Charter System Innovation Grants awarded to eight DCSS schools

ALBANY — It’s been a busy few weeks for Dougherty County School System Charter System consultant Jewel Faison.

Just last month, she welcomed more than 35 new members of Local School Governance Teams (LSGT) as they were sworn in to their positions. The LSGT members, who are an integral part of the DCSS’ Charter School Initiative, are in 20 of the district’s 21 schools. International Studies was already a charter school.

On Wednesday, Faison handed out more than $460,000 in Charter System Innovation Grants to eight DCSS schools to use for various initiatives.

“This is one way we can put our money where our mouth is for the future of our young scholars,” DCSS Superintendent Ken Dyer said.

Two years ago, when the state gave Georgia’s 181 school districts the option of keeping its status quo, becoming a charter system or opting for the Choose EO2 status, the DCSS opted to become a charter system. That provided the system with more flexibility in running its schools.

The choice also required the creation of LSGTs, with the intent of giving parents, teachers and interested parties more input in their neighborhood schools.

The process of planting a charter system seed actually began in 2016 when Faison was director of A School for Children.

“As you know, after a brain aneurysm and the closing of A School for Children, I didn’t know how parents and stakeholders would ever have authentic choice in Dougherty County,” Faison said. “With the Charter System, which is so much more expansive than what any one private entity could offer, our city can offer choice to parents, no matter the zip code or socio-economic status of the family.”

School recipients of the grants were:

— $44,200 to begin a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program at Robert Harvey Elementary;

— $56,000 to Robert Cross Middle Magnet School;

— $73,000 to Sherwood Acres Elementary School;

— $55,000 to Lincoln Elementary Magnet School;

— $159,000 to a collaborative of Robert Harvey, Turner Elementary, Dougherty High and Albany.

Dyer said the funds would be used for teacher training and new programs at the schools.

In some ways Faison’s aneurysm turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“I’ve lived to understand, ‘Except a grain of corn falls to the ground and dies; it abides alone,’” Faison said. “But I am watching life erupt in our schools with educators and parents free to make decisions together that are best for the students in their school communities through the Local School Governance Teams.

“I don”t know why this Atlanta girl fell in love with this town. But I want to be a part of the legacy that makes it an attractive place to the world. I’m thinking of starting a ‘Move to Albany’ campaign.”

DCSS School Board Chair Velvet Poole shared Faison’s enthusiasm.

“We have a lot of good things going on right now,” Poole said. “We are slowly beginning to connect the dots.”