Lowndes Co. BOE discusses new high school police certification course
Nov. 8—VALDOSTA — Lowndes High School could receive a new course that would prepare seniors for a career in law enforcement soon after the county's Board of Education's approval.
The Lowndes County Schools Board of Education met Monday evening for its work session at Lake Park Elementary School. Lowndes High School Principal LeAnne McCall introduced Lt. Matt Bair and Sgt. Tyler Greene with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office who presented the "Applications of Corrections" course.
The Georgia POST — Peace Officer Standards & Training Council — oversees certifications for law enforcement and agencies. Bair said the council voted for Georgia sheriffs to authorize 17-year-old students to attend the basic jail officer certification course in July of 2022.
He explained that before the recent approval, students had to be at least 18 years old before participating in the course. Now it provides local students with a new career opportunity as they work to graduate high school.
"This is typically an 80-hour course that certifies individuals to be able to be jail officers. The opportunity that we have today is that we could present this 80-hour block of instruction to seniors at Lowndes High School and give them an opportunity during that 135-hour semester to obtain the jail officer certification," Bair told the board.
The Applications of Corrections course would begin in the upcoming Spring 2024 semester and be added to the growing list of available LHS CTAE (Career Technical & Agricultural Education) courses and pathways list. Students who are either interested in law enforcement or who are not pursuing higher education or the military will get a head start on a potential career while earning credits towards their high school diploma.
Bair added that upon completion of the program and successfully passing the certification the students would be guaranteed a job interview with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office and potentially have a starting salary of approximately $46,322. He clarified that a guaranteed interview does not ensure a position will be granted to the applicants.
Greene, a school resource officer with LHS, offered why implementing the course would be beneficial from a self-perspective of entering the agency as an 18-year old jailer in 2002.
"This gives me the perfect opportunity to teach these kids and even more of an opportunity to get on their level on a daily basis and have that interaction with them. And also teach them something I have experience doing," Greene said.
Having an entire dedicated semester would also allow the instructors more time to go in depth on the most interesting topics of report writing, cell searches, court testimony and demeanor. Students will be able to receive school credit if they pass the course but fail the certification test.
"They have to commit themselves to this. It's not going to be a gimmie," Greene said.
Board Chair Ronnie Weeks and Board Members Robert McGeehan of District 5 and Amy Stecz of District 6 raised questions of class size and shared approving comments. No vote on the presentation was held during the work session.
Lowndes High School would be the second school in Georgia to offer the course. LHS Assistant Principal Krista Pearson said they are working to identify and contact interested students and parents about the course. The presenters said they hope to have between 10 and 15 students in the spring.
The board members reviewed a purchase for a new boom lift and received a construction update for Lake Park Elementary School from Jeff Hill, the LCS executive director of facilities and operations prior to adjourning for executive session.
The next scheduled Lowndes County Schools Board of Education meeting will be Monday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. in the boardroom chambers.
