School Board Public Hearing March 17th 2016- Strategic Waivers School System

The Pickens County School Board held a public hearing on March 17th regarding Pickens County School District’s Strategic Waivers School System Application and Contract.

The Pickens County School District held a public hearing Thursday, March 17, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. regarding its application and contract to become a Strategic Waivers School System (SWSS), one of the reform options available for Georgia’s K-12 public school systems.  The hearing was held to seek public comments.  Magistrate Judge of Pickens County Allen Wigington, his wife Rosemary Wigington, Chief Superior Court Judge Honorable Brenda Weaver, and Dr. Carlton Wilson addressed the Board regarding the Waivers.  Judge Weaver requested the attendance waiver be removed and spoke passionately regarding the importance of children being in school.  The Board and agreed and moved and passed a motion to remove the attendance waiver.  After discussion and hearing the speakers the School Board voted to approve the application.

Two other local school systems  made decisions on these issues long ago.  Fannin County School System applied for Charter Status in October of 2014.  Gilmer County became a Charter School system in 2014 as well.  It appears the Pickens County Board of Education has waited a long time to make this decision.

The SWSS model (formerly known as Investing in Educational Excellence, IE²) was chosen as the reform option for the Pickens County School District. The Board has stated it feels this model allows for flexibility and yet preserves and promotes high quality academic achievement, student success, and visionary leadership. The Pickens County School District invited the public to be part of this community input hearing as it prepared to submit this important partnership application and contract to the Georgia Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.   Investing in Educational Excellence (IE2) System Application