Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Oconee County Schools' “four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate” for 2011 is 91.57 percent, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Education this week.
For the first time, the Georgia Department of Education is calculating graduation rates using a different method that allows states to uniformly compare graduation rates across the nation. And, as expected, the new calculation is reflecting lower rates than the method previously used to evaluate high school completion. The state's 2011 graduation rate fell from 80.9 percent using the "leaver" rate to 67.4 percent under the "adjusted cohort" rate, according to data released Tuesday. The adjusted cohort rate is calculated using the number of students who graduate within four years and includes adjustments for student transfers. Students that take longer than four years to finish are not considered on-time graduates like before. (In a …
Monday, October 31, 2011
In his weekly column appearing in The Oconee Enterprise, Superintendent John Jackson discusses the impact the continuation of an education special-purpose, local-option sales tax would have on Oconee County Schools.
- OPINION
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Monday, October 31, 2011
Oconee County voters head to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 8, to decide whether the collection of a 1-cent sales tax for education should continue. The fourth education special-purpose, local-option sales tax would fund facility improvements and technology upgrades. The School Board has compiled a list of projects that would be funded with the tax. "We believe the projects on the list are 'must-haves,' vital to the safety and instruction of our students," Jackson writes in his weekly column that appears in The Oconee Enterprise. Without the continuation of E-SPLOST, the only sources of funding are the General Fund and a small percentage of state capital outlay funds alloted for specific projects, he says. "The board has maintained the …
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Dr. John Jackson will retire from his position at Oconee County Schools at the end of the 2011-12 school year.
- SCHOOLS
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011
After a career in education spanning more than 30 years, Dr. John Jackson announced Tuesday his intention to retire from his position of superintendent of Oconee County schools at the end of the 2011-2012 school year, according to a news release issued by the school system. “Working for the students, teachers, parents and community members in Oconee County has truly been one of the high points of my career,” Jackson said in a released statement. “Although I am making this announcement early in the school year, the community can rest assured that it will receive the same level of attention and energy for the remainder of the school year. I wanted to allow the board of education sufficient time to secure my replacement.” Jackson became …
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A 72-passenger diesel bus and a special needs bus will be added to the fleet around Thanksgiving, an official says.
On Wednesday morning buses will take to Oconee County roadways for the start of the new school year. At Monday's meeting of the School Board, transportation was on members' minds for another reason, too. The Board of Education approved the purchase of one 72-passenger diesel bus at a cost of $76,200. The school system is also adding one special needs bus to the fleet at a cost of about $92,000, including a lift, three wheelchair positions and air conditioning. Both buses come from Rush Truck Centers of Georgia, Inc. Much of the funding will come from the state, and the remaining $15,800 will come from the Transportation Budget and the sale of retired buses. The new buses are expected to be on the road by Thanksgiving, Assistant …
Thursday, May 5, 2011
North Oconee High School and Oconee County Middle School both introduced new principals on Monday. Philip Brown, the new North Oconee principal, was formerly the principal at OCMS. His replacement, Judy Marable, was formerly an assistant principal at OCMS
The final stretch of the school year brought some added transition this week at two Oconee County schools. North Oconee High School and Oconee County Middle School both introduced new principals on Monday. Philip Brown, the new North Oconee principal, was formerly the principal at OCMS. His replacement, Judy Marable, was formerly an assistant principal at OCMS. John Jackson, superintendent of Oconee County Schools, announced last month that Brown and Marable would both transition into their new roles before the end of this school year. Former North Oconee principal Barry Lollis resigned in February after less than a year with Oconee County schools. Dozens of parents and teachers had been critical of Lollis’ leadership and communication …
Monday, April 11, 2011
The school, chosen as a 2010 School of Excellence in the category of "Top 10 percent in Student Achievement," received a trophy from the state and a $1,000 check from Georgia Natural Gas.
