Gwinnett BOE Approves State Contract Change

Gwinnett County's school board has approved amendments to a state contract. Now, the district must submit this request to the state Board of Education.

The Gwinnett County school board voted unanimously Thursday (April 18) to amend a state education contract that gives the district more flexibility to increase student performance. Known as IE2, the "Investing in Educational Excellence" partnership requires schools to meet annual performance targets throughout a five-year period, but gives flexibility in accomplishing those goals.  In 2009, the state approved Gwinnett County's IE2 plan, which uses integrated courses, among other things to reach targets. Since then a few things have changed, including the addition of more than a dozen new schools and the use of end-of-course tests for high schools. Now, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) wants to add those 16 new schools and the use of …

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Gwinnett School Board Discusses Looming Cuts

The pending federal cuts, also known as sequestration, taking effect March 1.

The impending loss of millions of dollars due to federal budget cuts was on the minds of Gwinnett County Board of Education members during their monthly business meeting Thursday (Feb. 28) in Suwanee. In a statement earlier this week, GCPS Supt./CEO J. Alvin Wilbanks, said the cuts would cost the district approximately $3.4 million, including Title I monies and allocations for special education. It is uncertain when exactly the cuts, scheduled to take effect March 1, will be felt by the public. But, the first nationwide impact could be felt Monday as furlough notices are sent out, according to ABC News. At Thursday's meeting, board members weighed in about the sequestration and other budget cuts. "We're fine. We'll weather this just like …

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Anthony Smith Appointed New Duluth HS Prinicipal

Smith currently serves GCPS as director of mathematics. He replaces Jason Lane who transferred to Mill Creek HS.

At a special called meeting Monday, Dec. 17, the Gwinnett County Board of Education appointed Anthony Smith new principal of Duluth High School. Smith currently serves Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) as director of mathematics, a position he has occupied since 2011. He replaces Jason Lane who transferred earlier this month to become principal of Mill Creek High in Hoschton. Smith served as assistant principal of North Gwinnett High from 2006-2011 and as a math teacher at Mill Creek High (2004-2006) and Grayson High (2001-2004). Previously he was a math professor at Medaille College in Buffalo, NY, (2000-2001) and a teacher in Grand Island Central Schools in New York (1995-2001). Smith’s education includes: He is a graduate of the …

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Gwinnett School Leaders Having 'Election Watch'

Superintendent and board members will follow the returns at headquarters in Suwanee.

Gwinnett Schools Supt. Alvin Wilbanks and school board members will be holding an "election watch" Tuesday (Nov. 6), according to a GCPS announcement. The gathering will be at the cafeteria in the Instructional Support Center in Suwanee, the announcement said. Among the returns they could be following will be re-election races involving Gwinnett Board of Education members Dr. Mary Kay Murphy (District III), Louise Radloff (District V) and Carole Boyce (District I). It is not an official board meeting, and no official business will be conducted. Is your neighborhood or organization holding an election watch Tuesday? Share the info in the comments below. ~ Suwanee Patch

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BOE Incumbent's Campaign Funds Increase

Murphy now has almost $14,000 in cash contributions. She is being challenged by Jen Falk of Berkeley Lake.

Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, the Gwinnett Board of Education District III member who is seeking re-election, has pulled in more campaign contributions. As of the Sept. 30 reporting period, Murphy, a Peachtree Corners resident, has about $13,900 in cash contributions, according to state records. The latest reports show some major contributions to Murphy's campaign: $2,500 by GCAE Fund for Public Education of Snellville; and $1,000 by Ty and Stephanie Hanna of Duluth. Their business is listed as Galaxy Capital. Loretta Christoper, a Peachtree Corners City Council member, contributed $300 to Murphy. District III includes North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge, Duluth and Norcross high schools. Murphy, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Jen Falk …

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Murphy Raises Additional Funds in Re-Election Bid

The District III Gwinnett Board of Education incumbent faces a challenge from Democrat Jen Falk in November.

Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, whose District 3 on the Gwinett County Board of Education includes Duluth Cluster schools, has raised additional funds in her bid for re-election. In campaign finance filings through June with state officials, Murphy lists cash contributions from former Gwinnett BOC Chairman Wayne Hill ($250), and the re-election campaign of state Sen. Fran Millar ($250). Murphy, a Peachtree Corners resident, represents District III on the Gwinnett school board. The district includes North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge, Duluth and Norcross high schools. Murphy faces a re-election challenge in November from Democrat Jen Falk of Berkeley Lake, who is running as a Democrat. Other contributors to Murphy's campaign include Duluth community …

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Area School Board Meeting in Duluth Tonight

District III Area Meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. April 17 at Duluth High School will include school superintendent's annual address on state of the schools.

The Gwinnett Board of Education has scheduled the annual District III Area Meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the theater at Duluth High School, 3737 Brock Road. The meeting provides an opportunity for the board to share information with the public and for citizens to speak on education topics. Gwinnett County Public Schools CEO/Supt. Alvin Wilbanks will present his annual address on the state of the school district during the meeting. Parents and Cluster School representatives have signed up to speak before the board, according to Jorge Quintana, GCPS director of media relations. The audience will have the opportunity to fill out cards with questions to be submitted to the board to answer at the end of the meeting, Quintana said. …

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Murphy Accepting Funds for GCPS Board Campaign

The District III Gwinnett Board of Education representative faces re-election challenge in 2012.

  Gwinnett school board member Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, whose district includes Duluth Cluster schools, has begun accepting campaign contributions for her re-election bid. Murphy's District III, like the other GCPS districts, was redrawn recently by the Georgia General Assembly after the 2010 Census. Her district now includes North Gwinnett High and Peachtree Ridge High. She retains Duluth High, other Duluth schools, and Norcross High in the new district. According to state records, Deborah Mason, wife of incoming Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason, contributed $250 to Murphy in February. Jan Lupuloff, a Norcross High backer, contributed $1,000 in February. Lupuloff and her husband Aaron hosted a reception in March for new Norcross High …

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Gwinnett School Insights

Thanksgiving Reflections on Volunteer Contributions

District III Gwinnett Board of Education representative thankful for school volunteers.

 As we prepare for Thanksgiving 2011, I thank the community members, parents, teachers, students, staff, business partners, and all others in Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Berkeley Lake, and Duluth for serving as volunteers in support of public education in Gwinnett County Public Schools. The following are some of the ways volunteers served our public schools in 2011: 1. Passage of E-SPLOST IV. Thank you to the more than 50 volunteers across Gwinnett County and in District III who provided leadership in communicating the importance of voting for continuation for five years of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax on November 8, 2011. The vote carried by 60% and will allow Gwinnett County Public Schools to continue to serve 163,000 …

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Democratic Legislator Asks Governor to Veto Maps

State Sen. Curt Thompson contends a majority-minority district could have been drawn in south Gwinnett for both new BOC and BOE maps.

State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Tucker) wants Gov. Nathan Deal to kill new Gwinnett Board of Education and Gwinnett County Commission district maps passed by the Georgia General Assembly on the grounds that the lines dilute African-American voting power and violate federal law. "My contention," Thompson said about both the education and commission maps, "is a majority-minority district could have been drawn in south Gwinnett." He charges that the GOP, which led the redraw, simply chose not to draw a majority African-American district. ­­The law that Thompson says is being broken is the federal Voting Rights Act. Under the 1965 Act, Deep South states like Georgia that have a history of disenfranchising minority voters must get federal approval …

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