Recently, Decatur County Schools hosted a CLPT (Comprehensive LEA Improvement Plan) meeting, facilitated by Chip Davis, Director of Federal Programs. Davis welcomed attendees and guided the session as district leaders shared updates and initiatives centered around school safety, instructional support, family engagement, and staff development.
Superintendent Dr. Boyd English opened the presentation with a strong message on school safety. Dr. English emphasized the district’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for all students and staff. Key safety measures discussed included the restructuring of safety vestibules at the front entrances of all schools, the purchase of open gate security systems for each campus, and the implementation of the SchoolDog security app. These enhancements reflect the district’s proactive approach to ensuring schools remain secure learning environments for every Bearcat.
Following Dr. English’s remarks, Chip Davis presented on the process of Cross Functional Monitoring within the district. He emphasized the importance of strategic spending and fiscal responsibility to ensure that federal funds are used effectively to support student achievement and district goals.
Sylena Wiggins, Exceptional Education Director, shared encouraging news about the continued improvement in graduation rates among students receiving special education services. She also highlighted the importance of Child Find, a federally mandated program aimed at identifying children in the community who may have special needs and require additional support as early as age 3.
Wiggins spoke about the success of the Wilson Reading Program, particularly for students with dyslexia, and emphasized the district’s ongoing efforts to ensure full compliance with federal laws and regulations related to exceptional education.
Christy Cox, Director of Curriculum, provided an overview of current screener assessment tools being used across the district. For K–5 students, she discussed the ELA Benchmark curriculum and the use of i-Ready diagnostics to monitor growth and progress. In grades 6–8, math instruction is supported by the Carnegie Math curriculum, while Georgia Inspire is being implemented in science and social studies. For grades 6–12, the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment serves as a key diagnostic tool to measure academic growth over time.
Cox also highlighted the district’s commitment to professional development, noting that support is funded through federal programs. Teachers benefit from planning support provided by instructional coaches, who also model lessons for new educators to ensure high-quality instruction and classroom confidence from the start.
Davis also spoke about the importance of school-wide planning meetings. These collaborative sessions help schools align goals, instructional strategies, and funding priorities to ensure that every decision made at the school level supports student success and district-wide improvement.
Crycynthia Gardner, Director of Parent and Family Engagement, concluded by celebrating the impact of strong community involvement across the district. She shared that over 400 trained parent volunteers are actively supporting schools and students. Gardner also showcased powerful images of community engagement events, emphasizing the district’s belief that when families are engaged, students thrive.
Ms. Patel, a member of the State School Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council, spoke passionately about the role of parent communities. As a steward for parents within Decatur County Schools, she underscored the importance of parent voice, representation, and collaboration in helping schools grow stronger and more responsive to family needs.
Jennifer Wilkinson, Director of Human Resources and Assistant Superintendent, closed out the meeting by addressing the district’s focus on employee retention and recruitment. She highlighted the importance of not only finding the right employees who align with the values of Decatur County Schools but also creating a supportive work environment that encourages staff to stay and grow within the system.