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THURSDAY. MAY 14. 2020 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 13A
Enis
Middle Grades Education
from North Georgia College;
a master’s degree in Health
and Physical Education from
West Georgia College and an
Education Specialist Degree
in Curriculum and Instruc
tion from Piedmont College.
What is the top or main
reason you decided to seek
such a low-paid and time
consuming job?
Last July, I was offered
the opportunity to fill the re
maining term of a vacant po
sition on the BOE. In the
short time I have been a
board member, I have found
it to be a complex job and a
responsibility I do not take
lightly. As a retired educator,
my experience helps me un
derstand the role the board
plays in the achievement and
education of students, while
allowing me the opportunity
to make a positive impact.I
have had many people influ
ence the choice I made to be
an educator over the course
of my life. Probably the most
influential were my parents,
Don and Katie Enis. Both of
them were educators and
they led by example for my
self and my four sisters, to
help others and give back to
the community. It was in
stilled in all of us at a young
age, if you want to make a
difference, you have to be
willing to do the hard work
and commit, not just your tal
ent, but your time. Being a
member of the Board of Ed
ucation affords me that op
portunity; giving back in a
meaningful way, to the com
munity where I have lived
most of my life.
COVID-19 and resulting
business restrictions have
had severe impacts on the
economy. How do you think
this will impact future
school system budgets, and
what are your plans for
next year’s budget?
No one could have pre
dicted the events that have
taken place the last couple of
months. Fortunately, Pickens
County schools are finan
cially stable and carry no
debt, but this unprecedented
event will definitely impact
the school system’s budget
and future planning. The
state has notified the system
of a 14% cut of state funds.
Currently, we do not know
what the impact will be on
the local funding. The BOE
and superintendent develop
the budget with input from
multiple stakeholders. As we
move forward, we want to
keep the maximum amount
of money we can going di
rectly to the education of the
students. The cuts will first
come from areas that will
have the least impact on the
day to day classroom instruc
tion. The board will continue
to work with Dr. Townsend,
other administrators and
stakeholders to develop
strategies to build on our es
tablished financial stability
and ensure fiscal responsibil
ity for the long term.
High turnover rate among
top administrators has
been an issue in our sys
tem’s past and has been
linked to poor test scores,
among other problems.
With the recent hiring of a
new superintendent, how
will we build and maintain
consistent leadership?
In the last seven years
there has been turnover of ad
ministrators due to retirement
and resignation. Strength in
leadership is important to
tackle issues and concerns in
the system. I and the other
board members feel strongly
that we have administrators
and teachers of the highest
caliber. Looking ahead, I will
work collaboratively with the
other members of the board,
together with Dr. Townsend,
using his knowledge and vast
experience, to lead our sys
tem and provide opportuni
ties for all staff to continue to
grow and develop in their po
sitions, which forms the
foundation of an excellent
school system. Working to
gether, we can focus on mak
ing strategic decisions that
will help our school system
thrive even in the face of
challenges.
What do you feel is the role
of the board to balance the
needs of teachers and the
needs of students, plus ac
commodating the desires of
parents?
Students are the most im
portant part of our school
system. I have witnessed
firsthand, the positive rela
tionship that develops when
teachers and students work
together, which reaffirms that
we must continue to equip
teachers and staff with the
maximum support and tools
they need to help students
succeed to their full potential.
It also goes without saying,
parents want what is best for
their children and the in
volvement of parents can
only enhance our success. If
the board is committed to
give teachers and schools all
of the resources we possibly
can, I feel parents will work
alongside us to accomplish
our goals. It is very impor
tant for parents to be able to
have an open dialogue about
the education of their chil
dren and for all of us to work
together in the best interest of
students.
What areas do you feel
could be improved within
the system?
Over the years, I have
seen many changes in Pick
ens County. Our community
is growing and changing, and
we as a school system, have
to adapt to meet those
changes. The system’s most
critical goals are built around
providing a quality education
to every child in a safe envi
ronment where learning can
take place. A child is much
more than a test score.
Speaking as a former teacher,
education is not a one size
fits all approach - we must
educate the whole child. It is
our duty to offer many oppor
tunities that enrich each stu
dent, from our youngest
learners to our high school
ers. At the end of the day, we
want to produce graduates
that not only have knowledge
learned in the classroom, but
also a confident, thoughtful
and insightful young person
ready to move on to the next
phase of their life; whether
that is college, technical
school or as a productive
member of the workforce.
Speeding
37.5 mph with the highest
recorded speed at 73 mph.
The recent data shows nu
merous drivers exceeding 60
miles per hour in the section
of road between the clinic
area and the elementary
school.
The data, recorded during
the quarantine period,
showed a slight increase in
daily volume over the previ
ous county data, with an av
erage daily volume of
Our school system is fortu
nate to have highly effective,
exceedingly committed ad
ministrators, teachers and
staff, wonderful students, and
supportive parents. But in
thinking about the future, as
in any system, there is room
for growth and improvement.
I will work to support the
school system as we continue
to find innovative ways to
3,016.5 vehicles passing by.
This is up from the average
volume of 2,999 passing ve
hicles during the period of
December 7, 2018 and Janu
ary 4, 2019.
The data shows that
speeding and volume were
both higher during the day
light, working hours with
traffic volume starting to pick
up in the morning about 8
a.m. and rising all day, peak
ing at about 3 p.m., then ta
pering back off quickly after
6 p.m.
provide strong academics
that meet the needs of each
student, a variety of engaging
extra-curricular activities and
opportunities to prepare for
life after high school. I have
no doubt, through the com
mitment of students, staff,
parents, and the community,
Pickens County schools can
grow into one of the top 5%
of schools in Georgia.
ment uses the flashing sign
that shows speeds to also
record data. It is typically
used for one week with no
lights to record the speeds
without displaying them and
then a second week where it
displays the passing speeds to
encourage drivers to slow
down to below the speed
limit.
This marks the second
time the sign has been used in
Tate, which is cited occasion
ally in public comments for
the amount of speeding
through the small town.
Vehicles Slowed
■ Other
4,160
3,840
3.520
3,200
2.880
2.560
2.240
1.920
1.600
1.280
960
640
320
0
The county road depart-
■
ii
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I Violators
Inside Threshold
Compliant
55
30
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Speed Limit Average Speed -fl- 50% Speed 85% Speed
Extended Speed Summary Report Generated by Nathan Jones from Pickens County
Government-GA on Apr 28, 2020
Continued From 1A
COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
CLEAR VISION FOR 2020
www.krisstancil.com
As Chairman, Kris will seek to
• Change the tone of local government by working closely with ALL elected officials
• Bring Career Jobs to our community and strengthen our local economy
• Invest in our infrastructure to make economic growth possible
• Enhance Quality of Life Services by improving Parks and Recreation
• Keep our residential tax rates low and ensure fair and consistent property assessments for
ALL citizens
• Create an environment of transparency while encouraging citizens to ask questions of their
elected public servants
• Fight to ensure that all animals are cared for in the best way possible within a NO KILL
Animal Shelter
• Clean up roadside trash by partnering with Probation and community service workers
Paid for by Candidate
PO Box 121* Jasper, Ga 30143* info@krisstancil.com • 404.536.5035