Board Members Emphasize Students, Finances

The two Cobb school board members representing the Powder Springs area shed some light Wednesday on how they want to advance the and the county Board of Education.

David Morgan, who represents , and high schools, and Lynnda Crowder-Eagle, who represents , , and high schools, joined their colleagues on the school board in providing a glimpse at their core beliefs and values during a board work session.

Morgan opened the discussion of the board’s strategic plan and its priorities and vision.

Although board Chairwoman Alison Bartlett suggested taking up those issues at the board’s planned summer retreat after a new superintendent is on the job, Morgan asked his fellow board members to reveal their priorities and vision for the board.

Morgan said it is “dire that we, ASAP, establish some priorities and core beliefs, or vision, so that we can have a definitive direction.”

Bartlett agreed with Morgan’s assessment, but she also said it is important early on to be a “team” with the new superintendent.

In response, Crowder-Eagle said she want to “focus on continuous student improvement despite budgetary constraints.”

Morgan’s own answer focused on the financial side: “Creating additional revenue streams through relationships with national philanthropic groups.”

Also during the meeting, the board briefly took up East Cobb/Northeast Cobb member David Banks’ suggestion to use the $11 million saved from SPLOST construction projects this year for purchases of textbooks, technology and transportation.

Bartlett asked SPLOST Chief Administrative Officer Doug Shepard to compile information about the budget surplus for the board to go over during its July work session and to get information to the school system’s Facilities & Technology Committee.

After reporting at the board’s April 28 meeting that 10 principals are retiring from the Cobb district and an assistant principal is resigning, Chief Human Resources Officer Donald Dunnigan presented a report Wednesday on contract extensions, promotions, reassignments and other moves.

The board unanimously approved the personnel report, which included extensions for the district’s Executive Cabinet: Dunnigan, Shepard, Chief Financial Officer Mike Addison, Director of Communications Jay Dillon, Chief Accountability and Resource Officer Judith Jones, and Chief Technology Officer Chris Ragsdale.

Extensions also were offered to Assistant Superintendents Robert Benson, James Carter, Dale Gaddis, Angela Huff, Cheryl Hungerford, Carol Seay, Alice Stouder and Edward Thayer.

In one other personnel move involving a Powder Springs school, teacher Adam Hill is leaving to become assistant principal at Timber Ridge Elementary in East Cobb.