I ThIs CEO/Superintendent’s Message: Issue Staff ...

Volume 11, Number 4 February 2019

In This Issue...

CEO/Superintendent's Message:

Staff, community invited to Area Board Meetings this spring

Spring is right around the corner, one of the busiest times of the year for the Gwinnett

Message

Area Board Meetings (pgs. 1?2)

County Public Schools family. Calendars are filled with school activities, including sports, concerts, honors nights, and drama performances as we approach the end of another school year. Spring also brings another special event, the annual series of Area Board Meetings hosted by the Gwinnett County Board of Education in

State and GCPS Education Stories

BOE business, new leaders, bus stop law, website redesign, contracts, transfer process, FSA, job fair (pgs. 2?4)

News on the Side

each member's electoral district.

This year's Area Board Meetings hold particular significance for two rea-

sons. For starters, you will have the opportunity to meet the Board's first new

J. Alvin Wilbanks CEO/Superintendent

members in more than 14 years. Everton Blair, Jr., was elected in November to represent District IV, and Steven B. Knudsen is the new Board member for District II. Since joining the Board in January, they have been very busy get-

ting to know their constituents and learning the important work of governing

Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Secondly, at this year's Area Board Meetings, attendees will hear about an important

Area Board Meetings,

process currently underway in the school district, the updating of the "Strategic Priorities

grad schedule, retirement

for 2010-2020." This document captures the qualities and characteristics for 10 key district

reminders, GO bond and

components that stakeholders in 2009 felt would move us closer to our vision of becoming

bond rating, check out

a system of world-class schools. Come hear about our plans for updating the Strategic Pri-

Communiqu?, Spotlight

orities for a new decade and how you can play a role in that process. In addition, a preview

deadline (pgs. 1?4)

of the proposed school district budget for FY2020 will

2019 Area Board Meetings

be presented.

The meetings are a time for the School Board to share

To make the Area Board Meetings engaging for

information with the public through CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks' annual state-of-the-school district address, focusing on its strategic direction, recent successes, and new initiatives.

All meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the host school's theater. Refreshments will be served, starting at 6:15 p.m. While

GCPS' annual Area Board Meetings are organized by

participants and the Board, we once again will use an Internet-based interactive tool introduced at last year's meetings. It was an effective way for the Board to hear from stakeholders who submitted questions using their cellphones, tablets, or laptops. We plan to use this format again this year and look forward to

cluster, citizens may attend any of the meetings.

hearing from our stakeholders.

Date March 26 March 28 April 9 April 11 April 16

District District V District IV District II District I District III

Location Meadowcreek HS Shiloh HS Central Gwinnett HS Archer HS North Gwinnett HS

The Area Board Meetings are an opportunity to interact with your Board of Education in a less formal setting closer to home. The Board and I hope you will join us at one of the five meetings and engage in the process of setting the district's strategic direction for the next decade, making public education in Gwinnett

[Continued]

Area Board Meetings (continued)

even better and stronger.The Board and I look forward to seeing you at these meetings and hope you will engage in the process that will help set the school system's strategic direction for the next decade, joining us in making public education in Gwinnett even better and stronger.

CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks

Murphy elected chair, BOE conducts annual business

GCPS' two new School Board members-- Everton Blair, Jr. of District IV and Steven B. Knudsen, representing District II-- participated in their first monthly Board meeting on Jan 24, the meeting at which the Gwinnett County Board of Education (BOE) conducts its start-of-year business. The Board elected District III's Dr. Mary Kay Murphy to serve as 2019 BOE chairman, while Louise Radloff, District V representative, was elected vice chairman. In other annual business, the BOE reaffirmed its policies, designated the Gwinnett Daily Post as the official media organ for the school system, and retained Thompson, Sweeny, Kinsinger & Pereira, P.C. as the Board's legal counsel. Board members also approved the 2019 meeting schedule: Feb. 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17,

Nov. 21, and Dec. 19.

Board approves school, district leaders in January

Name

New Position

Previous Position

Clifton D. Alexander

Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools, School Improve-

ment and Operations

Principal, Simonton ES

Dr. Chisel Valdez

Principal, Stripling Elementary School

Assistant Principal, Dacula ES

Logan Malm

Director of Science?ES, Curriculum and Instructional Support

Assistant Principal, Paul Duke STEM HS

Dr. Jearl "Jeremy" Nix

Director of Social Studies?ES, Curriculum and Instructional Support

Assistant Principal, Suwanee ES

Dr. Anna Mary Smith

Director of Language Arts and Literacy?ES,

Curriculum and Instructional Support

Director of Staff Development, Curriculum and Instructional Support

Donna "Marlena"

Wragg

Director of Special Education? Compliance, Curriculum and

Instructional Support

Coordinator?Special Education, Curriculum and Instructional Support

Dawn M. Parker

Director of School Staffing? High School, Human Resources

and Talent Management

Principal, Alonzo A. Crim HS (Atlanta Public Schools)

Gary A. Pierce

Director of Facilities and Operations, Facilities and Operations

Senior Project Manager, Emtec Incorporated

Jeffrey "Jeff" Rager

Director of Grounds Maintenance, Facilities and Operations

Assistant Director of Environmental, Print and Supply Services, Facilities and Operations

William "Brad" LaJeunesse

Director of Enterprise Hosting and Storage Services, Information

Management and Technology

Database Administrator, Information Management and Technology

Mr. Alexander steps into his new position to replace Dr. Clay Hunter who now

serves as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instructional Support. Dr.

