Dougherty County School Board holds its annual retreat

ALBANY — The Dougherty County School Board reviewed its policies at its required annual retreat Wednesday in the school system’s administration building.

“I can’t stress the importance of the school board keeping its policies updated due to changing trends in education,” Mary Jessie, the Georgia School Board Association’s representative at the half-day session, said. “You have to have enforceable policies in place and when those polices are violated, make sure that there are consequences.”

Jessie urged the School Board to implement a five-year plan, laying out goals for the system. The district is already moving in that direction and is in the final stages of putting together what Superintendent Butch Mosely calls his “five-year road map.”

The GSBA’s presentation was a new experience for rookie School Board members Melissa Strother and Dean Phinazee.

“I learned a lot today and I am glad I was here to hear (the presentation),” Strother said. “Some of the information was redundant to what we heard in board orientation, but I think it’s always good for the board to hear the information together and be on the same page. It’s nice to know what our responsibilities are and those of the superintendent.

“Sessions like these help us have a healthy board and we absolutely all have to work together.

Phinazee agreed.

“I think it was good to learn what we can and cannot do as board members, in addition to learning about our specific responsibilities,” Phinazee said.

After the session was over, the board stayed to hear an update from Assistant Superintendent Ufot Inyang on House Bill 91, which was recently signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal.

The new law eliminates the high school graduation test as a requirement for graduation. It also provides procedures for former students who did not pass one or more portions of the Georgia High School Graduation Test to petition to obtain a high school diploma. A student who didn’t revceive a diploma as far back as July 1981 because of that testing requirement may petition for a diploma to be awarded.

The annual school board retreats are required by the Georgia School Boards Association and focus on board governance training, with emphasis placed on the roles of the school board and superintendent.