| Whitfield schools not outsourcing food services at this time
Some administrative meetings this week with food services managers in Whitfield County Schools led to fears that some cafeteria workers may be outsourced. But central office staff members chalk the worries up to "assumptions gone wild." While Richard Schoen, executive director for assessment and accountability, acknowledges the district has prepared an RFP (Request For Proposal) seeking data regarding outsourcing such workers, he said the request is simply exploratory."It doesn't mean a decision has been made at all," Schoen said. "We're just gathering information."George Smalley, assistant superintendent for operations, went into more detail to explain why he called a meeting Monday with food service managers at each school."We had some issues going on with staff changes, and I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page," Smalley said.
Cafeteria workers hoping to fight outsourcing
After custodial workers were outsourced in Whitfield County Schools last year with little public outcry, county food services workers appear determined to not go as quietly into that good night.Employees of the school nutrition program and some of their supporters have written letters, hit message boards and made phone calls to the press since school administrators acknowledged they have developed paperwork seeking information from private vendors.And while administrators say the information search is merely exploratory, some food services workers say they were told at an Aug. 6 meeting that the decision has all but been made."The workers have basically been told, 'What goes on in the schools stays in the schools,' and to mind their own business," said one person close to the situation who requested to remain anonymous, fearing reprisals.
Mountain Creek Academy set to open
Like a venerable old professor, Murray County's Eton School has been around for decades.And like many old educators who have endured years of service, the school has, physically, seen better days. But the school has continued to fulfill its educational purpose over the years, most recently as the alternative school for Murray County students.Now, the building is seeing a bit of a renaissance. It is being given a new coat of paint, a new name and a new mission.Dubbed Mountain Creek Academy, the old schoolhouse will serve not only students who have been referred there for disciplinary reasons through a tribunal system, but also a small core of volunteer students who, it is expected, will prefer its intimacy over a mainstream classroom."These kids will be treated with great respect and love but also discipline," said Danny Harkleroad, the new principal.
First day goes smoothly in Whitfield, Dalton schools
Shortly after 8 a.m. Friday, following a morning convocation, students at Whitfield County's Westside Middle School walked to their classes through halls newly painted with colorful murals.It was the first day of classes in Dalton and Whitfield County schools.Principal Stan Stewart said Westside is enjoying new staff including a new counselor, Julie Wagner, and a new academic coach, Steven Ridley. The state placed "graduation coaches" in all high schools last year to help improve the graduation rate, and the idea filtered to the middle school level this year."Things are going great. We've got three good grade levels," Stewart said. "Probably close to half our student body is in single-gender classes this year, and we had more asking about it this morning. It's really catching on."Westside began grouping male and female students in separate classes on a voluntary basis last year, when about a quarter of the student body opted for the trial program.9 a.m.Construction workers were laying cinder block walls and building up from a concrete foundation beside Dalton's Brookwood Elementary School.A new classroom addition is taking shape on the building's east side, but principal Wil Esters said students hardly notice any noise.
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