Lamar County School News

By Kay S. Pedrotti

During Career Technical Education month students at Lamar County College and Career Academy have provided examples to the public to illustrate what they do in CTE classes and how CTE is beneficial to their futures, said CTE director Sheila Wilson. [Full Story »] 

After a promising uptick in October, the Education Special Purpose Local Sales Tax numbers went down for November and December, again falling short of bonded indebtedness payments. [Full Story »] 

The Lamar County school system has achieved the Georgia School Boards Association 2014 Quality School Board recognition. [Full Story »] 

By Sherri Ellington

School social workers are a relatively new part of education but are essential behind the scenes, the board of education heard. It also learned the grant that pays for some of the services offered locally has been extended to March 2015.

“School social work is the link between home and schools,” said social worker Kiana Battle at the Nov. 11 board of education meeting. “I’m an advocate for students. We can’t educate a child without supporting his or her other needs.” [Full Story »] 

By Sherri Ellington

There have been changes in school nutrition menus – and not just the complete ban on salt. Where once school programs got much of its food from the USDA commodities program, now most fruits and vegetables come through the Department of Defense.

Nutrition director Sharon Manley gave a report on the program at the Oct. 14 board of education meeting. She listed 16 agencies the food program must now answer to on the local, state and federal levels. [Full Story »] 

So So Def recording artist Dondria Nicole will star in the stage production “I Got it Like That” at the Lamar County Fine Arts Theatre Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. [Full Story »] 

Lamar County schools have enrolled 2,676 students, including 739 at the primary school, 590 elementary students, 605 middle schoolers and 742 at the high school. [Full Story »] 

From school superintendent Dr. Bill Truby…

At the conclusion of the BOE meeting last night (5/20) the BOE voted unanimously to hire Matt Adams as the new Principal of LCCHS and CEO of the LCCCA. We will work hard over the next two weeks to make sure everyone has an opportunity to meet Mr. Adams. We anticipate that he will be with us at the Good-bye assembly on 5/27 at 2:00 when the entire district can be introduced to him. We will then set up additional meetings with the high school and BOD of the Academy, as well as other groups in the school system and the community.

Matt earned a B.S in Religion from Emmanuel College. He earned his teacher certification at Mercer and his M.Ed. and Ed.S at Columbus State. For the last seven years he has been principal at Howard High School in Bibb County. Previous to that position, he was principal at Howard Middle School, principal at Pike Primary School, assistant principal at Pike High School, and a teacher/Coach at Pike County Middle School. Matt has also been a Youth Pastor and teacher and coach at other institutions along the way. His athletic background and interests certainly will serve Lamar County well.

"I believe we are extremely fortunate to have someone with Matt's background, experience, and training coming to Lamar County," commented Dr. Bill Truby, Superintendent and lead search committee member. "He is extremely interested in our Academy and the potential of all of our programs. Since he is very familiar with our Region, history, and recent successes, he is excited about the direction of our high school and school system. I feel he has a proven track record of academic successes, and that is something that we all can appreciate and hope to duplicate."

We can all look forward to meeting Matt Adams in the next few weeks.