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
