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Association honors Long school board
Long BOE
Front: Janet Watford, Long County BoE chairpeson, Dr. Ricky Brantley, Georgia School Board Association; and BoE member Florence Baggs. Back: BoE member Dennis DeLoach, BoE Vice Chairperson Julie Dawson, Long County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Waters. The school board was honored by the Georgia School Board Association on Monday. - photo by Photo provided.

The Long County Board of Education met Monday to discuss the latest matters concerning the schools.

One of the first things they talked about was themselves.

Ricky Brantley of the Georgia School Board Association presented two awards to the BoE in recognition of recent achievements.

The first was the Distinguished School Board Award and the second was a safety incentive grant for $5,000.

Brantley expressed his congratulations and his admiration, saying, "I don’t know if there is a tougher job. To support and change the students’ lives is an awesome responsibility."

Dr. Robert Waters, superintendent, said of the honor: "We hold our kids and teachers accountable. We should be held accountable too."

In other business:

The BOE approved a contract agreement with the Long County Board of Elections and Registration for a special called election for a referendum on a new Educational Local Option Sales Tax, or ELOST.

Janet Watford, board member, made the announcement that Monday’s night meeting was going to be her last on the board.

Watford expressed her gratitude and thanks to the board for her years of service and praised her fellow board members.

"It has been awesome," Watford said. "Our reputation precedes us. It has been a beautiful trip."

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BI hosts LCSS Gala
LibertyCountySchools

Bradwell Institute’s Friends Helping Friends will host the 3rdAnnual Liberty County School System Special Needs Gala Saturday at 7p.m.

The dance portion of the gala is free and open to the public.

FHF was started three years ago by BI special needs teacher Charlie Moon. FHF is comprised of a large group of general education students that connect special needs students with their general education peers. They have raised $20,000 in the last 30 months, for events like this, a new sensory room, music therapy equipment, and many other fun events. 

“FHF does so much for the special needs students. It really brings them out in their social skills. They become so much more comfortable around us all,” FHF Junior Danielle Hennessee said. 

FHF Junior Jada Naftzinger said it’s a two-way street. “It not only helps them, but us as well. It brings us out of our own shells and comfort zones.” 

Moon added, “For us, the Gala is not our calling card. I’ve told the students from day one, unless they truly know these special needs students, we won’t do the Gala at all. We’ll throw a big pizza party instead. The point is, we want the kids to really focus on the one-on-one, in-class work, hanging out in the halls, really talking to them. That’s the only way this program truly reaches its potential. Our motto is, “Changing lives, one friend at a time.”

During a private dinner which precedes the public dance, district office personnel, representatives from Congressman Buddy Carter’s office, district SPED staff, BI Football players and FHF members, parents and the honored guests – 50 special needs students from around the district will be in attendance.

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