The entire student body of Malcom Bridge Elementary School gathered in an assembly Monday morning to welcome Georgia Superintendent of Schools John Barge. Barge visited the school to congratulate students, faculty, and staff for being named a 2010 Georgia School of Excellence in the category of "Top 10 percent in Student Achievement." Only 22 schools across Georgia earned the distinction in one of 2 categories, the other being "Greatest Continuous Gains," which, in the 10th district, went to Lavonia Elementary School in Franklin County. This year, instead of a dinner attended by representatives of each school, Barge is personally visiting winners, Superintendent of Oconee County Schools John Jackson said, as he introduced Barge. Jackson …
33.912912
-83.508073
Malcom Bridge Elementary School
2600 Malcom Bridge Rd, Bogart, GA
/articles/state-superintendent-presents-malcom-bridge-elementary-with-award
1814940
/locations/3974945
Friday, March 25, 2011
John Jackson answers some common questions about the Education Local Options Sales Tax and an upcoming referendum to renew the tax in his weekly column.
On March 14, the Oconee County Board of Education approved November 8 as the election day for a referendum that would continue an Education Local Option Sales Tax (ELOST)-- a one-cent tax used to fund technology and capital projects that is set to expire in 2012. The school board chose November because the state only gives the options of November or April for school systems to place this type of referendum on the ballot, Superintendent John Jackson explains in his weekly column, adding that by choosing the fall date, "much-needed projects" could be addressed sooner. The board hopes to take advantage of more favorable interest rates as well, he says. Under the current ELOST, High Shoals Elementary was constructed, renovations took place at…
Friday, March 18, 2011
In his weekly column, Superintendent John Jackson discusses the recent decision by the Georgia Board of Education to allow local school systems to determine which way of presenting high school math courses works best for their students.
High school educators in the Oconee County School System will continue to teach integrated mathematics next school year. "For example, ninth grade math includes concepts of algebra, geometry and statistics, all woven together into one course called Math I. Similar courses exist for Math II, III and IV," Superintendent John Jackson writes in his weekly column. Jackson says he is addressing the issue because on March 14, the Georgia Board of Education decided that local school systems should each determine which way of presenting math works best for their students. "We have many students who are currently struggling with the integrated approach to the math curriculum,” State Superintendent of Schools John Barge said in a news release this …
Friday, March 4, 2011
In his weekly column, John Jackson talks about leadership vacancies that have occurred in recent years and how Oconee County school system plans for succession in advance.
The amount of turnover in leadership positions in the Oconee County school system over the last several years is not that atypical when certain factors are taken into consideration, Superintendent John Jackson says in his weekly column. Seven schools have dealt with such turnover in recent years, he says. Reasons for administrative vacancies have included retirement or the addition of a new school, and sometimes have resulted from "unfortunate circumstances," Jackson writes. He adds that retirements have not "forced." Regardless of the circumstances surrounding vacancies, Jackson says there are many current employees within the school system that can step up --and have-- to become leaders. He says a number of staff benefited from the …
33.86436
-83.4066
Oconee County School District Central Offices
34 School St, Watkinsville, GA
/articles/superintendent-oconee-schools-prepare-ahead-for-inevitable-change
1623000
/locations/3577959
Friday, February 18, 2011
Superintendent John Jackson addresses questions about Common Core State Standards.
In his weekly column, Oconee County Schools' Superintendent John Jackson says the implementation of the Common Core State Standards-- a framework to prepare children for college and the workforce developed by teachers, school administrators, and experts-- will impact education in various ways. The curriculum in Georgia will be consistent with that of other states, national exams will compare student performance, and "teachers will have clear, focused expectations that assist them in working together with students and parents for shared goals," Jackson writes. Additionally, school systems may save money on educational resources, such as textbooks, he says. Jackson also provides a timeline for the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards …
33.86436
-83.4066
Oconee County School District Central Offices
34 School St, Watkinsville, GA
/articles/common-core-state-standards-how-they-will-impact-georgia-schools
1623000
/locations/3439154
Mike Weisenborn
12:44 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
We are very sorry to see Mr. Brown go. He has been a great leader and advocate for the children at OCMS, and he was very involved and committed to the school. I don't think I ever attended any after-school function without seeing him there. We also like Mrs. Marable and we look forward to the next three years with our youngest son under her guidance. North Oconee High School parents, be … more ›