About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 11, 2019)
Safety, attendance, Milestones discussed at BOE work session By Pamela Permar-Shierling Dr. Valerie Whitehead presented the December 2018 Milestones / End of Course test scores to the Glynn Board of Education (BOE) last week (Thursday, March 7). Scores in levels 3 and 4 show a stu dent is on track for college or career Dr. Whitehead said. Scores in levels 2, 3, and 4 are counted for schools in calcu lations for achievement mastery on the CCRPI (College and Career Ready Per formance Index). Achievement levels: Beginning learn ers do not yet demonstrate proficiency in knowledge and skills necessary at their grade level or course of learning and need substantial academic help; Developing learners demonstrate par tial proficiency and need additional aca demic help; Proficient learners are on track for the next grade, course, college, career; Distinguished learners are well prepared or the next grade, course, col lege, career. High School Milestone scores • American Lit / Composition - 58% Glynn County students at levels 3 and 4. • Algebra - 46% Glynn County stu dents at levels 3 and 4. • Geometry - 46% Glynn County stu dents at levels 3 and 4. • Physical Science - 33% Glynn Coun ty students at levels 3 and 4. • Biology - 63% Glynn County stu dents at levels 3 and 4. • U.S. History - 52% Glynn County students at levels 3 and 4. • Economics - 59% Glynn County stu dents at levels 3 and 4. Facilities A1 Boudreau, Director of Facilities, updated the board on the system’s ongo ing construction. • Sidney Lanier Building on the Glynn Academy (GA) campus is expect ed to be completed by the end of June. • GA fencing - For security it is rec ommended that both ends of Mansfield St. be closed off during school at Glynn Academy. The BOE is still waiting on the city for a decision. • GA Science Building four propos als for construction rehabilitation have been received and narrowed to two. These will be presented at the March 28 BOE workshop. • The new Burroughs Molette El ementary school is open. The official open house is scheduled for April 11. Boudreau reported very few issues with operating the new school. • Glynn County Stadium construc tion should be complete by June. • New Altama Elementary - a traffic study is needed to move the traffic sig nal from the old school’s location to the new location. Proposals for the study are under consideration. Poppell-Eller’s bid of $253,238 for Altama site clearing was recommended and will be considered at the regular board meeting Tuesday, March 12. School climate, attendance, safety Dr. Jim Pulos, Assistant Superinten dent, discussed the system’s attendance and safety climate. House Bill 763, which passed during the 2018 legislative session, requires the chief judge of the superior court of each county to establish a student attendance protocol and school climate committee for the comity. Dr. Pulos noted that Chief Judge Ste phen Scarlett will convene the commit tee twice a year. Pulos said the commit tee had four sub committees: Discipline, Mental Health, Attendance, and Safety. School system requirements include a safety plan for each school with in put from parents, teachers, community leaders, and law enforcement. Plans co ordinate with local law enforcement and the juvenile court system. Emergency drills must be conducted throughout the school year. Attendance protocol was also includ ed in HB 763 and requires that atten dance rates and student discipline be re ported to the State Board of Education at the end of each school year. Discipline and attendance examples included Glynn Academy and Glynn Middle School. Glynn Academy’s attendance for the first semester (18-19 school year) showed more than half the students and 63% of the staff with one to five absenc es. 60% of Glynn Middle students and 74% of staff had one to five absences. Most of the discipline offenses at GA were absence (tardy, skipping school) re lated; next was student incivility. Ninth grade black males received the most referrals; 65% of all referrals were for black students who make up 26% of the student population; 21% of students receive free / reduced lunch; 72% of re ferrals were for students on free / re duced lunch. Most of the discipline offenses at GMS were student incivility and atten dance related. Seventh grade black males make up the majority of the referrals. 80% of all referrals were for black students who are 31% of the school population. 21% of GMS students receive free / reduced lunch; 89% of all referrals were for stu dents on free / reduced lunch. Dr. Pulos also commented that an SRO (school resource officer) should be present at after school events. Chief Rod Ellis (Chief of the SROs) said having an officer at an after school event came down to budget and the availability of an officer to place at the event. Relating to student safety Student Support Director Senetra Haywood re ported on the STOPit Program which allows students to report what they feel uncomfortable with on an anonymous basis. STOPit is an application that can be downloaded to a student’s phone or ac cessed from the school systems web site. “A student can report harmful or in appropriate behavior. This empowers the student,” Ms. Haywood said. “The anonymous report goes directly to the school and is monitored on a real time basis.” “The school