Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. TUNE 10, 2009 - PAGE 3A
School Board
Ups Requirements
For CHS Freshmen
By Ben Munro
Commerce High School
wishes to add a bit more
rigor to the freshmen expe
rience.
School officials propose
that ninth graders pass six
classes, instead of four, to
reach the 10th grade.
The change was part of
promotion and retention
policy revisions presented
to the Commerce Board of
Education Thursday.
The new requirement
would start with this year’s
rising freshmen.
Under the old system, a
ninth grader could pass just
four of eight total units and
advance to the 10th grade.
However, that student could
not then fail another class
for the remainder of high
school.
Officials at CHS propose
that stricter requirements
early will pay off for stu
dents in their sophomore,
junior and senior years. The
old system, perhaps, did
a disservice to freshmen,
assistant superintendent
Joy Tolbert said.
“It’s almost like you’re set
ting the kids up for failure,
because they take that break
ninth grade year ... and they
get used to that pattern,’’
Tolbert said.
The middle school made
a change as well. Students
in grades 5-8 must pass five
courses, four of which are
academic (math, science,
social studies, language arts
and reading) for promotion.
Elsewhere, policy changes
are proposed at elementary
and primary school levels to
match the state’s standards
with the new standardized
report card system.
Third graders must score
at least 800 on the CRCT in
reading for promotion and
earn a majority of “3’s” in
reading and math on the
new report card.
Fourth graders must earn
a majority of “3’s’’ in reading
and math and a minimum
score 800 on the CRCT in
reading and math to reach
the fifth grade.
In kindergarten, promo
tion is based on a student’s
report card and Georgia
Kindergarten Inventory of
Developing Skills (GRIDS)
assessment.
Promotion in grades 1-2
depends on report cards
and CRCT scores.
All policy changes must
sit for a month before board
approval.
Tolbert said it’s important
to get the word out now
about the changes now.
“The reason that we’re
talking about this in June
is so that at the beginning
of the school year, all of
the parents and all of the
students are very, very clear
about the rules of the game,’’
she said.
System Applies For
Career-Tech Funds
School leaders submit
ted a 24-page local plan for
$13,860 worth of Perkins
Funds for the school sys
tem’s Career, Technical
and Agricultural Education
(CTAE) program.
The school system’s appli
cation awaits state approv
al.
High School Update
The school board paid the
second installment for the
construction on the new
Commerce High School.
Pavement has been poured
for a student parking lot and
the front drive is also taking
shape.
Meanwhile, crews are
building a retention pond
in front of the existing high
school, and walls for the pit
gym, 200 cubic yards of con
crete, have been poured.
“I guess I’ve just seen the
picture so many times, I
can just see everything
starting to come togeth
er,’’ Superintendent James
“Mac’’ McCoy said. “It’s
very exciting.’’
— Vendors Sought For Festival
Cont. from Page 1A
for $30. Get an application
at commercega.org or call
706-335-2954.
Perhaps the best blues
band in Atlanta will head
line the festival.
The Breeze Kings, named
“Creative Loafing’s’’ “best
blues band’’ for eight years
in a row, will be the top
music attraction for the day
long festival.
“If you’re a fan of the blues,
we’re going to have one of
the best bands in Georgia,’’
declared Hasco Craver,
executive director of the
Downtown Development
Authority.
— BOE Personnel Moves
Cont. from Page 1A
school paraprofession-
al), Josh Shoemaker
(in-school suspension
paraprofessional) and
Jerbundy Dyan Mullis
(middle school special
education).
The board also accepted
the retirement of Jackie
Rylee and the resignation
of Katie Coleman.
Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, June 11
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Monday, June 15
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC Medi
cal Center. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, June 16
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, June 18
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. The Pilot Club of Commerce
meets on the third Thursday of each
month.
Saturday, June 20
Farmers' market: 7 a.m., S. Elm
Street, in front of Spencer Park,
Commerce. Local farmers will sell
fresh produce until 11 or as long as
supplies last.
Monday, June 22
Hospital authority meets: 1:30
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. The BJC Medical Center
Authority manages BJC Hospital
and Nursing Home.
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce Plan
ning Commission makes recom
mendations to the Commerce City
Council on zoning and other land
use matters.
Tuesday, June 23
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is from 5:00 to
5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7 p.m., Ryan's
Steakhouse, Banks Crossing.
Thursday, June 25
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Saturday, June 27
City Lights Festival: Spencer Park,
downtown Commerce, featuring
music, a car show, food and crafts.
Starts with a 5K race at 8:00 a.m.,
music begins at 11 and the event
concludes with a fireworks display.
Tuesday, June 30
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is from 5:00 to
5:50.
Thursday, July 2
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Lodge meets: 6:30 p.m. Hudson
Lodge #294 F&AM meets at its
Hospital Road facility.
Saturday, July 4
Farmers' market: 7 a.m., S. Elm
Street, in front of Spencer Park,
Commerce. Local farmers will sell
fresh produce until 11 or as long as
supplies last.
Monday, July 6
Commerce Council meets: 6:30
p.m., City Hall. This work session
prepares the Commerce City Coun
cil for its regular meeting, which
will be held the following Monday
night.
Maysville Council meets: 7:00
p.m., Maysville Public Library.
Nicholson Council meets: 7:00,
Nicholson City Hall.
Tuesday, July 7
JCCO meets: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Hospital conference room. Jack-
son County Community Outreach
defines itself as a grassroots com
munity organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is from 5:00 to
5:50.
