The Henry County Board of Education released its annual list of legislative priorities which was approved by a vote at the board’s November 12 regular meeting.
School district officials identified four main priorities they hope to present to lawmakers representing Henry County in the upcoming General Assembly: school security; teacher/ leader recruitment and retention; school readiness; and local school board governance, district flexibility, and public accountability.
“Ensuring a safe and secure learning environment is a top priority of the Henry County Board of Education. Students, families, and employees are looking to state and district leaders to take actions that will better safeguard schools,” according to the report. “We urge legislators to partner with local boards of education to devise a comprehensive strategy and attain the necessary training and resources to secure schools against a full range of risks.”
Referring to effective teachers and leaders as “the most critical factor in student achievement,” the board noted that there is “an acute need for a deeper pool of prospective teachers and leaders.”
One thing officials want legislators to do to address this issue is allow retired educators more flexibility in returning to teaching. Other suggestions were financial – establishing a service cancelable loan program for students graduating from a teacher education program of the University System of Georgia, and allocating financial resources to ensure competitive salaries and benefits.
Early education is the focus of the board’s thinking with regard to school readiness. The county already operates a prekindergarten program in nine of its 28 elementary schools through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL).
“We urge legislators to devise early learning solutions to include increasing access to DECAL Pre-K programs, and supporting district development of early kindergarten and other birth-5 learning initiatives,” according to the report.
The priority list concluded with a focus on local control.
“The Henry County Board of Education embraces its responsibility to ensure a high performing environment for all students. To that end, we urge legislators to safeguard the responsibility and authority of local school boards for the direction, advancement, and governance of the public schools in their community; enable strategic waiver school districts to attain flexibility comparable to charter districts; and establish a single public education accountability system that is clear and reliable.”