Valdez moves to the Stripling principalship with the retirement of Elisa Brown. The

elementary-level curriculum directors-- Ms. Malm, Dr. Nix, and Dr. Smith-- are fill-

ing new positions designed to provide additional support to schools.

2019 Graduations planned

May is an exciting time for high school seniors and their families. The district has released the graduation schedule for Gwinnett's 22 high schools:

? Mon., May 20-- Phoenix

? Wed., May 22-- Brookwood, Central Gwinnett, Mill Creek, Mountain View, Parkview, Shiloh

? Thu., May 23-- Duluth, GSMST, Gwinnett Online Campus, Meadowcreek, South Gwinnett

? Fri., May 24-- Archer, Grayson, Peachtree Ridge

? Sat., May 25-- Berkmar, Lanier, North Gwinnett

? Sun., May 26-- Collins Hill, Norcross

? Mon., May 27-- Dacula, Discovery Find graduation times and locations online, and watch for a special

celebration of the Class of 2019 in May.

Reminder for 2019 retirees

If you're considering a 2019 retirement, now's the time to schedule an appointment with a retirement counselor. The Gwinnett Retirement Services Department is scheduling retirement counseling appointments for sessions through March for those employees planning to retire at the end of this school year. In order to complete retirement applications and ensure prompt first payments from the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia or Public School Employees Retirement System, please contact Retirement Services at (678) 301-6267 or (678) 301-6269. Appointments with retirement counselors-- located in either Suwanee or Lawrenceville-- are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Board acts on GO bonds

Last month, the Gwinnett County Board of Education approved the adoption of a bond resolution and associated documents authorizing the issuance and sale of Series 2019 General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $173,355,000. The sale of these bonds will go directly toward capital improvement projects including construction of a new high school, facility additions and renovations, technology upgrades, and other projects included in the bond referendum approved by voters in

BOND November of 2018.

In preparing for the sale of the bonds, the school district's bond ratings were reviewed and reaffirmed at the highest level (Aaa) with a stable outlook by both Standard & Poor's (S&P) and Moody's Investors Service. GCPS is one of only two school districts in Georgia to hold a "Aaa" bond rating from both Moody's and S&P. Currently, only 24 school districts nationwide have earned this fiscal stamp of approval from both bond rating agencies.

According to the bond rating firms, GCPS' favorable bond ratings are based on its strong financial management. Moody's indicated its rating was based on the district's sound reserve position; its use of SPLOST revenue for debt service; and its large, diverse tax base. S&P added that its rating reflects its opinion on the district's manageable debt burden and its strong financial position aided by very strong management practices and a demonstrated ability to manage through economic downturns.

Visit online Communiqu?

Communiqu? is the district's digital

magazine, sporting new content

Story ideas? Great photos? Feedback? Let us know at communique@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

every day or two. Recent and

upcoming posts include honored

staff, an awareness campaign on

wheels, an early learning initiative,

calendar notes, and more.

Gwinnett County Public Schools

An online magazine with news and stories about your classrooms, your schools, and your community.

State updates school bus stop law affecting all motorists

Georgia lawmakers recently clarified the law to help keep children safe when they are loading or unloading school buses. This update is effective as of February of 2019. ? Two-lane roadway: Vehicles traveling in both directions must stop. ? Multi-lane roadway with paved turning lane: Vehicles traveling in both direc-

tions must stop. ? Divided roadway with dirt, grass, or barrier median: Vehicles traveling behind

the bus must stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction must use caution. Safety is a priority when it comes to transporting students and we all play a role in keeping kids safe. Find a graphic illustrating the law change on the GCPS website.

GCPS undertakes makeover of school websites

You may have noticed a new look for many of our schools' websites. As part of GCPS' commitment to continuous improvement, the district has launched a new initiative using Blackboard's (Bb) Web Community Manager. The shift to Bb websites for schools will allow the district to address governance, security, and accessibility concerns while giving schools autonomy n the creative design of their sites.

Each school's web team will use Bb's streamlined, low-maintenance, and easy-to-use web content management system for its school website. All school website administrators and key leadership team members will be trained to migrate content from their old website to their new website with support provided throughout the process.

