Board of Education holds monthly meeting and recognition ceremony
Published 11:01 am Wednesday, April 30, 2025
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
On Thursday evening, the Decatur County Board of Education (DCBOE) held its monthly meeting and special recognition ceremony.
Board Chairman Keith Lyle called the meeting to order, followed by an invocation led by Winston Rollins. The board then adopted the agenda and approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
The meeting featured a presentation where students read their works, showcasing their talent and creativity. Following this, Amy Zock, assisted by Christy Cox, introduced the Young Georgia Authors Writing Winners of 2025 from various schools:
Jones Wheat Primary School (JWPS): Aubree Barney (“My Mom”), Alice Davis (“My Teacher’s Secret Life”)
West Bainbridge Primary School (WBPS): Xzavion Gregory (“A Special Flower”)
Hutto Elementary School (HES): Zoey Burke (“The Christmas Light Hunt”), Ryder King (“Space Error”), Alex Acevedo (“Mariah the Young Knight”)
Bainbridge Middle School (BMS): Beatriz Martinez Vasquez (“I Used to be a Flower”), Nicholas Smith (“A Lasting Pawprint: A Memoir of Goodbye”), Elizabeth Hughes (“Ballad of the Voiceless”)
Bainbridge High School (BHS): Isabella Anderson (“Stop and Look Around”), Mackenzie Miller (“The Smile of a Forgiving Man”), Paige Pallotti (“The Beautiful in the Unexpected”), Oliver Griner (“Patient 72: Delilah R. Carson”)
Afterward, Amy Zock announced the winners of the Regional Technology Competition for Grades 6-12.
Bainbridge Middle School (BMS) Winners:
3rd Place: Eliana Cristian (Animation), Kyler Gleeson & Luke Lyons (Robotics)
2nd Place: Jace Osborne (Internet Application), John Adams & Zachary Ong (Game Design)
1st Place: Mia Rosario & Se’Rentai Shuler (3D Modeling), Rishav Patel & Nashawn Rand (Project Programming), Samantha Aguayo & Alana Webb (Digital Photography), Aydan Thompson (Video Production), Devin McGriff (Animation), Joel Aguayo & Joseph Farmer (3D Modeling), Kathi Lai (Game Design), Kirtsten Barfield & Jessi Layne Reynolds (Animation)
Bainbridge High School (BHS) Winners:
1st Place: Alan Nix (Animation), Arian Blocker (Audio Production), Erlinda Antonio (Graphic Design), Joy Mills (Photo Production), Kacey Kearns & Kacy Kearns (Game Design), Laniyiah Clayton (Photo Production)
2nd Place: Madelyn Kirkland (3D Modeling), Laney Walker (Graphic Design), Richard Black & Hunter Black (Robotics)
The following students will advance to the State Competition: Mia Rosario, Se’Renati Shuler, Rishav Patel, Nashawn Rand, Samantha Aguayo, Alana Webb, Aydan Thompson, Devin McGriff, Joel Aguayo, Joseph Farmer, Kathi Lai, Kirsten Barfield, Jessi Layne Reynolds, Alan Nix, Arian Blocker, Erlinda Antonio, Joy Mills, Kacey Kearns, Kacy Kearns, and Laniyiah Clayton.
Next, Rebecca Cole, BHS Art Teacher, and Christopher Bryant, BHS Principal, introduced the Georgia Art Education Association State Winners: Ethan Knight and Carlie Sekula. Knight also won the High Museum Art Contest. Knight will represent BHS at the High Museum of Art’s 2025 Georgia High School Art Exhibit in May.
Additionally, the Farm Bureau Winners were announced:
Ethan Knight won 1st place with a $100 Monterey prize
Adaleen Doan won 2nd place with a $75 prize
Kevin Ara Gomez won 3rd place with a $50 prize
Facility and Financial Updates
The board reviewed the FY25 financial report, reporting a revenue of $41,876,801 and expenditures of $36,107,085, leaving a net balance of $5,769,716.
A construction update confirmed the completion of the new middle school, while Altman & Buried Architects assessed the old middle schools, recommending their removal due to structural and safety concerns. Plans for the surplus sale of classroom and office furniture will be communicated as the board moves forward.
With only a few weeks left in the school year, the board thanked administrators, teachers, and students for their dedication. May will be filled with activities and assessments, culminating in Graduation Day on Saturday, May 17 at 8:30 AM. The meeting concluded with an executive session where parents took photos to commemorate their children’s achievements.
Upon returning, the board approved the 5-Year Facility Plan, Out-of-Town/Overnight Field Trips, Surplus Sales, and Personnel Recommendations before adjourning.
