Three Cherokee School Board Members Bid Farewell

Photo credit: Patch file

The Cherokee County School Board during its meeting on Thursday said goodbye to three of their fellow members.

Vice Chair Robert Wofford and Board Members Michael Geist and Rob Usher on Dec. 4 served the last meeting of their four-year terms, and each was presented with a plaque and words of appreciation from Board Chair Janet Read.

“It has been a pleasure to work with all of them,” Read said. “This can be a fun job, it can be an icky job, it can be a scary job, but the highs really outweigh the lows. Thank you all for giving your time.”

All three members completed one four-year term and did not seek re-election. Wofford’s service on the board followed a long career with the school district, which, when coupled with his education as a student in the system, totals 60 years, the school district said on Friday.

“It’s truly been an experience, as well as a pleasure,” said Wofford, who previously worked for the district as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, district director for transportation and personnel and substitute teacher. “I’ve always worked for the best interest of the students. They are my customers, and my job was to serve them and support them.”

In his remarks, Usher called his tenure “an enlightening experience,” and said he believed his goal to “exert common sense” as a board member was fulfilled. His parting comments often were light-hearted, especially as he wished the incoming board members success.

“This district is in the best shape I’ve seen in four years,” he added. “ So don’t screw it up.”

Geist thanked his fellow board members for the “grace and respect” he feels they showed him, even when he disagreed with their opinions.

Board members also took the following actions:

• Recognized Sixes Elementary School Lunch Monitor Gloria Szopinski and student Bailey Johnson for life-saving actions and heroism;
• Recognized William Penniman, a Woodstock High School senior for Gold Award in Advanced Placement Spanish at Clemson University’s 42nd Annual Declamation Contest;
• Recognized Joy Silk of Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy as the Cherokee County School District Teacher of the Year;
• Recognized Free Home Elementary School Teacher Carmen Power as the 2014 Georgia Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Educator Award Winner;
• Recognized Assistant Superintendent for Financial Management Candler Howell as the 2014 Outstanding School Business Official Award Winner;
• Recognized Sequoyah High School’s volleyball team as the state champions and Coach John Edwards as the State and Area Coach of the Year and Creekview High School’s girls’ cross-country team as the region champions;
• Denied a motion by Geist to revise Board Policy DID, with opponents noting that the current practice in place already provides the information in question; the vote was 1-6, with only Geist supporting the motion;
• Approved monthly financial reports;
• Approved disposal of surplus property and sale date of Jan. 10, 2015;
• Approved out-of-state professional development;
• Approved out-of-state and overnight student field trips;
• Approved the monthly update on capital outlay projects; and,
• Approved the 2015-16 school boundaries, which included two scrivener’s changes that will not affect any current district students.