Dougherty County School System to name new career academy after Commodore Conyers

ALBANY — The late Commodore Conyers, former Dougherty High School principal and long-time education advocate, was honored Monday night when the Dougherty County School Board unanimously approved naming the county’s new college and career academy the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy.

Conyers, who recently died, served as the principal at Dougherty, as the Dougherty County School System and CTAE (career, technology and agricultural education) administrator, and in other capacities including Water Gas and Light commissioner and Dougherty County Board of Elections member. He was was also a vocal proponent of the college and career academy concept.

“I think (naming the academy) after Mr. Conyers is a the right thing to do,” Dougherty County School System Superintendent Butch Mosely said. ““I personally think it is a fitting honor for one of education’s strongest supporters.”

Before the school board meeting started, another large crowd turned out for the final of two public hearings on the School System’s move to a new Charter School System. The new system will take effect at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.

DCSS Charter System Internal Consultant Jewel Faison facilitated the discussion. While most in the crowd approved the move which will allowing more flexibility and autonomy withing the districts 23 schools, some expressed the same concerns about Local School Governance Teams (LSGTs) heard in last week’s first public hearing.

The move to a charter system will allow LSGTs to have a say in school-level strategic and Title I planning, budget recommendations, input into aspects of curriculum and instruction, establish and monitor school improvement goals and have input in the selection of a principal when a vacancy occurs.

“The governance teams will have a direct impact on their community schools,” Mosely said. “The school board will still have the final say, but the LSGTs will be a major factor in their individual schools.”

Initial LSGTs will consist of nine people in the county’s 14 elementary schools — two teachers, two non-certified employees, two community partners, two parents and the school principal. There will be 11 members at the middle and high school levels. The extra two people will be two students who are elected members of the school’s student government association.

All members of the LSGTs must be approved by the school board.

“Background checks of the LSGT members will fall under the same scrutiny as any other employee in the DCSS,” Faison said. “The LSGTs will not be usurping anyone’s authority, but instead be putting the local school decisions back into the hand of parents who have children in the school.”

“What works in East Albany may not work in West Albany,” DCSS Board Chairperson Velvet Riggins said. “You know what the problems are in your school and this is an opportunity to take your school back. We need your help because change is hard and it is coming.”