Columbia County’s Board of Education celebrated several student and school accomplishments at the monthly work session on Tuesday evening, May 28, prior to discussing the success of meeting school district goals.
Starting the session, Maj. Gen. Paul T. Stanton spoke about the district’s ongoing partnership with Fort Eisenhower to create the NexGen Cyber program, which focuses on promoting and increasing computer science classes for students.
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“We have a national imperative to develop our kids to understand the fundamentals of computer science and cyber security,” Stanton said. “Our nation is 450,000 cyber security experts short in the latest estimate of what we need to defend our nation. I can tell you firsthand from a military perspective that our nation’s enemies attack us on a daily basis on the scale of 100,000 times a day.”
Thanks to the initiative, Stanton said over 4,100 students have now enrolled in computer science classes that focus on a variety of imperative topics that can lend itself to a future career in cyber security.
“You can’t defend that if you don’t have requisite skills and a foundation … if we attempt to recruit 17 year olds with the right cyber skills – that’s too late,” Stanton said. “They haven’t developed the foundation, the way of thinking, the way of processing information, and they see the barrier of entry into cyber security as one that’s too great to overcome. We have to start early.”
First contacting Fort Eisenhower about the NexGen Cyber program in 2021, Superintendent Dr. Steven Flynt said the course was built over many months in order to meet the growing needs of the Defense Department, while ensuring that students of the district are prepared for a career in cyber security following graduation.
“When we reached out to them, they became part of that work and that brings it to another level,” he said. “… so they got involved and have been very helpful and engaged in the whole process, so I can’t say enough about the work they’ve done from Fort Eisenhower and the Cyber Center of Excellence.”
Lakeside High School had multiple achievements to celebrate including: a second place state title for the girls tennis team, a second place state title for the girls track team and a regional championship title for the Science Bowl.
The school district also congratulated students Hudson Burch, who is on the Lakeside High swim and dive team, and Ella Cassedy, who is on Harlem High’s cheer and gymnastics team, for being selected as Positive Athletes.
Positive Athlete is a recognition program that celebrates high school students and coaches who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities in a significant way, or have a positive attitude that affects others around them.
In addition to Burch’s selection, Lakeside High School was also announced as this year’s state winner for the Most Positive School of Georgia award.
After congratulating Greenbrier High’s track team for placing third in the state championship competition and Stallings Island Middle for being awarded as regional champions, board members said they could not be prouder of so many successful students in the district.
“I’m always amazed at the breadth and depth of the accomplishments of our students, and the faculty and parents who support them,” Judy Teasley, board member for District 3, said.”It’s just indicative of the blessings and the resources we have in Columbia County.”
Following the board’s approval of naming Harlem High’s baseball field in honor of coach Jimmie Lewis, who recently led the school’s baseball team to win its second consecutive state championship, the meeting continued with reports from Flynt to highlight the district’s goal of continual improvement.
Goals for the 2023-24 school year included: increasing understanding and mastery of curriculum, increasing community engagement and support through post-secondary partnerships and dual enrollment courses, ensuring a safe learning environment, nurturing strong relationships in a supportive environment, identifying and planning for upcoming facility needs, and retaining a highly effective workforce.
Expanding the high school learning experience, Flynt’s staff was thrilled to report a 36% increase in students who took AP exams compared to last year, and over 200 students participating in the new Augusta University dual enrollment on-campus opportunity.
Associate Superintendent Kellye Bosch also said many students have participated in taking CTAE, or Career, Technical and Agricultural Education, classes and internships that will help make graduates college and work ready.
“Our high school experience has been something we’ve been focusing on the last few years,” Flynt said. “We’ve really seen a lot of success in advance placement, dual enrollment, CTAE enrollment and workforce initiatives – it really has been something you don’t typically see in school districts.”
Bosch reported that this year’s influx of students has been totaled into the district’s 1000% increase of CTAE students over the last five years.
“A lot of people have seen some tangible changes within the district,” Flynt said. “… we’re very pleased with where we are in our strategic plan and we’re hoping for this much progress every year.”
Prior to ending the work session, board members unanimously approved the district’s 2024-25 budget, which will feature a $3,000 teacher wage increase and added certified teacher health benefits.
The next Board of Education meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on June 11 at 4781 Hereford Farm Road in Evans.
