COVINGTON, Ga. - Newton County School System is joining in a statewide celebration during the week of March 18-22 to salute the efforts of local school board members. The week of March 18-22, has been proclaimed School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. The weeklong observance calls attention to the contributions of local boards of education.
“Citizens elect board members to represent the community’s voice regarding education matters and to set the vision for the school district,” Samantha Fuhrey, NCSS superintendent, said. “Our board spends countless hours fulfilling its responsibilities and working together to continually improve our education system. As the men and women citizens elect to represent them in education matters, local school boards represent a continuing commitment to local citizen control and decision-making in education.
“We are very fortunate to have school board members who are deeply committed to improving student outcomes and who work together to make certain that every decision that is made regarding our school system is clearly aligned to achieving our vision of ensuring all students are well-rounded and prepared for the future. The members of our Newton County School System’s Board of Education are to be commended for the pursuit of educational excellence.”
The men and women serving our school district and their years of service are:
- District 1, Mr. Trey Bailey, three years;
- District 2, Mr. Eddie Johnson, ten years;
- District 3, Mrs. Shakila Henderson-Baker, eight years;
- District 4, Mr. Almond Turner, 22 years; and
- District 5, Mrs. Abigail Coggin, eight years
As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds. As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for the children in local public schools and must study, evaluate and decide what actions are in the best interest of those students.
The Georgia School Boards Association sponsors the celebration. The mission of GSBA is to ensure excellence in the governance of local school systems by providing leadership, advocacy and services, and by representing the collective resolve of Georgia’s 180 elected boards of education. Please visit www.gsba.com for more information.
