Dougherty County Schools get off to positive start, superintendent says

ALBANY – Three days into the new school year, the Dougherty County School System is looking toward a successful term, one that was interrupted on Monday when area schools throughout the region were closed after Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida.

Students returned to the system’s 21 campuses on Wednesday, a little short of the expected attendance of about 13,000.

Attendance totaled 11,025 on Wednesday, 11,569 on Thursday and 11,735 on Friday. Those numbers usually grow by a few thousand about 10 days into a new school year.

“It went well,” Dougherty County Schools Superintendent Ken Dyer said of the first few days of classes. “We’re looking forward to that being an indicator of what we can expect for the entire year.”

The week prior to the return of students, the system’s personnel gathered at Albany State University’s West Campus for a rousing pep rally that filled the bleachers of the school’s gym. Prior to the first day of classes, parents showed up for open house events last week on Monday and Tuesday.

Dyer said he is hoping the enthusiasm will spill over for a year of learning. During the first three days of classes, the superintendent made visits to Merry Acres Elementary School, Monroe High School, Radium Springs Elementary and Radium Springs Middle School.

“They all got off to a great start,” Dyer said.

Many of the students and teachers will return to campuses with new desks and other furniture. Including the previous year of school renovations and the arrival of furniture over the summer at other schools, 17 of the system’s schools have gotten a new look with modern design in that department.

The system also has added an artificial intelligence (AI) specialist and two assistants, Dyer said.

“They will work with teachers to best leverage AI and make it more efficient in their instruction,” he added.

Students will benefit from that new technology, the superintendent said.

“That is some of the exciting initiatives we have planned for this year,” he said.

One other initiative under review is that of purchasing pouches for cellphones that lock down students’ phones for the day. Several school systems in the Atlanta area initiated policies to cut down on students’ use of phones for texting and social media during instruction time.

“I know that’s something that’s being discussed throughout the country,” Dyer said. “We’re looking at the appropriateness of it.”

Special Photo: DCSSSpecial Photo: DCSS