Local school officials among 700 at GSBA meetings
From Staff Reports
education@newnan.com
Local school board members and administrators attended recent meetings of the Georgia Schools Boards Association.
The meetings were held at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta.
Superintendent Steve Barker also participated both days.
The Cowetans were among approximately 700 local school board members and superintendents who were expected at the combined meetings of GSBA and the Georgia School Superintendents Association.
Pre-conference training activities were held Nov. 28 - 29.
Featured speakers on Nov. 30 included Kyle Maynard and State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge.
Maynard is a motivational speaker, author and athlete. He challenged attendees to deal with perceived limitations and encouraged them to “make no excuses.”
Barge, the state school superintendent, discussed “Making Education Work for All Georgians.”
An array of mini sessions were offered – focusing on the governance role of local school boards.
On Saturday, Dr. John Draper, president of Cambridge Strategic Services, discussed “Crucial Conversations about America’s Schools.”
The luncheon on Nov. 30 included a tribute to those who worked unsuccessfully to defeat Amendment 1 in November.
Herb Garrett, GSSA executive, and Sis Henry, GSBA executive, both talked about the alliances that were forged. Valarie Wilson, GSBA president, expressed similar thoughts.
Garrett said those who opposed the charter school amendment were in “something akin to a battle together.”
Henry asked “every school board member and every school superintendent who worked their hearts out on this” to stand.
“This collaboration is going to move forward,” Wilson said. “We’re going to put public education at the top of the agenda again.”
