School is out for the summer break, but Columbia County’s new superintendent is looking ahead to the 2021-2022 school year.
Dr. Steven Flynt was hired to replace Dr. Sandra Carraway, who retired this year. Flynt had been associate superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools since 2016.
He said it has been a great transition.
MORE: Flynt Plans to Build Relationships, Serve Columbia County
“I was able to spend some time with Dr. Carraway before she left and then after that visit all the schools before the end of the school year, have a little discussion with all the principals,” said Flynt.
Flynt is taking over schools in one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia on the heels of a school year disrupted by COVID-19. He hopes students, parents and staff will take some time to enjoy their off time.
[adrotate banner=”22″]
“But you also need to focus on next year and even if students aren’t participating in activities we have, hopefully they’re continuing to read and do things to keep their minds going so they’re ready for the next school year,” he added.
Through the summer, the district is offering different types of learning, both online and in person, for students from elementary through high school.
“Whether it’s achieving a credit or whether it’s just keeping up with your learning, maybe focusing on subjects you either enjoy or maybe were challenging,” he added.
There will be a virtual school available in the upcoming school year.
Flynt explained, “It will be our own, online program. Students would be able to enroll there and take all their classes online. There may be some instances where they’d have to come in person for assessments, but the majority would be online.”
[adrotate banner=”19″]
Information on the program is found here: https://sites.google.com/ccboe.net/cva/home
Columbia County will be building a new high school, but Dr. Flynt said that is just one part of the long-range plan.
He said, “I am going to be looking at working with the board and the internal staff on a longer-range building plan, and so that is something we will be talking about at upcoming meetings. One, we need to know what we need and then how much money over the next couple years to fund it all.”
MORE: Columbia County Names New School Superintendent
Flynt said he is looking forward to working with the community to take the school district where they all want it to be.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”48″]
