By Jamie Gardner
“It is clear to the members of the Special Review Team that the continuing accreditation of the schools in Appling County is highly regarded and a source of pride among the community. However, continuing accreditation is in serious jeopardy. The actions of Board members are in direct conflict with their own policies and AdvancED Accreditation Standards, resulting in a loss of respect for the Board by the stakeholders of the school district. Evidence reveals that the current Board has not demonstrated its ability to provide consistent, positive, and effective leadership in moving the system forward.” - a portion of the initial Southern Association of Colleges and School (SACS) AdvancED’s Special Review Team’s findings after a review of the system was performed in June of 2010 that resulted in Probation Status
Accreditation restored!
Flash forward to March 28, 2012:
“We interviewed 108 stakeholders including board members, administration, staff, students, parents and members of this community…the people of this community know the vision of this school system and you are to be commended.” - Ken Manuel, Lead Evaluator of the Quality Assurance Review Team for AdvancED
They were the two words Appling County School Board members Scottie Ammons, Randy Crawford, Randy Sellers, Minnie Barnes and M.C. Barlow, along with Superintendent Scarlett Copeland, system administrators, staff and the community have been waiting to hear for nearly two years, “Accreditation Restored”.
This will be the recommendation of the AdvancED’s Quality Assurance Review (QAR) Team led by Ken Manuel a retired administrator from Jacksonville, Florida. Other team members included Mary Mantiply (of Warner Robins and a member of the original Special Review Team), Vivian Bankston (Marietta), Marcus Scott (Savannah) and Kellie Hodges (from Louisiana).
Manuel stated that the team members enjoyed their visit to Appling County last week and greatly appreciated the hospitality shown to the group. “I don’t need any more food,” said Manuel jokingly referring to the hospitality.
During the visit the team reviewed school standards, looked at district presentations, interviewed stakeholders, visited schools, examined artifacts, observed practices and collected and organized data. Following a time of deliberation, the team commended the system for:
- Building better relationships with stakeholders.
- Becoming more transparent.
- Selecting a superintendent that is providing strong leadership.
- Making strides and a major investment in technology.
- Showing that the board members and leadership are working as a team to provide strong leadership and stewardship.
Manuel reported that of the seven original required actions, as outlined in the 2010 report, the system received marks of highly functional in two categories and five operational marks. This means that all areas of concern that SACS had when the original probation status was issued have been addressed. Manuel did encourage the school board and superintendent to adhere to the specific standards for governance. He stated that failure to adhere could potentially jeopardize accreditation again.
Manuel said, “In any good system there is always room for improvement.”
In terms of improvement, the QAR Team offered a few new required actions for the system. The first required action addresses developing better personnel procedures, which include recruitment and retention, identifying teaching and administrative candidates who mirror the demographics of the system, development of a succession plan to address the anticipated retirement of a significant number of administrators, instructional and classified personnel. The second required action is to develop a plan to expand the use of technology/data to drive instruction on the high school level to include benchmark testing in all core academic courses. The third and final required action recommended by the team is to identify, implement and monitor additional strategies to close the achievement gap that exists among the district’s achievement gap in minorities and with children with special needs. Manuel stated that the system would have to report back to SACS in two years on the required actions.
Manuel added that the team doesn’t have the final decision. The team will make its recommendation to AdvancED and the system should receive an official letter/notification in 30 days.
“It was certainly a fantastic day in Appling County School System on Wednesday, March 28, when the QAR Team announced that we had regained Full Accreditation for the district,” said an excited Superintendent Scarlett Copeland about the news. “In January of 2011, when the new administration took position, we were on SACS ‘Probation’. In just four short months, we were removed from ‘Probation’ and moved up one step to ‘Accredited Warned’. On their return visit on March 28, 2012, we actually moved up two steps, from ‘Advisement’ to ‘Full Accreditation’!
“Appling County School System prides itself in the progress we have made as a district thus far and we appreciate the valuable input from the QAR Team as our system strives for continued excellence in education. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the board to express our sincere appreciation to our administration, teachers, paraprofessionals, system stakeholders, program directors, parents, and community. Your dedication and commitment to continuous school improvement is highly noted and your services are to be commended. It is an honor and privilege to say that our students will now receive the direct benefits of these efforts,” concluded Copeland.
“On behalf of the school board, I would like to congratulate the parents, stakeholders, and the school staff on a job well done with regaining SACS Accreditation,” said 2012 Appling County Board of Education Chairman Scottie Ammons. “The efforts and long hours put in to ensuring the success of the evaluation were evident during the exit presentation from the SACS team last Wednesday. They were truly impressed with how much the Appling County School system and community stakeholders have accomplished.
