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Expectations,
logistics little concern
to start of school back 28 years ago
By Louise Radloff
Chairperson
Gwinnett Board of Education
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: Louise Radloff has served with
distinction as a member of the Gwinnett School Board since January,
1973, and currently serves as its chair. Here at the beginning of
another school year, we asked her to put down her thoughts comparing
this year's start with that of the first year she was on the school
board, nearly 30 years ago.)
LILBURN, Aug. 14, 2001 -- What a difference a decade or two --
or almost three -- makes in the beginning of a new school year!
In 1972 expectations and logistics were rarely a concern. We were
transitioning from a rural, agricultural district to the incoming
of the Western Electric plant. Berkmar, built about 1968, was the
newest high school. "New technology" was electric typewriters.
Such excitement!
Camp Creek Elementary School was scheduled to open. Parents were
concerned about Cole Road. A wooden bridge would not support the
weight of the loaded school bus, so children would unload at the
bridge, walk across, then reload, all for safety. Classroom supplies
were pencils and notebooks. Elementary school teachers knew they
would be responsible for teaching music and physical education along
with helping raise dollars for a piano. Principals did their own
building maintenance. Air conditioning was limited.
Superintendent was J.W. Benefield saw the beginnings of growth.
With limited resources, he began to address issues of new classrooms,
air conditioning older buildings and attracting teachers to a community
perceived to be rural and non-progressive.
Were they the good days?
Parents began to raise questions about counselors in elementary
schools, specialists in music, lockers and a coordinated curriculum.
The student body was 98 per cent Caucasian, with two per cent African-American.
A rural community was about to say goodbye to agricultural education.
The special education law had not been passed, and the fear of
busing was just around the corner.
Since that era, I have seen five superintendents, with each building
toward excellence. Since the earlier years, we have experienced
APEG, MFPE, OBE and QBE, all educational in nature and funding,
all hoping to change the tide that labeled Georgia as not measuring
up to other states.
Now fast forward to 2001, when we hired 1,200 new teachers alone.
We have:
* Continuous staff development.
* Support of the SPLOST.
* A plan to get students out of almost 1,000 trailers.
* The beginning of a teacher shortage in critical fields.
* We now spend millions to upgrade technology.
* A streamlined fleet of 1,000 buses.
* Lunchrooms with salad and pizza bars, with a staff working hard
on the important of nutrition.
* An international population speaking about 65 languages.
* Growth in unprecedented numbers, especially with our Hispanic
culture.
* Clear policies for student s to follow and Resource Officers in
each cluster.
Our board is committed to "no social promotions" and
putting dollars into a curriculum with vigor. Whether is it AKS
or Gateway, our focus is on "teaching and learning." Gwinnett
is fortunate to have active parents, but there are clusters where
this could be improved. We proudly boast the largest PTA in the
state and excellent relationships with other officials and business
and industry.
Gwinnett is the largest school district in the state, and needs
20 new schools. We will ask our citizens to renew the one cent sales
tax in November. Our students will still tie their sneakers, make
friends, challenge homework. Our greatest asset will be today's
children, our new classroom teachers, and parents.
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