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Board Briefs: May 2026

Posted Date: 05/15/26 (04:31 PM)
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Scroll for a summary of the May 2026 BCSS Board of Education Meeting.

Finances & Infrastructure

Salary Study Update

The Barrow County Board of Education continues to show gratitude and commitment to staff with the vote to increase teacher compensation. The changes to the teacher salary schedule come after the Board approved a Compensation and Classification Study to help make BCSS more competitive with surrounding districts to attract and retain high-quality candidates. This decision is essential to help top educators and support staff choose to work with BCSS and stay with BCSS to ensure sustained student success. Read more.
 

FY 2027 Tentative Budget Approved

The Board has approved the tentative Fiscal Year 2027 General Fund Budget. There will be two public hearings concerning the tentative budget. All hearings will be at the Professional Development Center at 179 W. Athens Street in Winder.
  • June 2, 2026, 5pm
  • June 15, 2026, 6pm
Barrow County School System FY27 Budget at a glance shows a tentative budget of $235,877,782.
 
Other Finance & Infrastructure Items:
  • 2026-2031 Strategic Plan Strategy Map Adoption
  • Sidewalks near WMS & KES
  • AHS & WBHS Stadium Digital Boards

Academics & Student Success

Instructional Services

The Teaching and Learning team provided the Board with an overview of the range of instructional services offered to meet individual student needs. Those services include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Gifted Education, the Early Intervention Program (EIP), and Special Education. Learn more.
 

Student Code of Conduct & Policy Review

Updates to the 2026-2027 Student Code of Conduct and Policy JCD: Student Conduct are posted for public review.

  • Policy JCD update includes revision of the definition of bullying in schools.
  • The Code of Conduct update includes new sections to support the implementation of the state-mandated bell-to-bell electronic device ban in grades K-8 and the revised bullying definition.
 

Robotics Teams Shine

Students from the Barrow Robotics teams highlighted the program's achievements and learning opportunities. The program is a partnership between BCSS and the Barrow County 4-H Youth Development Program dedicated to fostering STEM education through competitive robotics. Thank you to the students for the great demonstration and presentation!
A group of students and adults pose for a photo with three robotic devices in front of them.
 

BOLD SPOTLIGHT: Holsenbeck Elementary

This month’s BOLD Spotlight featured Holsenbeck Elementary School. Principal Aperil Sellers and Assistant Principal Heather Burch shared what makes HES special, highlighting their team, students, families, and achievements.

Holsenbeck Elementary School logo featuring a cartoon hawk mascot.

Superintendent's Recognitions

2026 Barrow County School System Valedictorians and Salutatorians

Valedictorians & Salutatorians

Congratulations to our 2026 Valedictorians and Salutatorians from all three Barrow County high schools.

Apalachee High School
  • Valedictorian - Sasha Contreras
  • Salutatorian - Colten Cavegn

Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy
  • Valedictorian - MaryBeth Johnson
  • Salutatorian - Blake Tobin

Winder-Barrow High School
  • Valedictorian - Shelley Kindon
  • Salutatorian - Milton Hernandez-Sanchez
 
2026 State Level Student Technology Competition Winners

Student Technology Competition Winners

We were honored to recognize our students who placed in the 2025-2026 State Student Technology Competition. Their creativity, technical skills, and commitment to excellence were on full display. Read more.
 
School Nutrition managers

School Nutrition Earns Straight 100s

We had the honor of recognizing school nutrition managers. All seventeen schools received perfect health scores for 2025-2026. The Georgia Health Department conducts two health inspections per year at each of our schools. Thank you to our School Nutrition Team for their commitment and dedication.
 
Three Transportation Employees were recognized at the May Board meeting.

Transportation Recognition

This month, the Transportation Team recognized three team members for their kindness and wonderful customer service.

  • Marlene Wells
  • Samantha Cook
  • Fernetta Foskey
 
Recognized Custodial Team from SIMS Academy

Custodial Team Recognition

We are proud to recognize the Clean School Team of the Month - the Sims Academy custodial team. "We are incredibly lucky to have them as part of our SIMS family. Thank you for all that you do."

  • Maria Fernanda Melnick - Head Custodian
  • Ariadna Cecilia Urdaneta Rincon - Day Porter
  • Barbara Evelyn Arzola Martinez - Night Custodian
  • Jimmy Frank Silva Castro - Night Custodian
 
Winder-Barrow High School Cadets

Presentation of Colors

Thank you to Winder-Barrow High School JROTC Cadets who presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the meeting.  

  • Cadet Haylen Noorda
  • Cadet Emily Bentley
  • Cadet Elias Armstrong
  • Cadet Bryan Vargas
 
grad logo
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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