will use the grant to train teachers on using the A World in Motion curriculum to enhance STEM education.
<b>ChattCo</b>
In addition to SB 132 and HB 91 cited by Branham, here are other new state laws affecting education this year, as mentioned in the Georgia School Boards Association's summary Chattahoochee County School District superintendent David McCurry provided the L-E.
HB 198 requires all certified public school personnel to receive annual training in suicide prevention and awareness. HB 131 expanded the definition of bullying to include school-related incidents that occur off campus or electronically. SB 89, known as the "Digital Classroom Act," mandates all instructional materials and content to be delivered in an electronic format by July 1, 2020. SB 133 allows the state to take over chronically failing schools if voters approve the November 2016 referendum.
New leaders: Tabitha Walton was promoted from principal of the elementary school at the Chattahoochee County Education Center to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Lane Lindsay replaced Walton as principal. Sandi Veliz replaced the retired Gina Cox as special education director.
New education initiatives: System-wide, the district is implementing Writing to Win, a standards-based program with detailed tasks and guidance for writing assignments in all subjects.
Chattahoochee County High School has added four new Advanced Placement courses and now will have six after not having any three years ago: AP English Literature and Composition, AP Biology, AP Psychology, AP Calculus, AP Physics and AP Art.
A partnership with Columbus Technical College will allow ChattCo students to take dual-enrollment courses in criminal justice, manufacturing/customer service, residential health care, financial literacy and early child care. For the first time, ChattCo will offer students two college-level English courses for credit on the high school campus.
Chattahoochee County Middle School has expanded its accelerated courses and now will offer high school-level algebra and physics, enabling students to qualify sooner for advanced or dual-enrollment courses.
New facility: Through a grant with Southwest Georgia Health Care, the elementary school has a new health clinic.
"The clinic will focus on preventative health care," McCurry said. "Students will be able to receive the same services they would receive at any other health clinic off campus. This should have a significant positive impact on student attendance."
Mark Rice, 706-576-6272. Follow him on Twitter@MarkRiceLE.
This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 3:39 PM with the headline "New for 2015-16 school year in Harris, Chattahoochee counties ."