Local school officials prepare to cross analyze KRMS student grades, CRCT scores

SHEILA A. MARSHALL Staff Writer: sheila@the-grip.net In the wake of an investigation conducted by the Griffin-Spalding County School System that officials say revealed grade changing at Kennedy Road Middle School, administrators are awaiting test results prior to making parental notification. Superintendent Curtis Jones said at this time, he is uncertain how many students may have […]

Grade changing investigation pending at Kennedy Road Middle School

SHEILA A. MARSHALL Staff Writer; sheila@the-grip.net Originally printed in the May 3 issue of The Grip   “Kennedy Road Middle School has failed some of its students by giving them a passing grade when they have not earned it.” So says a formal Georgia Professional Standards Commission complaint Griffin-Spalding County School System Superintendent Dr. Curtis […]

Board of Education dismisses sexual harassment complaint

In a personnel hearing conducted Tuesday, April 17, the Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education dismissed the sexual harassment complaint of Kennedy Road Middle School (KRMS) employee, Shonte Ivey, against Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones. The grievance was denied in a 3-1 vote with Michael Kendall , District 1, dissenting. The board heard evidence from several witnesses, […]

Superintendent’s statements were not sexual harassment

The Spalding County Board of Education concluded a hearing minutes ago to find whether a statement made by GSCS Superintendent Curtis Jones was sexual harassment, after a complaint was filed by Kennedy Road Middle School teacher Shonte Ivey.  After roughly three hours of testimony and 30 minutes in an executive session, the board found that […]

Grad rate drops from 74.1% to 58.8% as GA changes the 2011 calculation

The Georgia Department of Education has released today schools and school systems’ graduation rates for 2011 (last year) based on a different formula from the one the state used in the past.  Under the “leaver” graduation rate in place last year, Griffin-Spalding‘s rate was 74.1 percent. Under the new cohort rate, that rate became 58.82 […]

E-SPLOST and county Sunday sales pass

Unofficial results of the Spalding County Presidential Preference Primary show narrow margins in favor of the education special purpose local option sales tax (E-SPLOST) and Sunday package, beer and wine sales in Spalding County. Voter turnout was just over 26 percent, with 8,843 ballots cast: E-SPLOST passed with 4,929 votes (56.6%) Sunday package sales of […]

A letter from the school system, on the day of SPLOST referendum

What do the numbers 345 and 2,585 mean for us right now, right here? By Anna Burns, Director of School & community Services  Three hundred and forty-five is the number of employees who have already given their opinions about the school system since a survey was launched 24 hours ago. Two thousand, five hundred and […]

School system adopts 170-day calendar for 2012-13

Facing a budget shortfall of $6 million for the 2012-13 school year, the board of education adopted a 170 day school calendar for 2012-2013, projected to lessen the shortfall by $3.1 million. The school calendar adopted begins school on August 13 and ends school May 24. Breaks for students and staff include a week-long fall break in […]

Griffin-Spalding County School System asks public for preference of breaks on 170 day school calendar for 2012-2013

Griffin, GA—Facing a budget shortfall of $6 million for the 2012-13 school year, the board of education took the first step toward meeting the deficit when it tentatively adopted a 170 day school calendar for 2012-2013, projected to lessen the shortfall by $3.1 million. Two draft versions of the calendar were approved by the board, […]

>Sixth graders want you to "Mooove it for Heifer"

>Seven students of the Sixth Grade class at St. George’s Episcopal School (located in Milner, GA) have organized a Mooovin’ It for Heifer International 5K Run at The Rock Ranch. The race will be Saturday, April 16 at 10:00am. The annual Rock Ranch Easter Egg Hunt will take place immediately following the run.  Proceeds from […]

>Transition fair will help special needs students find post-secondary options

>Middle and high school students with disabilities and their families are invited to the Griffin Spalding County School System’s Interagency Transition Council Transition Fair in the Griffin High School Commons on March 31, 2011, from 5:00 pm to 8:00pm.  This fair gives information to students with disabilities and their families about post secondary options.  Local […]

>Lawmakers to float HOPE reform ideas

>By BLAKE AUED – blake.aued@onlineathens.com Athens, GA:  With thousands of University of Georgia students’ – and their parents’ – pocketbooks at stake, state senators will start today hashing out a framework for keeping the HOPE Scholarship fund from going bankrupt.HOPE reform is on the agenda for a Senate Higher Education Committee meeting this afternoon. Committee […]

>GSCS parents can now view child’s grades online

>(Griffin, GA)— With student report cards just released for first semester, Griffin-Spalding County School System staff wants parents to know they can view not only the paper copy of grades but also see their child’s grades that have been posted online. Josh Griffis, Director of Administrative Technology which includes the student information system, Infinite Campus, […]

>Griffin woman redesigns education with gifted school

> The Chambers family with Lesley Dinoff watching“Schools Kill Creativity”  McKenzie Chambers, 6, will switch from public to private schooling in fall 2011.  Her parents, Jake and Melinda Chambers, say they were frustrated with the results of McKenzie’s education.  “We got tired of asking her, ‘What did you learn today?’ and hearing the response, […]

>New school offers gifted students another option for education

>This video, “Schools Kill Creativity,” is a source of inspiration for Lesley Dinoff, headmaster and founder of Griffin’s new Dinoff School for Gifted Students. She often shows it to parents considering the Dinoff School because it humorously elaborates on the problems of the current educational paradigm. Dinoff opened the school for the gifted this past […]