The Richmond County Board of Education members considered how best to deliver coronovirus vaccinations to their employees. Members seemed to support the idea of taking the vaccinations into the schools if possible.
Member Jimmy Atkins will work with the Richmond County Department of Health to determine what might be possible for administering the vaccine to board employees, all of whom are eligible for the vaccine in the 1B phase.
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Additionally, members heard a report on distance learning and how decisions are made regarding when to move from face-to-face instruction to learning at home. The decision is influenced by a number of factors including the infection rate in Richmond County and its schools.
Richmond County schools begin face-to-face instruction next week, but they are prepared to move to online instruction whenever necessary.
The board also named a new principal, William Smith, for Hephzibah Middle School at their meeting yesterday. Smith currently serves as vice principal of that school.
Board members also learned their annual audit received a “clean” rating and discussed the effects on their budget of a proposed $1,000 one-time bonus for school employees that the Georgia Legislature is considering.
Committees met prior to the regular board meeting. The Finance Committee members heard details of their audit, which their accountants found to be in compliance with state rules and regulations. The Instruction Committee considered the process of textbook adoption and questioned why publishers would package paper textbooks and electronic resources together for one price.
Board member Wayne Frazier also questioned the decision to teach cursive writing only in third and fourth grades. Yvette Foster, director of teaching and learning, said the Richmond County school system is in compliance with state standards regarding teaching cursive writing, the purpose of which is to ensure students can at least sign their names to documents in cursive writing.
Debbie Reddin van Tuyll is Editor-in-chief of The Augusta Press. Reach her at debbie@theaugustapress.com
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