COVINGTON, Ga - Swade Huff will become Indian Creek Middle School’s new principal starting July 10. He will replace Renee Mallard who is leaving at the end of this school year to pursue other career opportunities.
In her presentation to the Newton County School System (NCSS) Board of Education (BOE), Samantha Fuhrey, superintendent, reported that Huff has been principal for Statham Elementary School in the Barrow County School System for the past five years. He holds a doctor of education degree in educational leadership. His experiences have included being a psychiatric specialist in the U.S. Army Reserves, teacher, department chair and assistant principal at the elementary and high school level.
“Dr. Huff has been instrumental in creating a culture of high expectations in the schools in which he has worked,” Fuhrey said. “He is looking forward to serving the students, staff, and families that make up the Indian Creek Middle School community.”
In other action, the BOE recognized students who have recently won regional or state competitions and received several proposals which will be acted on at future board meetings. Those proposals included updates to various handbooks and policies, the disposal of surplus equipment, and two contracts.
An annual contract was proposed with Genuine Parts Company, doing business as NAPA Auto Parts, for “truck, bus, equipment parts, related supplies and services, as well as the provision of Integrated Business Solutions” (IBS). Per the contract NAPA IBS would operate a parts store within the NCSS’s pupil transportation department. According Fuhrey’s memo describing the contract, “the benefits from the utilization of an IBS include eliminating the carrying costs of inventory, reducing transaction expenses, increased shop productivity, elimination of obsolescent stock, professional development opportunities and an overall reduction in operational expenditures.” The contract is valued at just under $1.4 million.
The second proposed contract was for plumbing renovations at East Newton Elementary School. Mid Atlantic Renovations, Inc., was the low bidder for the project which will entail replacing 60-year-old galvanized water piping with new copper pipe. The work will be done during the summer recess. Eddie Johnson, district 2 BOE member, stated the need to check the status of water systems in the NCSS’s other schools.
Finally, the BOE approved the hiring of one teacher and three staff members, one transfer, and four terminations for the current academic year as well as the hiring of 17 teachers and one staff member plus 11 transfers for the 2017-2018 school year. It accepted 12 retirements and 54 resignations. The NCSS currently employs 2,863 people.