Thursday, July 9
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Saturday, July 11
Farmers' market: 7 a.m., S. Elm
Street, in front of Spencer Park,
Commerce. Local farmers will sell
fresh produce until 11 or as long as
supplies last.
Monday, July 13
Commerce Council meets: 6:30
p.m., Commerce Room, Commerce
Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Commerce High School media cen
ter. The Commerce Board of Educa
tion operates the city's independent
school system.
Tuesday, July 14
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is from 5:00 to
5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks Crossing
Thursday, July 16
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. The Pilot Club of Commerce
meets on the third Thursday of each
month.
Saturday, July 18
Farmers' market: 7 a.m., S. Elm
Street, in front of Spencer Park,
Commerce. Local farmers will sell
fresh produce until 11 or as long as
supplies last.
Monday, July 20
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC Medi
cal Center. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, July 21
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, July 23
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
City Passes Lean Budget for FY 09-10
Cont. from Page 1A
levels of certification.
“We’re pretty selective
about who we hire,’’ he
said. “As John (police chief
John Gaissert) says, ‘we’re
not Mayberry anymore.
We’re not Mayberry on the
law enforcement side or
in any of the other depart
ments either.”’
“I think we all realize
we’re in for some hard
times,’’ commented Mayor
Charles L. Hardy Jr.
While every city bud
get requires amendments,
Bryant predicted that most
of the departments may
need amendments during
the 12 months starting June
1 as unexpected expenses
arise.
That’s what happened
with the current bud
get when the Downtown
Development Authority
had an opportunity to fin
ish up the property acquisi
tion phase of its long-term
parking plan.
It had made the owner of
a lot at the corner of High
and Line streets an offer
months ago, but the owner
came back with a higher
counteroffer. The city did
not respond, and the prop
erty owner agreed to sell
the land to the city for its
offered price of $25,000.
The money was not in
the DDA’s budget, but the
revenue came from pro
ceeds of the sale of the
old city hall to the Georgia
Agribusiness Council.
The council also:
• reappointed Mary Wood
to a five-year term on the
Commerce Library Board
and a three-year term on
the Jackson County Library
Trustee Board
• approved a rezoning
request of Mr. and Mrs.
Alan Kelly on 4.77 acres at
5746 Mt. Olive Road from
A-R to C-2 for the opera
tion of a day care center
• approved a new zoning
map
• authorized the DDA to
close streets and take over
downtown parking spots
for various aspects of the
City Lights Downtown
Festival June 27
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
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Leslie M. Pitts, DMD
Pediatric Dentistry
706-335-7793
215 Mercer Place,
P. 0. Box 1241
Commerce, GA 30529
Website: drlpitts.com
Email: drlpitts@drlpitts.com
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1
3
MADISON COUNTY PROPERTY
FOR SALE by Owner
Financing available. All parcels have paved road
frontage, some have double paved road frontage.
42+ acre poultry farm fenced with woven wire, 4-34x400 poultry
houses, 2-40x500 poultry houses, 1-60x100x16 stack house (hay, litter, eq.),
l-150kw automatic backup generator (diesel) and building. 1-46x62
livestock barn. 2-26x64 & 32x42 equipment shelters & workshop. 2355 John
Deere tractor, bushhog cutter, frontend loaded, hay spear, 16 ft. trailer, 500
gallon pressure sprayer, shop equipment, and misc. parts, 3200 sq. ft. brick
home, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths plus unfinished additional 1000 sq. ft. Price
negotiable.
75+ acre - 50 acres are in 18-year-old planted pines, balance in
hardwoods. In addition to paved road #336, County dirt road runs thru it.
Also has nice lake site. Price $340,000. Divided: 17+/- acre price $5,000 per
acre. 17+/- acre price $5,000 per acre, 21 +/- acre $4,500 per acre, 21+/-
acre $4,800 per acre.
25 acre fenced and crossfenced with woven wire, streams in all
pastures, new 36'x36' six stall barn, 2 years old, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2
car garage home, and lake. Price $275,000.
The following parcels have 18 to 35 year old pines:
65.8 acre Price $308,000. Divided: 15.8 acre price $4,750 per acre 16.7
acre price $4,790 per acre, 17.7 acre price $4,800 per acre, 15.6 acre price
$6,000 per acre.
256 acres Priced $1,094,400. Divided: 61.8 acre price $4,530 per acre, 59.6
acre price $4,500 per acre, 68.0 acre price $4,485 per acre, 66.6 acre price
$4,500 per acre. These parcels have hardwoods on creek along back
boundry line.
Divided parcels total price will be based on acreage in a new survey.
Now is a great time to buy Real Estate
Call now 706-783-5652 or 706-202-5301, and get first choice.
WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
But you don’t know where to start?
TRY VOLUNTEERING!
HelpJacksonCounty.com
Opportunities are abundant and simple to
select. It’s about People helping People, and
People need you. It’s a great way to meet new
friends and help someone at the same time.
Most people who volunteerJeel like they get
more out of it than they put into it.
The Leadership Jackson Class of 2009’s project is about where
people can go to volunteer their time! Twenty business members/
classmates came together and decided that their project would be to
create a web site listing all nonprofit organizations. Now you have
one place to go to find an organization that you want to give your
valuable time to!
Leadership Jackson, a program of the Jackson County Area
Chamber of Commerce, is designed to build a network of
community leaders who can enhance their problem solving skills
and leadership abilities through shared perspectives and by
working together.
For information on Leadership Jackson, please visit the Chamber’s
website at jacksoncountyga.com or call 706-387-0300.