principal received an email that a report has been made and it can be linked to Chief (Rod) Ellis or a school SRO as well.” The service is monitored 24 / 7 as well, Haywood said. The STOPit program was launched throughout the school system in February. The newly established Principal for a Day program was discussed by two par ticipants Jimmy Arnold and C.B. Greer principal Carter Akins. Arnold, owner of Peachtree Pest Control, shadowed Risley principal Lori Joiner for a day. Arnold said he was thoroughly impressed with what Glynn’s school principals have to do. “The school operates like a business,” Arnold said. “It was also a good opportu nity for the Chamber (Brunswick Gold en Isles Chamber of Commerce) to get involved.” Arnold is on the Chamber’s executive board. Arnold said he was very impressed March 11,2019, The Islander, Page 11 with everything that a school principal has to do on a daily basis and how fully involved the principal is. Akins reported from his standpoint as principal on his experience with have a ‘principal for a day.’ He described it as a very rewarding experience for his teachers who were able to speak with someone from the local business community about what they do. Creg Miller, PrimeSouth Bank, shad owed Akins for the day. “The teachers were able to talk to Mr. Miller about what they do every day and how hard they work and he (Miller ) was able to find commonality with them.” “It was a very rewarding experience for the teachers,” Akins said OFFICE OF TAX COMMISSIONER 2019 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INFORMATION ONLY ONE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS ALLOWED PER HOUSEHOLD (SI) & (L2) REGULAR HOMESTEAD Each resident of Glynn County, who is a homeowner and who resides on the property, is eligible for regular homestead exemption. Mobile Home owners may apply if they own both land and mobile home, and reside there on January 1, 2019. GLYNN COUNTY DRIVER'S LICENSE OR GA I.D. WITH GLYNN COUNTY ADDRESS IS REQUIRED FROM APPLICANT(S). (L5) SCARLETT-WILLIAMS HOMESTEAD VALUATION FREEZE EXEMPTION Glynn County has enacted a homestead valuation freeze exemption. This exemption will freeze the base year valuation for as long as the homeowner owns and resides on the property and makes no major improvements. (L3 & L4) SENIOR EXEMPTIONS Each resident of Glynn County, who is 62 years of age or older on January 1, 2019 is granted an exemption from ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of, either (L3) $8,000 off the assessed value of the homestead regardless of income; or (L4) $10,000 off the assessed value. The net income of the applicant(s), the spouse, shall not exceed $20,000 for the immediate preceding year. Social Security, Retirement, Pension and Disability benefits up to the amount of $68,664 are excluded from the calculation of net income. 2018 income is required. (S3) SCHOOL EXEMPTION Homeowners who are 62 years of age or older on January 1, 2019, who meet the following requirements are entitled to a school exemption on the first $10,000 and $2,000 for county purposes, a) The property must be in the name of the applicant(s), b) The net income of the applicant(s), the spouse, shall not exceed $10,000 for the immediate preceding year. Social Security, Retirement, Pension and Disability benefits up to the amount of $68,664 are excluded from the calculation of net income. 2018 income is required. (L6) CHAPMAN-LANE SENIOR SCHOOL TAX EXEMPTION Homeowners who are 65 years of age or older on January 1, 2019 and whose GA taxable net income together with the income of the spouse does not exceed $40,000 on the GA State Income Tax Return (Line 15 - GA taxable net income) for the immediately preceding year may claim an additional exemption from School Ad Valorem Tax. The deadline for filing this exemption is April 1. 2019. (DO NOT NEED TO RE-APPLY IF RECEIVED EXEMPTION IN 2015). Must re-apply only if taxable income increases above $40,000 or on newly acquired homesteaded property. 2018 Proof of Income (GA State, Federal Tax Return). If GA State and Federal Income Tax returns are not required to be filed, all documents reflecting the total Household Income (Social Security, Retirement etc.) must be submitted. (S4) FULL EXEMPTION Homeowners who are 65 years of age or older on January 1, 2019, who meet the following requirements are entitled to a $4,000 homestead exemption for county purposes and a $10,000 homestead exemption for school purposes, a) The property must be in the name of the applicant(s). b) The net income of the applicant(s), the spouse, shall not exceed $10,000 for the immediate preceding year. Social Security, Retirement, Pension and Disability benefits up to the amount of $68,664 are excluded from the calculation of net Income. 2018 income is required. (S5) VETERAN'S EXEMPTION The qualified Disabled Veteran may receive an $85,645 exemption. Inquiries about qualifications should be made at the Veterans Administration office in the Office Park Building located at 1803 Gloucester Street. You may apply between the hours of 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday in Glynn County Office of Tax Commissioner located at 1725 Reynolds Street, Suite 100, Brunswick, GA 31520. Respectfully, J.L. 'Jeff' Chapman Tax Commissioner, Glynn County GA Phone-(912)554-7000 All EXEMPTIONS MUST BE APPLIED FOR BY APRIL 1, 2019
