VALDOSTA—Valdosta’s Board of Education convened Tuesday evening to discuss educational partnerships, facility upgrades, student retention strategies, federal grant opportunities, and staff benefits.

VSU partnership strengthens teacher development

David Slykhuis, dean of human services at Valdosta State University (VSU), highlighted the ongoing success of the BranchED-funded partnership between VSU and Valdosta City Schools. The internship program launched in Spring 2023 provided 14 teacher candidates with paid opportunities, resulting in 10 permanent hires within the district.

Additional initiatives include faculty training in inclusive instruction, efforts to inspire future educators starting in elementary school, and plans for tailored master’s programs for district staff. Programs like the Sullivan Literacy Center continue to provide tutoring while giving VSU candidates valuable teaching experience. 

Facilities committee pushes forward on key projects

Kaci Nobles, director of facilities, reported significant progress on construction and policy updates. JCI Contractors and Parish Construction were unanimously selected to manage projects for the new Board of Education office and Valdosta High School additions.

The committee also updated the Facilities Use Agreement to add athletic field reservations, addressing rising demand and ensuring fairness in the use of the school system’s fields and facilities.

Promotion, retention strategies under review

Dr. Joyce Dean outlined a draft plan for Spring 2025 end-of-grade retesting to help students scoring at Level 1 in reading and math. Data revealed limited success in previous retesting efforts, which included a two-week retesting period at the end of a school year.

The district is engaging parents early and working with staff to refine the plan. Its goals are to improve initial test performance and reduce the need for retesting.

Federal grants to enhance student support

Dr. Terrie Lockhart proposed pursuing federal grants, including the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant and GEAR UP Grant, to support academic enrichment and student development.

The 21st Century Grant offers tutoring, summer camps, and family engagement, while GEAR UP targets 6th and 7th graders to improve graduation and college enrollment rates. If awarded, these grants could bring millions of dollars to the district.

Totem Solutions to enhance employee benefits

Jennifer Alvarez discussed partnering with Totem Solutions to modernize employee benefits management. Selected through a rigorous selection process, Totem offers features like total compensation sheets, enhanced FMLA tracking, and text-based communication for younger staff.

The partnership, which was unanimously approved, is expected to improve employee support and recruitment without additional cost to the district.