Angelucci, Banks Share School Visions

Northeast Cobb’s two school board members, David Banks and Kathleen Angelucci, joined their colleagues on the Cobb County Board of Education in providing a glimpse at their core beliefs and values during Wednesday’s board work session.

South Cobb board member David Morgan opened the discussion of the board’s strategic plan and its priorities and vision.

Although board Chairwoman Alison Bartlett suggested taking up those issues at the board’s planned summer retreat after a new superintendent is on the job, Morgan asked his fellow board members to reveal their priorities and vision for the board.

Morgan said it is “dire that we, ASAP, establish some priorities and core beliefs, or vision, so that we can have a definitive direction.”

Bartlett agreed with Morgan’s assessment, but she also said it is important early on to be a “team” with the new superintendent.

In response, Banks, who represents , and high schools, said: “My vision since the very beginning has been, ‘How can I help this district be the best school district in the nation?’ ”

Angelucci, who represents and high schools, said she looked at nearby districts for things that “struck a chord” with her and what would be good for the board as a whole. One thing that stand out for her: “The needs of students must be placed ahead of the wants of adults.”

Also during the meeting, the board briefly took up Banks’ suggestion to use the $11 million saved from SPLOST construction projects this year for purchases of textbooks, technology and transportation. Bartlett asked SPLOST Chief Administrative Officer Doug Shepard to compile information about the budget surplus for the board to go over during its July work session and to get information to the school system’s Facilities & Technology Committee.

Early in the meeting, the Cobb Schools Foundation honored the three Michael Powell Award winners, who each won $250; one is from Northeast Cobb. The award honors students in the H.A.V.E.N. Academy program, which provides “comprehensive special education and support to students with severe emotional behavior disorders and autism,” the foundation’s website says.

The winners were Murdock Elementary’s Jonathan Roderick Riley and Lindsey Tootle from East Cobb and Cooper Uvena of Northeast Cobb.

After reporting at the board’s April 28 meeting that 10 principals are retiring from the Cobb district and an assistant principal is resigning, Chief Human Resources Officer Donald Dunnigan presented a report Wednesday on contract extensions, promotions, reassignments and other moves.

The board unanimously approved the personnel report, which included extensions for the district’s Executive Cabinet: Chief Financial Officer Mike Addison, Director of Communications Jay Dillon, Dunnigan, Chief Accountability and Resource Officer Judith Jones, Chief Technology Officer Chris Ragsdale, and Shepard. Extensions also were offered to Assistant Superintendents Robert Benson, James Carter, Dale Gaddis, Angela Huff, Cheryl Hungerford, Carol Seay, Alice Stouder and Edward Thayer.

Three other personnel moves involve Northeast Cobb schools:

• Sprayberry High part-time teacher and part-time assistant administrator Kerri McDougal is being promoted to full-time assistant administrator at the school.
• Kell High Assistant Principal Phyllis Porter is being reassigned to be a teacher at the school.
• teacher Michelle Conger has resigned.