About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2018)
Player of the week: Isaac Teasley leads Riverside Military in upset over Commerce, sports, ib TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30,2018 | $1.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Educators react to changing index BY JOSHUA SILAVENT jsilavent@gainesvilletimes.com Schools were graded on how much progress they’re making with specific groups of students in the latest scores released Monday, Oct. 29, by the state Department of Education. The College and Career Ready I Inside College and Career Ready Performance Index scores 6A Performance Index is Georgia’s annual tool for measuring how schools are doing to prepare students for the next educational level, and officials say it’s always changing, making it somewhat difficult to com pare year over year. With input from the public and a committee of educators, changes were made to expand the scoring to include more measures beyond standardized testing. Scores this year were calculated with a new “Closing Gaps” compo nent that rewards schools for making progress with specific student subgroups such as English learners, the economically disad vantaged and students with disabilities. About 54 percent of the 29,000 students in Hall schools are considered economically dis advantaged, which means they may receive free or reduced-price school meals, for example; the number of English-lan guage learners accounts for 27.5 percent of stu dents; and 13.6 percent of students have disabilities. This indicator places more emphasis on improvement than overall performance, said Kevin Bales, assistant superinten dent of teaching and learning for Hall County Schools, which means one school might be doing better overall with these subgroups but scored lower than another school that is performing worse overall but made greater improvements in testing. “I’m not sure we’ve got it exactly the way it needs to be with regard to that one indicator,” Bales added. Gainesville City Schools Superintendent Jeremy Williams said that “excluding the addition of Closing the Gap, we ■ Please see INDEX, 6A Bales Williams Helping students get to work Photos by AUSTIN STEELE I The Times Sean Hopkins, a student at Lanier College & Career Academy, welds Thursday, Oct. 18, during a welding class. New program preparing young adults for careers in local industries Planners to vote on S. Hall developments BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com The Hall County Planning Commission will vote Monday on two South Hall subdivisions, a Gainesville agritourism venue and a truck terminal at a business in Clermont. A 519-acre industrial develop ment in North Hall off Ga. 365 had originally been scheduled for a vote on Monday, but the applicant has requested to table the proposal. 279-lot subdivision in Flowery Branch A 279-home neighborhood may be coming to Ponderosa Farm Road at the intersection with LJ Martin Drive. The 121-acre property would be rezoned from agricultural residential to planned residential development. According to the application with the county, the subdi vision could be either age-restricted or traditional family homes. Completion is expected by 2023. Planning staff is recommending approval. The planning commission’s recommendation will go to the Hall County Board of Commissioners for a final vote on Dec. 13. Hall County Planning Commission When: 5:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5 Where: Hall County Government Center, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville BY JOSHUA SILAVENT jsilavent@gainesvilletimes.com Joel Grace has moved around some in the last few years, from Ala bama to West Hall High School in Oakwood, and now finds himself at the Lanier College & Career Acad emy with a clear goal in mind. “ I don’t want to be struggling to get through,” said Grace, 17, adding that he grew up in poverty. He also carries an attitude that ought to serve him well as an adult. “I love work, too,” Grace said. “Work don’t bother me.” Grace is one of about 60 stu dents enrolled in a new agriculture mechanics program at the acad emy, studying topics like welding, electrical wiring and engine repair — anything that will make him the tradesman he wants to be. Students in the program that launched this fall benefit from the unique partnerships with local businesses. “Our vision is to help our students ■ Please see READY, 6A Mike Quisenberry, owner of Lanier Carts & Outdoor, speaks with Lanier College & Career Academy Prinicpal David Moody on Thursday, Oct. 18, at the school. A new agricultural mechanics program at the Hall County school has started with a business partnership with Lanier Carts & Outdoor to build custom E-Z-Go golf carts for the community and Hall County Schools. 195-lot subdivision in Braselton Pulte Homes is applying to build a 195-lot “age-targeted” subdivision on Union Church Road in Braselton. The approximately 59-acre lot would be zoned from agri cultural residential to planned residential development. Ranch homes in the neighborhood would be at least 1,500 square feet and other homes would be at least 2,000 square feet. Adjacent properties include other subdivisions and agri cultural uses. Planning staff is recommending approval. The planning commission’s recommendation will go to the Hall County Board of Commissioners for a final vote on Dec. 13. Agri-entertainment venue on Smith Mill Road Cool Springs Blueberry Farm on Smith Mill Road in Gainesville wants to start hosting more events and has applied to become an agri-entertainment venue. For the past eight years, the farm has been open for a few weeks each year for customers to pick their own berries. For the rest of the year, the property has been closed to the public. If the 5-acre farm becomes an agri-entertainment venue, activities could include fall and spring festivals, movie nights, farmers markets, summer camps and weddings. Maximum capacity for all events would be 80 to 120 peo ple, according to the application with the county. Jason Harper, the owner of the farm, said in a letter ■ Please see PLANNERS, 6A Retired police chief remembered for advocating for officers BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com The first chief to get his officers ballistic vests and ammo covered by the city, retired Gainesville Police Chief Jerry Forrester, died Monday. He was 72. A Marine serving 13 months in Vietnam, Forrester returned stateside and joined the city police department in 1968. He became police chief in 1985 and retired in 1991. Retired Capt. Chad White said Forrester was a humble, loyal and dedicated man who “laid a good foundation for others to follow.” “He was one of the most honest men I’ve ever known, and I know he certainly left a great legacy of integrity and respect for all offi cers to come,” he said. Overseeing a department of 65 sworn officers, Forrester worked to get ballistic vests and ammo paid for by the city as well as better pay. He also reorganized the depart ment into three divisions with sep arate division commanders. A May 1988 article in The Times said it would cost roughly $900 to outfit a Gainesville officer with the necessary uni form equipment. White said Forrester was responsible for bring ing “the police depart ment up to modern age or modern policing at that time.” “Up to that point, offi cers were furnishing their own weapon and furnishing their own ammo,” he said. Retired Chief Frank Hooper said Forrester was a leader he tried to emulate — the head of a department champion ing better equipment and training while still mak ing time for the occasional department softball game. “He was chief of police, but he also knew when it was time, I guess, to be kind of one of the guys,” Hooper said. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, in the Memorial Park Funeral Home chapel. Hooper, White and the Rev. Jack Sanders will officiate. Inter- I Inside Police Chief Jerry Forrester obituary, 7A ment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30. “Chief Forrester was a dis tinguished leader, not only for Gainesville but for our great nation. He left a lasting legacy that will never be forgotten,” Chief Carol Martin said in a statement. 0 40901 06835 8 INSIDE Advice 5B Life 4B Bridge 5B Lottery 2A Business 3B Opinion 4A Calendar 2A Our Region 6A Classified 7B Sports 1B Comics 6B TV/puzzles 5B WEATHER 2A High Low i 68 49 Lake Lanier level: 1,069.47 feet Full pool 1,071. Down 0.01 feet in 24 hours DEATHS 7A Lydia Henderson Balls, 83 Cody Wayne Chambers, 54 David Michael Culley, 56 Jerry Harrison Forrester, 72 Kathryn Frix, 92 Anthony D. Logan, 57 Steven Brent Parker, 39 Peggy Robertson, 59 Angela Cavuoto Shallis, 62 Doris Ladd Simmons, 97 Chad Emory Taylor, 30 John Buford Ward, 94 Harold E. Williams, 90 Barbara Faye Worley, 81
