About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 23, 2023)
4A Tuesday, May 23, 2023 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com LOCAL West Hall Middle School names new Settlement reached principal after controversial dismissal BY BEN ANDERSON banderson@ gainesvilletimes.com Amy Wade has been named the new princi pal at West Hall Middle School. “I am honored and humbled to be able to join the team of educators at West Hall Middle School,” Wade said in a news release Monday. “I look forward to work ing alongside the educa tors and students and continuing the long-estab lished tradition of hard work and the commitment to excellence for which the Spartan community is known,” she said. “I am eager to return to middle school, to meet every one and to start planning for a great year. I am excited and grateful to be a Spartan!” Wade has been the assistant principal for curriculum and instruc tion at Johnson High since 2020. She began her career in special education, teach ing in Fulton, Whitfield and Lumpkin counties. She was an assistant prin cipal at both Lumpkin County Middle and Lump kin County High. “Amy Wade has many strengths as an educa tional leader, but in par ticular we are impressed with her strong instruc tional background,” said Superintendent Will Scho field. “She and the fac ulty at West Hall Middle School both understand that a culture of compas sion and high expectations is key to student learning. Knowing this, we can’t File photo Wade has been the assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Johnson High since 2020. help but be excited for the students and community.” Wade has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in special education and a specialist degree in teach ing and learning with an educational leadership certificate. She and her husband Garrett have four chil dren and one grandson. The announcement fol lows the controversial fir ing of the middle school’s beloved principal Ethan Banks about a month ago. Parents, students and teachers packed the April 24 school board meeting to protest the decision, some of them through tears. Banks said he was let go due to low test scores and student behavior issues. Among the district’s eight traditional middle schools, West Hall Middle had some of the lowest Milestones test scores in 2022, ranking second-to- last or last in nearly every subject, from reading to math to science. The only school that consistently performed worse was East Hall Middle. For example, although West Hall Middle students tended to improve as readers throughout their middle school careers, only 53% of eighth grad ers read at or above their grade level — well below the 62% average for eighth graders across the district. “When you look at our performance over the last several years, I mean, obviously we’ve had some challenges, just like any school has,” Banks told The Times last month. “I would love to see West Hall move to the next level when it comes to achievement,” he said. “I would like to see more of our kids reading on grade level. I would love to see our disci pline records decreasing instead of increasing.” Banks said he had been offered other positions within the district follow ing his termination. a Apartments FOR RENT RPC Partners 2 Be dr in. Apartments Gainesville, Oakwood & Flowery Branch $ 300 Move in Special Plus Deposit 770-654-2807 in compensation case BY BRIAN WELLMEIER bwellmeier@ gainesvilletimes.com The county has reached a settlement with a traffic guard formerly employed by Hall County Sheriff’s Office who was struck by a vehicle near East Hall High School in 2021. Lester Harris, who suf fered major injuries to his back, left leg and shoulder after he was hit at the inter section of East Hall Road and East Hall Drive, will receive $227,349 from the county. Approval of the set tlement by commissioners is expected during a regu lar meeting at 6 p.m. Thurs day, May 25, at Hall County Government Center. “It’s a workers compen sation case,” Hall County Attorney Bill Linkous explained after a work ses sion Monday. “Workers compensation is not like a normal lawsuit where there’s liability. work ers compensation applies where there was an injury by someone who was employed by the employer within the scope of their employment.” Linkous said there was “no doubt” Harris suffered “severe injuries.” The incident occurred about 8 a.m. Nov 19 when Leroy Trendale Macon, 20, of Gainesville, was driving a Chevrolet Malibu north on East Hall Road approach ing the school zone, accord ing to the Georgia State Patrol. State patrol post commander D.A. Rathel said Macon “disobeyed the school crossing guard” and struck Harris with the front right side of his car. NOW HIRING Off-Road Truck Drivers, Scraper Operators, and CDL Drivers/Heavy Equipment Operator Competitive pay, Great Benefits (401 k, Health Ins., Vacation) Apply in Person 1364 Candler Rd. Gainesville, Ga 30507 Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm 770-536-4731 Ext. 1 Georgia Chapter INDUSTRY PARTNER Mike 678-410-1375 www.ngabeds.com Far m ch r ^ ,red and Split Firewood ■ r©Sll wOQ • 8FT Railroad cross ties •TifTuf Bermuda •Rebel Fescue f •TifBlair Centipede •Zeon Zoysia •Marvel Zoysia 4 Onfij 8FT Railroad cross ties • 8FT 6x6 Pressure Treated Posts • 10FT 6x6 Pressure Treated Posts • 12FT 6x6 Pressure Treated Posts TIFTUF Rebel lanaai _ gyuwozm TUfBkrir Check in Today for our New Specials! mm ^®(g^ wwm m% All Varieties of Rock now Available Sand * Rip Rap Stone 4 57 Stone • River Rock-all sizes Field Stone • Flag Stone • River Rock Boulders Field Stone Boulders • Ashlan • Tumbles Cobble Stone ppmitmT6p / SoiO <<V*- /3a^y-1 divisions OF,’.GEORGIA'S FINEST PINE STRAW & MULCH ■If, MI DKMDJL &MI ©MM Pine straw and mulch year round I Double Ground Hardwood Mulch Erosion control mats and • New Crop long needle pine straw super red s j| t f ences now • Bag & Bulk Hardwood Mulch in available! red, black, brown, mini pine nugget & top soil. wmtmmm slule Trailers We Sell • We Service • We Finance Equipment Hauling Trailers - Enclosed Cargo Vans - Landscape Trailers • Dump Trailers We have full service repair shop for all types of trailers. Monday-Friday 8-5 and Saturday 8-2 pm. Also we have a parts department for all trailer needs Open Monday-Friday 7am-5pm & Saturday 7am-2pm 770-287-8300 2650 Browns Bridge Road * Gainesville, GA 30504 • www.georgiasfinestpinestraw.com WE DELIVER! Mulch • Gravel • Sand River Rock • Fill Dirt Top Soil • White Marble Red Rock & More Make your woods look like a park Corp Approved Lake Paths and Steps • Trenching Grading/Landscaping • Retaining Walls Timber and Beautiful Anchor Diamond Walls dutiful SMALL JOBS O.K. LAV^Ln Drainage/Erosion Problems lMSTAFFF u Semi-Retired • Affordable PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY AND SERVICE GUIDE To place your company’s advertisement, call us today at 770-535-1199 Customer Pick-Up is also available We Accept All Major Credit Cards 1364 Candler Rd Gainesville, Ga 30507 770-534-6928 770-536-4731 m s 5.00 Off C Your next order when you bring in this ad!