“Most importantly, we are excited for our children. They deserve the best opportunity to succeed in life that we as adults can provide for them. Appling County has a lot to be proud of and it is a pleasure to be a part of one of the best school systems and communities in the state of Georgia. By working together, we will achieve and sustain excellence,” Ammons added.
“We interviewed 108 stakeholders including board members, administration, staff, students, parents and members of this community…the people of this community know the vision of this school system and you are to be commended.” - Ken Manuel, Lead Evaluator of the Quality Assurance Review Team for AdvancED
They were the two words Appling County School Board members Scottie Ammons, Randy Crawford, Randy Sellers, Minnie Barnes and M.C. Barlow, along with Superintendent Scarlett Copeland, system administrators, staff and the community have been waiting to hear for nearly two years, “Accreditation Restored”.
This will be the recommendation of the AdvancED’s Quality Assurance Review (QAR) Team led by Ken Manuel a retired administrator from Jacksonville, Florida. Other team members included Mary Mantiply (of Warner Robins and a member of the original Special Review Team), Vivian Bankston (Marietta), Marcus Scott (Savannah) and Kellie Hodges (from Louisiana).
Manuel stated that the team members enjoyed their visit to Appling County last week and greatly appreciated the hospitality shown to the group. “I don’t need any more food,” said Manuel jokingly referring to the hospitality.
During the visit the team reviewed school standards, looked at district presentations, interviewed stakeholders, visited schools, examined artifacts, observed practices and collected and organized data. Following a time of deliberation, the team commended the system for:
- Building better relationships with stakeholders.
- Becoming more transparent.
- Selecting a superintendent that is providing strong leadership.
- Making strides and a major investment in technology.
- Showing that the board members and leadership are working as a team to provide strong leadership and stewardship.
Manuel reported that of the seven original required actions, as outlined in the 2010 report, the system received marks of highly functional in two categories and five operational marks. This means that all areas of concern that SACS had when the original probation status was issued have been addressed. Manuel did encourage the school board and superintendent to adhere to the specific standards for governance. He stated that failure to adhere could potentially jeopardize accreditation again.
Manuel said, “In any good system there is always room for improvement.”
In terms of improvement, the QAR Team offered a few new required actions for the system. The first required action addresses developing better personnel procedures, which include recruitment and retention, identifying teaching and administrative candidates who mirror the demographics of the system, development of a succession plan to address the anticipated retirement of a significant number of administrators, instructional and classified personnel. The second required action is to develop a plan to expand the use of technology/data to drive instruction on the high school level to include benchmark testing in all core academic courses. The third and final required action recommended by the team is to identify, implement and monitor additional strategies to close the achievement gap that exists among the district’s achievement gap in minorities and with children with special needs. Manuel stated that the system would have to report back to SACS in two years on the required actions.
Manuel added that the team doesn’t have the final decision. The team will make its recommendation to AdvancED and the system should receive an official letter/notification in 30 days.
“It was certainly a fantastic day in Appling County School System on Wednesday, March 28, when the QAR Team announced that we had regained Full Accreditation for the district,” said an excited Superintendent Scarlett Copeland about the news. “In January of 2011, when the new administration took position, we were on SACS ‘Probation’. In just four short months, we were removed from ‘Probation’ and moved up one step to ‘Accredited Warned’. On their return visit on March 28, 2012, we actually moved up two steps, from ‘Advisement’ to ‘Full Accreditation’!
“Appling County School System prides itself in the progress we have made as a district thus far and we appreciate the valuable input from the QAR Team as our system strives for continued excellence in education. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the board to express our sincere appreciation to our administration, teachers, paraprofessionals, system stakeholders, program directors, parents, and community. Your dedication and commitment to continuous school improvement is highly noted and your services are to be commended. It is an honor and privilege to say that our students will now receive the direct benefits of these efforts,” concluded Copeland.
“On behalf of the school board, I would like to congratulate the parents, stakeholders, and the school staff on a job well done with regaining SACS Accreditation,” said 2012 Appling County Board of Education Chairman Scottie Ammons. “The efforts and long hours put in to ensuring the success of the evaluation were evident during the exit presentation from the SACS team last Wednesday. They were truly impressed with how much the Appling County School system and community stakeholders have accomplished.
“Most importantly, we are excited for our children. They deserve the best opportunity to succeed in life that we as adults can provide for them. Appling County has a lot to be proud of and it is a pleasure to be a part of one of the best school systems and communities in the state of Georgia. By working together, we will achieve and sustain excellence,” Ammons added.
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