Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Susan Avant provided a review of the district’s PLC (Professional Learning Communities) day, during the regular Liberty County Board of Education meeting Sept. 11.
All of Liberty County School System’s certified staff met together in groups Sept. 4, Avant said. Each PLC session was conducted by a teacher who received specialized training over the summer, she continued.
“This was a great day for our teachers,” Avant said. “The feedback we got from the teachers was so positive.”
The PLC was a district wide event, she said. The teachers from the same grade levels met together to share ideas, tips, successes, and improvements. Staff also examined data, planned collaboratively, shared instructional strategies, and participated in professional learning, Avant said.
“The day ended with teachers taking field trips to each other’s classrooms to get ideas,” Avant said. Each school hosted a specific group for sessions. “It was an absolutely amazing day for our staff. Our teachers did an amazing job. I think it’s going to certainly be something to propel us forward.”
LCSS reviewed additional renovations to Bradwell Institute’s baseball field, including a new concession and restroom area, and a covered hitting area as part of a phase one renovation, Interim Chief Operations Officer Jason Rogers said. There are several structures that need remodeling, including the dugouts, he continued.
“We used this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone,” Rogers said. “Our first conceptual design is a two-story structure. The bottom is a concession area with an additional eight bathrooms. The upstairs would be where the announcers sit, with some equipment and coach storage space as well.” The concession stand area would be located directly behind home plate, he continued.
Before baseball practices are set to begin after the Martin Luther King holiday, Rogers said that the goal is to complete the concession stand structure and the covered hitting area. After those renovations are finished, and baseball season is complete, other potential remodels include the fencing, turf and dugouts.
“We’ll begin acquiring permits with the City of Hinesville, and should be able to start within the next month,” Rogers said.
Chair Lily Baker raised concerns of possible delays, citing Bradwell’s gym construction as an example. In the event that the construction would delay the beginning of baseball season, Rogers said, the renovations would begin after baseball season is completed.
“The goal is to finish the concession area and hitting area before practices begin,” he said. “Then afterwards, we’ll tackle the other needed renovations.”
The board approved out-of-state travel requests for Bradwell Institute, Liberty Elementary School and Snelson-Golden Middle School.
According to Rogers, Liberty Elementary’s Kindergarten group has a scheduled field trip to the Jacksonville Zoo. Snelson-Golden’s eighth grade gifted class will travel to New York, Rogers said.
Bradwell’s cross-country team has four out-of-state meets in Orlando, Birmingham, Winston-Salem, and New York. All travel will be on either a school bus or charter bus, Rogers said, except for the cross-country trip to New York. The team will travel by plane, he continued.
The travel requests received approval from the majority of the board, with District 3 board member Carol Guyett opposed.
The board will visit Lyman Hall Elementary School at 10 a.m. Nov. 15. New board member orientation is Nov. 14-15 in Macon. The Georgia School Boards Association will conduct the training, Baker said.
The next Board of Education meeting is a work session at 9 a.m. Sept. 20.