Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is joining in a statewide celebration this week to salute the efforts of local school board members. The week of March 16-20, 2015, has been proclaimed School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. The weeklong observance calls attention to the contributions of local boards of education.

“Our board members work hard to ensure that students in Rockdale County are provided every opportunity to learn and build a solid educational foundation to pursue their dreams,” said Richard Autry, Superintendent. “They are elected to be the community’s voice on education and represent a continuous commitment to local citizen control and decision-making in education. Our board holds the highest designation of Distinguished Board by the Georgia School Boards Association for going beyond the minimum required training, setting annual goals, and its dedication to continuous improvement in our district.”

The men and women serving our school district and their years of service are:

Chairman Jim McBrayer 4 years (January 2011)

Vice Chair Wales Barksdale 10 years (January 2005)

Tony Dowdy 2 years (January 2013)

Mandy North 2 years (January 2013)

Brad Smith 6 years (January 2009)

Sharon Pharr 2 years (January 2013)

Katrina Young 8 years (January 2007)

As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds. As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for the children in local public schools and must study, evaluate and decide what actions are in the best interest of those students.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) sponsors the celebration. The mission of GSBA is to ensure excellence in the governance of local school systems by providing leadership, advocacy and services, and by representing the collective resolve of Georgia’s 180 elected boards of education. Please visit www.gsba.com for more information.