The Dade County Board of Education met Monday evening and began with a performance by a small group of girls from Dade County High School’s chorus. Chorus Director and Fine Arts Department Head Gabrielle Haston presented information to the Board including congratulations to High School students Aiden Ross and J Crane who placed first at the GHSA State Literary Meet and many other students who made great accomplishments over the course of the school year. Mrs. Haston went on to inform the board of the Arts in Our Schools and Music in Our Schools movements, highlighting all the Fine Arts features going on in our school district.
Next, the Superintendent Ingle gave recognition to Laney Page, an Elementary School Student who won first place out of all Kindergarten classes in Northwest Georgia participating in Young Georgia Authors Fair with her Essay about Family.
Dr. Robbie Vincent from Northwest Georgia RESA gave a report on the PBIS system that has been implemented in Dade County Schools. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Dr. Vincent reported that more than 1300 schools in Georgia have been trained in PBIS. Teaching combined with positive acknowledgement of student achievements will reduce unnecessary behavior disciplines. Dr. Vincent then went on to commend Superintendent Ingle, the School Board, and DCS staff members for their dedication to their student by providing positive interventions and supports. The Georgia Department of Education has recognized Dade County Schools in this regard.
Patty Johnson reported on Cognia, a program to provide the school system with access to effective and insightful tools that can inform and support school improvement plans. DCS started a six year program. Tanner Bradford reported on the state of the District-Wide Internet Connection. He recommended continuing forward with the current process with Trenton Telephone Company and TVN.
Ms. Lauren Grasham then spoke to the Board about the School System’s monthly financials. Dade County Schools saw a slight increase in SPLOST funds and a balance at the end of February of $8, 699,911.08.
Superintendent Ingle made recommendations including a repair project for one of the playgrounds at Davis Elementary and Dade Elementary, the purchase of a new John Deere lawn mower, and to utilize funds in order to maintain internet connection; all of which the Board approved.