Our schools have been grouped by cluster and level on the transition schedule to foster collaboration and to allow schools to share best practices during the transition to the new website tool. The transition project started in January 2018 and all Gwinnett schools are projected to be migrated to Bb by December 2019. By Spring Break, 75 schools will be live on Blackboard, including all schools in the Berkmar, Central Gwinnett, Discovery, Meadowcreek, Mill Creek, North Gwinnett, Parkview, and Peachtree Ridge clusters.

Information Management and Technology Division staff are spearheading the Blackboard initiatives, with the support of IBM, GCPS' strategic partner. Of the project, Chief Information Officer Frank Elmore says, "The project is going extremely well due to the implementation process we have created for the schools to move their web content and due to school leadership and website editors' excitement about the Blackboard platform."

2019?20 contracts out in March for teachers, administrative staff

The district will issue employment contracts for the 2019?20 school year for teachers and administrative staff during the month of March. Contracts will be electronically distributed via the Employee Portal for all returning staff who have been recommended to receive a contract. Employees accepting their contracts must electronically sign and submit their contract within 10 days of receipt. Employees are able to access and sign their contract on-the-go, through a handheld or mobile device.

If a certificated employee who signs a contract for the 2019?20 school year wishes to be released from that contract after signing, he or she must submit that request

[Continued]

Contracts (continued)

to the school principal no later than June 1, 2019. A certificated employee who has accepted a contract of employment for 2019?20 may not resign after June 1 without breaching his or her contract, unless there is mutual agreement between the employee and the Gwinnett County Board of Education. Requests for release received after June 1 will be considered only in circumstances beyond the employee's control or in an emergency situation. A written request, including any supporting documentation, must be submitted by postal mail service to Dr. Linda Anderson, associate superintendent for Human Resources and Talent Management. The address is 437 Old Peachtree Rd. NW, Suwanee, GA 30024-2978.

Transfer request process for eligible staff underway

The Placement Preference Process for the 2019?20 school year is underway. Through this process, certified teachers and assistant principals may request a transfer to a different location for the next school year. For the purpose of this process, counselors, media specialists, and LSTCs are considered teachers.

The HR Placement Preference link in the Employee Portal was activated on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Transfer requests are for lateral moves only in terms of position and hours worked. For example, the process is used for those requesting a transfer from one teaching position to another teaching position, from a counseling position to a counseling position, or from one assistant principal position to an AP post at another school.

To be eligible for participation, teachers and assistant principals must have completed their third consecutive, complete, contractual year in their current school and current position. A certified teacher or assistant principal who transferred to the current location involuntarily also is eligible for participation. Staff members who are "part year," on a Professional Development Plan, or retirees are not eligible to participate in the Placement Preference Process. The deadline for submitting a transfer request is March 4 at 5 p.m.

Submit eligible expenses for FSA reimbursement by March 31

If you incurred expenses during the 2018 calendar year that are reimbursable through your Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA), or had expenses covered by GCPS' dental or vision plans during the plan year, the deadline to file a claim is drawing near. You have until March 31 to file claims for your 2018 eligible expenses. Claim forms for FSA, Dental, and Vision plans can be found in the online Employee Benefits Center. You also may contact the Benefits team via email at benefits@gwinnett.k12.ga.us or on Lotus Notes at Benefits.

Encourage teacher friends to attend March 16 Job Fair

If you have friends and family who are certified to teach (or will be certified by the summer), let them know about an upcoming opportunity to join the Gwinnett teaching corps! Gwinnett County Public Schools will host a Certified Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, March 16, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth. The fair is by invitation only for those who are certified (or will be by July of 2019) in a range of fields. Once an applicant is registered at , files are reviewed and interviews will be extended based on file completion. Registering to attend the fair does not guarantee an interview. Those selected for an interview will receive an email confirmation. GCPS principals will be offering Letters of Intent for the upcoming 2019?20 school year. Registration to attend the fair will close on March 12, or when all interview times have been filled. For additional information or questions, prospective teachers can email gcpsteach@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

Something to celebrate?

Share your good news with your colleagues in Spotlight. If you have earned a state or national award, earned a degree, made a presentation, or had work published, send the information to the Spotlight mailbox via Lotus Notes, or to the Communication and Media Relations Department through the courier. The winter issue will be available soon, and a spring issue will wrap up the year (submissions due date, April 12).

2019 GWINNETT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, 2019 Chair; Louise Radloff, 2019 Vice Chair; Everton Blair, Jr; Carole C. Boyce; and Steven B. Knudsen CEO/SUPERINTENDENT J. Alvin Wilbanks

The mission of Gwinnett County Public Schools is to pursue excellence in

academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student, resulting in measured improvement against local, national, and

world-class standards. Torch is produced by the Department of Communication and Media Relations.

torch@gwinnett.k12.ga.us It is the policy of Gwinnett County Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin,

age, or disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any other

program, activity, or service. Gwinnett County Public Schools

437 Old. Peachtree Road, NW Suwanee, GA 30024-2978

678-301-6000 ? gwinnett.k12.ga.us

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