Saturday, May 18, 2013
A divided Cherokee County School Board on Thursday debated policy changes that address previous points of contention.
Three policy changes proponents say would strengthen the Cherokee County School Board's governance were the subject of a lengthy debate during the board's meeting on Thursday. The board spent roughly an hour hashing out three proposals that would reiterate a current policy, and add two more regulations for the board to abide by. The first reading of two policies, which spell out the job descriptions and responsibilities of the school board chair and vice chair and stipulates the superintendent of schools is responsible for establishing ad hoc committees, were approved 4-3, with members Michael Geist, Kelly Marlow and Rob Usher rejecting. Board members could not come to an agreement on the third proposed change, which states school board…
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The board's Trends in Education work session is filled to the brim with topics of interest for board members and district staff.
The Cherokee County School Board has a packed work session agenda tonight that will cover everything from education funding, the impact of state legislation to enhanced security. The work session will start at 5:30 p.m. at the historic Canton High School/School Board auditorium. The work session will follow its regular meeting, which will start at 7 p.m. The board and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo will go over its fiscal forecast and discuss the impact of sequestration, the 2013 legislative session, property tax and sales tax revenue and the tentative 2013-14 budget. For trends in education, the board will discuss increased accountability for student achievement, expanded school choice, enhanced safety and security and the…
Friday, March 22, 2013
School board member Kelly Marlow faced off with Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo on her proposed changes to policy governing when to list financial impact of agenda items.
A proposal to modify a policy regarding school board meeting agendas led to testy exchanges between School Board Member Kelly Marlow and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo during the school board's meeting on Thursday. At the heart of the disagreement was whether the school district should list the financial impact on an agenda request form to be considered by the school board. Marlow, who is in her first term, proposed changing School Board Policy BCBD to read, "When an agenda request form is included, the financial impact section must include a dollar amount. In cases where there is no cost to the District, the dollar amount should be listed as 0. In all other cases, a dollar amount must be listed on the form. It shall be …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Cherokee County School Board will take action on proposed transfers of principals and submit a local resolution to continue its exception on the maximum class size set forth by the state.
When the Cherokee County School Board meets at the historic Canton High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday, it will officially transfer several principals to other county schools, schools in other counties, and positions within the administration of the School District itself. If approved, seven principals or assistant principals will be swapping schools over the summer of 2013, though no principals from the Holly Springs area will be moving. Canton Elementary School Principal Gwen Lince would take over the reins at Clayton Elementary School, while Clayton's principal Beth Long will transfer to Canton. Cherokee High School Assistant Principal Shelia Grimes is getting a promotion to principal when she moves to Freedom Middle School this …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Cherokee County School Board sat down last week with most of the Cherokee legislative delegation to discuss the board's legislative priorities.
Members of the Cherokee County legislative delegation and the Cherokee County School Board came together late last week to discuss the school board's 2013 legislative priorities as well as to discuss what the state's plans were to shore up education funding. With the exception of Michael Geist, the entire school board attended last week's meeting with the delegation. Both State Rep. John Carson (R-Marietta) and State Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell), both of whom represent the southeastern corner of the county, also did not attend the meeting. The priorities, which were approved by the board last month, are: School board members asked members of the delegation if they would commit to ensuring each of the four points would be addressed during…
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Cherokee County School Board and members of the Cherokee County legislative delegation will gather tonight in Holly Springs to discuss education funding.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The charter school advocate sets her sights on what she'd like to achieve during her first term on the Cherokee County School District.
Kelly Marlow is preparing for her first term on the Cherokee County School Board. Marlow was elected in the July Republican primary to the Post 1 seat, which was created during the reapportionment process. The new district includes the BridgeMill, parts of Sixes Road and Holly Springs and portions of the Toonigh and Univeter areas. Marlow received a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and before becoming a full-time parent, she worked as a project manager in the health care, technology and alternative energy sectors. She's also worked as a preschool teacher, a substitute teacher, a room parent and a PTA leader. Marlow, who lives in BridgeMill with husband Mark and her twin children, has also served on the boards of several …
Monday, December 31, 2012
Outgoing school board member Kim Cochran reflected on her term on the school board.
Kim Cochran is preparing to transition off the Cherokee County School Board. Cochran, 31, started her term in January 2009, but was defeated in the July Republican primary by northeast Cherokee resident Patsy Jordan. Along with her service on the board, Cochran has been active in helping her husband Nate Cochran with his law practice in downtown Canton. A former teacher and now a stay-at-home mother, Cochran and her husband have two sons, Noah, 5, and Jacob, 2, and they attend Cumming First United Methodist Church. They live in the Free Home community. Cochran discussed with Patch her last four years on the school board. 1. How are you all feeling now in these last days of your tenure? Are residents reaching out to you to wish you good …
Chapman, who was first elected in 1998, plans to focus on his work and his family after he leaves office, but "doesn't know" if he will re-enter politics.
After more than 10 years of service on the Cherokee County School Board, Canton resident Mike Chapman will soon leave behind his political career advocating for the Cherokee County School District. Chapman, 52, opted not to seek re-election after the reapportionment process left him without a district to run in. Chapman is a member of the Rotary Club of Canton and also serves as the chair of the Canton Building Authority and the G. Cecil Pruett Community Family YMCA. Chapman and wife Mary have two adult children, Matt and Mark, who are both graduates of Cherokee High School. They are members of Canton First United Methodist Church. Chapman has lived in Cherokee County since 1989 when he opened a manufacturing facility in Canton. In the …
Friday, December 28, 2012
Incoming Cherokee County School Board member Patsy Jordan wants to advocate for public school system she worked in for 37 years.
Northeast Cherokee County resident Patsy Jordan will soon become the newest member of the Cherokee County School Board. She defeated incumbent Kim Cochran in the July Republican primary and had no Democratic challenger in the Nov. 6 general election. She will serve in the new Post 2, which encompasses east and northeast Cherokee. Jordan, a retired Cherokee County School District educator, has 37 years of experience in education and has worked as a paraprofessional, school secretary, county payroll officer, school bus driver, classroom teacher, mentor and college supervisor. She has an Ed.S in curriculum and instruction and her endorsements include gifted and teacher support specialist. Jordan and Husband Franklin "Bug" Jordan live in the …
Dean Sheridan
7:48 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
I found this to be an interesting piece on one;s character for those of you posting puff pieces earlier today. Sounds familiar doesn't it? http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/1999-08-05/news/undercurrents/ Like said earlier, with furloughing teachers high millage rates and 50% or better of our County taxes going to schools the tax payer wants cuts they can count ; not a mean spirited Administration. more ›