School Bus Tour
“We thought it would be easier to talk about while we were looking at it,” Executive Director Julie Pennybacker told assembled Board Members as the bus pulled away from Hutchings Career Center.
At the previous Executive Committee Meeting, Superintendent Sharon Patterson made a presentation on all the renovations and construction work that would be accomplished should an Education Special Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) be passed by the voters in the Fall. The physical tour was organized to give those board members a better idea on the condition of the schools needing renovations and the placement of the new campuses.
The tour started with a quick view of Hutchings and Vineville Academy, both which were completed using money from the previous SPLOST. The Rutland Campus and Howard Middle School were also mentioned as being successful projects from that tax.
According to Sharon Patterson, this ESPLOST “would be focused on our high schools and finish moving towards having grades six through eight in the middle schools.”
The major components of this tax were toured, including the rebuilding of Central and Southwest High Schools, moving Miller Middle School to the old Southeast High Campus, upgrading athletic facilities, and funding the school system’s transportation renovations and replacements for the next five years.
Board Members showed a great amount of interest in such topics as how the system would be selling the plan to the public, how well-prepared these new projects are for a growing population, and the foreseeable difficulties surrounding the Central High and Miller Middle projects.
Check Presentation at GEICO
In a Check Presentation Ceremony at GEICO on May 2, Education First, along with five other organizations, were presented with donations to help them continue to serve the community and its needs. Education First received a generous $5,000.
“GEICO has been a great community partner, not only to us, but to many other organizations in the area,” said Education First Executive Director Julie Pennybacker. “Their support has helped make the difference for so many people, and we look forward to working with GEICO in the future.”
April 2005 Board Meeting: Early Childhood Education
 At Education First’s April Board Meeting, the topic of discussion was focused on early childhood education. The 0-5 Committee spoke to the group about the many daycare centers in Macon which do not meet standard compliance and praised the two that recently achieved 100% compliance. According to Chair Cyndey Busbee, the early years for a child are some of the most important in laying the foundation for a good education experience.
The Committee also invited the SmartStart Georgia Chair, Robert Brown, to speak on what his group is doing in Bibb County and around Georgia. He began by mentioning his own early childhood education at the knees of parents, church members, teachers, and community members and how it affected his education later in life. Comparing early education to the wiring of a house, he said we turn on the lights in kindergarten, and if they’re not properly wired, the lights won’t come on.
He then outlined the plans of SmartStart Georgia to improve early education across the state. Noting low retention rates among childcare center workers as a significant problem, Mr. Brown mentioned initiatives that include incentive programs, opportunities to improve personal education goals (scholarships), and a graduated pay scale.
A consistent rating system must be used and published so parents will the have the ability to know the best places to enroll their children. Currently, the daycare licensing can be found at www.reportcard.gaosa.org.
Early childhood education affects all members of the community. Citing his time working with the Georgia prison system, he said many prisoners never graduated high school, and studies show students who have a proper early education are more likely to graduate. A community that focuses on early education is working to improve their future workforce.
Brown sees the future of early childhood education as a bright one as more communities and states recognize it as the foundation for all other learning. In Bibb County alone, SmartStart has donated $276,000 towards incentives.
Teacher
of the Year Banquet on November 16, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. at the
Centreplex
Education First partnering with PAGE, BAE and
Bibb County School System are excited to host the Teacher of
the Year Banquet on November 16, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. at the Centreplex.
The event is sponsored by 15 local business and community supporters
and will be an evening to celebrate the good work happening
in the Bibb County Schools.
Education
First is partnering with KaBoom!
December 17, Education First is partnering
with KaBoom!, a national organization concerned about safe,
clean playgrounds.
Home Depot, a national and local sponsor, will partner with
Education First and the Middle Georgia Realtor’s Association
to help build a playground for Barden Elementary. Barden’s
principal, David Dillard, applied to the national organization
in Washington, D.C. and received notification that Barden had
been chosen as a KaBoom site.
Julie
Pennybacker has been named as President/CEO of Education First
Education
First named Julie Pennybacker as their new President and Chief
Executive Officer this month. Pennybacker
is passionate about public education, dedicated to supporting the
teaching profession and excited about her work in Bibb
County with Education
First. She had been serving as Interim Executive Director since February 2004.
Pennybacker attended Chapman University in Orange, California
where she received her teaching credential for grades K-8. She
returned home to Griffin, Georgia where she taught school for five
years. She worked as a regional sales consultant for administrative
software in the Education Technology Area.
Education
First supports The
Georgia BellSouth Teacher Working Conditions Initiative
The board of Education First has signed a resolution
signifying their support of The Georgia BellSouth Teacher Working
Conditions Initiative. Bibb County was
selected as one of 11 counties in the state to participate in this
important survey.
The
Learning Curve marks its one year anniversary
Great things are happening in our school everyday.
Turn to the Life and Style section of the
Telegraph, every Tuesday, to see what is happening in our schools.
GEICO
donation supports teachers seeking their National Board Certification
Through a generous donation
from GEICO, teachers seeking their National Board Certification will have
noticeable support. Teachers will be provided their choice
of video camera or laptop to assist them in their year long process towards
NBC. Nationally, 50% of teachers who pursue this certification
are successful the
first time. We want Bibb County teachers to feel supported and encouraged
throughout the process.
A
night to honor the excellence in teaching at the Teacher of the
Year banquet
Want
to build a playground? Join in the fun at Barden Elementary with
KaBoom!
On December 17th.
Bibb
is one of 11 counties participating in the BellSouth Teacher
Working Conditions.
What it is like to work in the
Bibb County Schools? Bibb is one of 11 counties participating in
the BellSouth Teacher Working Conditions. Survey– | 
