Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) joins a statewide celebration this week to salute the efforts of local school board members. The week of March 14-18, 2016, 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 deserve our sincere appreciation for their hard work and dedication to our students, families and staff,” says Superintendent Richard Autry. “They have earned the distinction of Exemplary Board, which is the highest possible designation by the Georgia School Boards Association. To earn this distinction they have not only met, but exceeded the minimum requirements for training, have set annual goals, and are dedicated to continuous improvement in our district. Our board has supported innovative initiatives such as specialty programs, school choice and one-to-one technology so that our students have the opportunity to graduate with an advantage as we prepare them for college and careers.”

Board members are elected to be the community’s voice on education and represent a continuous commitment to local citizen control and decision-making in education.

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

Chairman Jim McBrayer 5 years (January 2011)

Vice Chair Wales Barksdale 11 years (January 2005)

Tony Dowdy 3 years (January 2013)

Mandy North 3 years (January 2013)

Brad Smith 7 years (January 2009)

Sharon Pharr 3 years (January 2013)

Katrina Young 9 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.