The Forsyth County Board of Education will maintain the same leadership as last year as members unanimously supported Darla Light continuing in her role as chairwoman. “Thank you very much and I will try to do a good job,” Light said Thursday night during the school board’s first meeting of 2014. The five-member panel also voted for Kristin Morrissey to serve as vice chairwoman for the year. Nancy Roche held that position in 2013. A list of goals for 2014, which Light said the group developed during a recent retreat, was also approved. Among the objectives for the year are planning for future capital outlay funding and developing a bond referendum for later this year.“[The referendum] is so important to all of us I think,” Light said. The board has previously discussed the possibility of holding a bond referendum to fund construction of new schools in the fast-growing system. Under a tentative timeline, if voters approve a referendum this fall, then construction could possibly begin in March 2015 with a new elementary school opening August 2016. The new elementary in southwest Forsyth is atop the priority list, followed by middle school No. 10 at the extreme south end of the county. Also mentioned have been additions to Lambert and North Forsyth high schools. In addition for 2014, the board plans to continue to have a strong showing at various community events and functions, and to seek additional training opportunities.“We discussed trying to better ourselves and maybe get out and see some school systems in the region that we are comparative, to start trying to reach above what we’ve been,” Light said. Tom Cleveland noted that an important part of training will be seeking options above and beyond what many Georgia school boards require.“The only thing I would add is on our professional development, I know we had a good bit of discussion about trying to seek out some flexibility for us because we’re finding out that the standard, stock training isn’t for us because we’re in a different place in this county,” he said.“So we’re going to see if we can find that professional development that will help us grow as a board for what we need here in Forsyth.”
The Forsyth County Board of Education will maintain the same leadership as last year as members unanimously supported Darla Light continuing in her role as chairwoman. “Thank you very much and I will try to do a good job,” Light said Thursday night during the school board’s first meeting of 2014. The five-member panel also voted for Kristin Morrissey to serve as vice chairwoman for the year. Nancy Roche held that position in 2013. A list of goals for 2014, which Light said the group developed during a recent retreat, was also approved. Among the objectives for the year are planning for future capital outlay funding and developing a bond referendum for later this year.“[The referendum] is so important to all of us I think,” Light said. The board has previously discussed the possibility of holding a bond referendum to fund construction of new schools in the fast-growing system. Under a tentative timeline, if voters approve a referendum this fall, then construction could possibly begin in March 2015 with a new elementary school opening August 2016. The new elementary in southwest Forsyth is atop the priority list, followed by middle school No. 10 at the extreme south end of the county. Also mentioned have been additions to Lambert and North Forsyth high schools. In addition for 2014, the board plans to continue to have a strong showing at various community events and functions, and to seek additional training opportunities.“We discussed trying to better ourselves and maybe get out and see some school systems in the region that we are comparative, to start trying to reach above what we’ve been,” Light said. Tom Cleveland noted that an important part of training will be seeking options above and beyond what many Georgia school boards require.“The only thing I would add is on our professional development, I know we had a good bit of discussion about trying to seek out some flexibility for us because we’re finding out that the standard, stock training isn’t for us because we’re in a different place in this county,” he said.“So we’re going to see if we can find that professional development that will help us grow as a board for what we need here in Forsyth.”