CMYK Thursday, August 28, 2014
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2014 High School Football Preview. 1B
Strategic planning for schools under way By LEANNE AKIN
lakin@clickthepaper.com
Do you feel welcome in Jackson County Schools? What are Jackson County Schools doing well and what needs improvement? Do you feel the children and young people who are attending local schools are getting all of the opportunities they need? Are they able to access all of the opportunities they seek? Are they receiving needed support for these opportunities? These are just a few of the questions posed to parents, community members, school staff and others attending Monday’s district-wide help to get input to be utilized in formulating the Jackson County School System’s strategic
plan for the next three to five years and perhaps beyond. The school system’s strategic planning process is being facilitated by Dr. Mark Wilson, a retired high school principal who now works as a consultant. He is being assisted by Gary Walker, an intern who recently graduated from Kennesaw State University. At the session, Board of Education chairwoman Lynne Wheeler thanked the system staffers who had already put in a long day but were taking part in facilitating and participating in the process. Dr. April Howard joined with Wheeler in thanking the parents and other community members in attendance. She said the session will be a catalyst for the strategic plan.
Participants were divided into small groups to discuss answers questions which are now posted on a community input survey. Those who could not attend the meeting are asked to provide feedback through the online survey. In one breakout session, several participants agreed that Science, Technology, Engieering and Mathematics (STEM) needs more emphasis in Jackson County Schools and the instruction needs to begin as early as the elementary level. One parent said she would likely move out of the county to seek another school system so her elementary-age child would have access to STEM classes. Participants said the local county system also needs language learning which is more
varied and offered before the eighth grade. They said without access to STEM and language, students will be at a distinct disadvantage. Howard said Wilson will be consolidating Monday’s input into a presentation for the school board’s Sept. 4 work session and other input received on the surveys will be synthesized for the board’s Oct. 9 work session. Participate in the survey by going to www. jackson.k12.ga.us then to a school website. “Jackson County Schools value the input of our community stakeholders. Please take a few moments to provide feedback that will help guide our district strategic planning process. Your thoughts and ideas are valued and appreciated,” the system’s invitation says.
Commission OK’s catering license for Luke Bryan concert By LEANNE AKIN
lakin@clickthepaper.com
Country music artist Luke Bryan’s Oct. 9 concert at Meldon Farm in Jefferson — part of his sixth annual Farm Tour– will have beer for sale. The application for a catering license was granted by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners during an Aug. 21called meeting. In spite of opposition from two residents of the area who voiced concern about traffic congestion and illegal parking which would negatively impact their quality of life as well as the possibility of impaired drivers on the roadways if alcohol was sold, the commissioners unanimously approved the application after the public hearing. The motion to grant the application was made by Commissioner Dwain Smith and seconded by Chairman Tom Crow. Commissioner Chas Hardy was not in attendance. The commissioners held an Aug. 21 called meeting gaveled to order
LeAnne Akin The Paper
Kylie Brown was among the West Jackson Intermediate School students signing a steel beam which was erected Monday as apart of the addition at the school. Students at West Jackson Primary School, below, had a chance to sign a smaller beam which was on the back of a pickup truck.
Students sign up, become part in school’s history Students from West Jackson Intermediate School (WJIS) and West Jackson Primary School (WJPS) officially became part of the new addition to WJIS Thursday, Aug. 21, when they signed a steel beam that will be used in the construction of the new wing.
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Delivery of more than 200 tons of steel earlier this week marked the beginning of vertical construction for the 36,326 square-foot, 25-classroom addition. In preparation for the structural steel
See STUDENTS, 2A
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at 5 p.m. by Chairman Tom Crow to conduct the required public hearing for the malt beverage license for catering for the concert for which tickets went on sale Aug. 5. The concert was announced and ticket information placed on Bryan’s website at www.lukebryan. com/farmtour as the application was being submitted to the office of Jackson County Public Development Director Gina Roy. During the commissioners’ work session held July 29, Roy requested the board set a called meeting so the public hearing could be properly advertised and required signage posted on the property. The commission agreed to a scheduled Aug. 21 hearing date. According to information provided by Roy’s office, BRGR of Milledgeville, doing business as 119 Chops, is seeking a Class D-2 Caterer-Malt Beverages by the
See CONCERT, 3A
Jefferson discusses possible rec fee hikes By FARAH BOHANNON
fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
JEFFERSON – Mayor Roy Plott, council members and Jefferson Parks and Recreation Director Colton Green discussed recreation fees during the special called meeting held Aug. 25 after the council’s regular voting session. Green says that the recreation center participation is up significantly from last year due to the extremely strong summer. “Summer camp alone made us between $10,000 and $12,000,” said Green. If that number were to rise even more in the coming years, fees would increase — this isn’t necessarily a good thing due to the amount of money that parents would be required to pay. Larger families would especially be impacted since the increase would be multiplied be three, four, five or more. Finance Director Amie Pirkle says she understands why fee increases are troublesome because she has four children of her own. “Raising recreation fees would cause the rec center to lose families,” said City Manager John Ward. Green mentioned that just raising the regular registration fee instead of the out-of-city fee most likely would not be too shocking for families. He said he believes that the city would see a much lower
drop rate. If there were to be a slight decline, Green says that it would be offset by natural growth of the city and recreation center. “I know I’m comparing apples to oranges, but a $395 fee at Gwinnett County would only be $95 here. Families tend to jump all over that, but this is just speculation on my part,” said Green. There was no vote at the end of the discussion. The council’s retreat had also included preliminary discussion of a possible fee hike. Prior to the recreation center fee discussion, Mayor Plott and the council members approved the annexation/zoning for Mary J. Smith Commer and Jonathan Loggins. As for variances, RWH Home Builders requested a variance to reduce to a 15-foot rear setback when the land use management code requires a 20- foot rear setback. The applicant requested this for several lots in the Pendergrass Station subdivision located in Jefferson and the request was approved. Chip McEver and Scott Thompson have agreed to continue on the Jefferson-Talmo Planning Commission and the Jefferson alarm ordinance has been updated to include repeated false fire alarms. Mary Dugan and Susan Russell of the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council have agreed to serve a new term.
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