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Board Briefs: March 2026

Posted Date: 03/06/26 (06:30 PM)
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Read below for a summary of the March 2026 BCSS Board of Education Meeting.

Academics & Student Success

Dual Enrollment Opportunities

BCSS Career Technical Agricultural Education Director and Sims CEO Dr. Jennifer Wood updated the Board on the Dual Enrollment program. Dual Enrollment provides high school students with opportunities to earn college and high school credit simultaneously. Students can participate through multiple post-secondary institutions, giving them access to both academic core courses and a range of career-focused technical programs. Watch the presentation.
 

Student Technology Competition Highlighted

The Georgia Student Technology Competition challenges and empowers BCSS students in grades 3-12 to demonstrate innovative creativity. We had 145 students enter the district-level event with 114 projects and 53 gold medals were awarded. At the regional level, 24 BCSS projects were selected to move to the state round on March 14. Congratulations!
Some BCSS Technology Competition projects
 

BOLD SPOTLIGHT: Kennedy Elementary

This month’s BOLD Spotlight featured Kennedy Elementary School. KES Principal Trey Neupert highlighted the school's unique three-tiered approach to school counseling that meets the needs of students and supports staff and families. Watch the spotlight. 
 
Other Academics & Student Success Items:
  • 120th day of school enrollment – 15,174

Finances & Infrastructure

SchoolDog Safety App Report

SchoolDog is a safety app used to log both praises and concerns staff may see on their routine daily walks around campuses. It is a tool that helps to add another layer of safety. Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Dr. James Bowen provided the Board with an update on entries. Watch the presentation.
 
Other Finance & Infrastructure Items:
  • No findings on FY 2025 Financial Statement Audit
  • Staffing Update
  • Approval to post Board Policy IFBG: Internet Acceptable Use Policy update for public comment on eBoard

Superintendent's Recognitions

STAR Students & Teachers

It was an honor to celebrate our 2026 STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Students and their selected STAR Teachers! These outstanding seniors earned the highest SAT scores in their schools and rank within the top 10% of their class. It was inspiring to hear their stories and learn about the teachers they selected as the most influential in their academic journey.
2026 STAR students and teachers with school admin and Dr. LeDuff
 

Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Winners Celebrated

Congratulations to our students who placed in the 2026 Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. It was wonderful to celebrate so many readers! Read more about the winners and participants through this link.

HRRB students
HRRB students
HRRB students
HRRB students
HRRB students
HRRB students
HRRB students
HRRB students
 

2026 District Spelling Bee Winners

Congratulations to the two BCSS students who made it to the top spots in the 2026 district Spelling Bee!

  • First Place: Hailey Zuniga, Russell Middle School, 7th Grade
  • Runner-up: Jude Bastedo, Arts & Innovation Magnet Program, 8th Grade
 
Transportation team

Transportation Appreciation

This month’s Transportation Team recognition included bus drivers and bus monitors who consistently show kindness, adaptability, and exceptional helpfulness. Thank you to:

  • Cynthia Russell
  • Dawn Singleton
  • Sandra Watson
  • Yam Pandey
BES custodial team with admin

Custodial Appreciation

We were proud to recognize the Clean School Team of the Month: the Bethlehem Elementary custodial team!

  • Iulian Falamas 
  • Bruce Baughcum
  • Nelio Cubillan Cedeno
  • Edilia Calderon 
  • Keiliana Zoe Rivera Matos
 

Presentation of Colors

Cadets from Winder-Barrow High School JROTC presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the meeting. 

  • Cadet Tyler Patric
  • Cadet Miguel Quintana
  • Cadet Elias Armstrong
  • Cadet Bryan Vargas
JROTC Students
 

School Board Appreciation

School Board Appreciation Week is March 9-13 in Georgia. Superintendent Dr. Dallas LeDuff read words of appreciation to our Board for the important roles they serve and our schools gave them gifts of gratitude. Thank you!
Board members
 
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The Barrow County Board of Education (BOE) has nine members. Board members serve a four-year term, with three districts elected at-large and six elected by district. The Board is the official governing body of the Barrow County School System. The regular business BOE meetings take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Professional Development Center (PDC) at 179 W. Athens St., Winder, GA 30680. BCSS uses eBoard to be transparent in governance and operations. You can find the most recent information concerning the BOE meetings on eBoard.
Visit eBoard Transparency Portal
Board of Education meetings are live-streamed on our YouTube Channel.
 

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