Published: February 08, 2006 03:51 pm      

Driver training off to a good start

New private program at JHS attracting students

The Butts County Board of Education spent some time at its January meeting reviewing the initial success of its new driver’s education program at Jackson High School. All five Board members were present for the January 9 meeting.

As School Superintendent Dr. Alan White explained, the State of Georgia once paid local school systems for the cost of the driver’s education course. But, when the state payments ended, so did the local program. The same situation occurred throughout the state as local systems phased out their driver’s education.

Recently, private companies have partnered with school systems to once again offer driver’s education. Last year, the Butts County Board of Education approved a contract with Taggart’s Driving School. The system provides the classroom space for the company, and it in turn staffs and operates a driver’s education class.

The first group of driver’s education students for the Fall semester at Jackson High School totaled 19 students, according to Dr. White. “We had hoped for 10 students, but we nearly doubled that,” he said. “I’m glad it has all worked out. It’s important for our young drivers to get training.”

Dr. White and the Board took time to recognize numerous staff members and students for jobs well done.

Deborah Patterson accepted a State Special Education Program Recognition certificate for being the most improved program by reducing the gap between the results of special needs students and their peers in school. “The staff of our special education program is also decreasing the number of special needs children who drop out of school,” said Dr. White. “And we appreciate all their hard work.”

Alex Pollack, Jr., a fifth grader from North Mulberry Elementary School, was recognized for his essay on “Benjamin Franklin: More Than a Revolutionary.” The essay was written for the Daughters of the American Revolution’s annual essay competition. Pollack won the local contest, as awarded by the William McIntosh Chapter of the DAR, and will go on to compete at the state level.

In addition, the school nutrition program was congratulated for passing a Georgia Department of Education review conducted on November 2005. The review focused on certification of students for free and reduced-price meals and for counting meals by category. According to a letter from the state to Dr. White, the staff was commended for “having no findings in either the critical or general areas covered in the CRE review, despite the fact that federal review procedures provide no tolerance for error in the meal counting and claiming procedures.” Deborah Stewart, Director of School Nutrition, was on hand to accept the recognition on behalf of her staff.