Newspaper Page Text
JSlflND€R_
• Dave Barry - 8
• Editorial
Back Talk - 20
• Health -14
• Movie Review
Nick and Nor ah's
Infiite Playlist -12
• Pew News -18
• Sports - 9
Surfin’
the News
Published by Permar Publications • P.O. Box 20539 • St. Simons Island, Ga. 31522 • 912-265-9654 • ssislander@bellsouth.net
October 13, 2008 Established 1972 Vol 36 Issue 41
SACS review team
pleased with
school system
improvements
By Matthew J. Permar
What a difference a few
years and a change in leader
ship can make...
After a year-long stint on
probation by the Southern
Association of Colleges and
Schools' (SACS) about four
or five years ago, the Glynn
County school system received
a glowing report last week from
a SACS 'Quality Assurance
Review Team.'
SACS, an accreditation divi
sion of AdvancED, is the orga
nization that provides accredi
tation for the local school sys
tem, which is important for
all students and especially for
high school seniors who plan to
attend college.
Last week the SACS review
team spent several days visit
ing schools, talking to teachers,
administrators, school board
members and others in the pro
cess to determine whether the
school system should receive
District Accreditation.
"We've always had individ
ual school accreditation," said
Dr. Darlene Moye, "but if we
are approved for this district
accreditation, it will be the first
time."
Dr. Moye is the Director of
Grants and Federal Programs
Turn to Page 5
SACS District cred
Beach sweep
volunteers needed
for Ga/Fla weekend
The Glynn County 4-H
Advisory Council and Keep
Brunswick-Golden Isles Beau
tiful are looking for volunteers,
individuals and organizations,
to assist with beach cleanups
on St. Simons over the Georgia
/ Florida football game week
end November 1—2.
Trash bags and gloves will
be provided.
Join the efforts of commu
nity volunteers who strive to
keep our beaches and water
ways clean. Call KBGIB at
279-1490 to sign up or for fur
ther information. □
Jekyll Island
revitalization
moves forward
• New Plans for beach
village presented at
special board meeting
Last week the Board of
Directors of the Jekyll Island
Authority (JIA) reviewed
revised plans for a beachfront
village that will be a key part
of the island’s overall revital
ization effort.
The plan, by Greensboro-
based Linger Longer Commu
nities, is a scaled down version
of the original plan that was
the object of some state wide
controversy and opposition.
The proposed, revised
plans will be submitted as an
amendment to the island’s
master plan as the final step
in approval of the village.
The revised plan includes
renovations and additions to
the island’s convention center,
two new hotels, 30,000 square
feet of retail space, a vacation
ownership community and a
new linear park and greens-
pace.
Upon adoption, the JIA and
Linger Longer anticipate that
the beach village will be ready
in time for summer of 2011.
“Getting to this point in the
revitalization of Jekyll Island
Turn to Page 6
Jekyll revitalization
Lawrence Rd.
bike trail ribbon
cutting scheduled
On Friday, Oct. 17, at 2
p.m. Glynn County Commis
sion Chairman Don Hogan will
host a ribbon cutting ceremony
to formally open the 1.1 mile
Phase One of the expanded
island-wide trail system.
The ceremony will be held
on Lawrence Road near the Sea
Island Co. stables, just north of
the roundabout on St. Simons
Island.
The five-mile trail will run
from the roundabout to Hamp
ton Point.
Also participating in the cer-
mony will be the Glynn County
Commissioners, the St. Simons
Land Trust and PATH Foun
dation of Atlanta who assisted
with the project. □
Progress under construction
Above: Last week The
Islander was given a tour
of the currently under-con
struction Golden Isles Career
Academy (GICA) by (left to
right) Dr. Ralph Gornto, Glynn
County Schools' Director
of Technology-Career
Education; District 3 Glynn
County Commissioner-GICA
Board of Directors member
Tony Thaw and GICA CEO
Andy Lundell. The tower in
the background is the main
entrance to the new techni
cal high school. Right: A construction worker prepares insulation in one of the Engineering-
CAD (Computer Aided Design) labs. Islander staff photos
Steel rebar for the concrete floor of the open, roof covered,
work area that will run all the way around the backside of the
school. The area will serve the automotive service and auto
body classes, as well as the tech school's other programs.
Fully funded,
under budget,
ahead of schedule
By Matthew J. Permar
That's the description Golden
Isles Career Academy (GICA)
CEO Andy Lundell used last
week when talking about prog
ress on the new technical school
- fully funded, meaning the final
$3.2 million state grant check is
in the bank, and the school con
struction is under budget and
ahead of schedule.
The $3.2 million grant came
the Georgia Dept, of Techni
cal and Adult Education two
weeks ago and brings the total
Turn to Page 6
GICA underway
