Noris Price Day' proclaimed as Superintendent named to state board

Jun. 18—The Georgia Legislature, in 2023, established the Georgia Council on Literacy with the passing of SB 211. It's aim, not just for the state's primary and secondary school students, is to review educational programs for all ages and how the state supports these programs.

Among the 24 members of this council, Gov. Brian Kemp appointed a former winner of the State School Superintendent of the Year honor, Baldwin County School District Superintendent Dr. Noris Price, on June 1.

At Tuesday's Baldwin Board of Education meeting, Price not only received recognition from the Board for her new assignment, but a surprise courtesy of the City of Milledgeville and Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan.

Shonya Mapp, who is not only the Baldwin Schools Family Engagement Coordinator but also a member of the Milledgeville City Council, delivered a proclamation on behalf of the mayor.

"A high literacy rate is a touchstone gauging the effectiveness of educational programs," Mapp said as she read the proclamation. "Where strong reading skills are a means of enabling a reader's academic success, grant confidence and instill a sense of pride in students of all ages.

"Gov. Brian Kemp has recognized Dr. Noris Price for her role as superintendent of the Baldwin County School District as a national leader in education and an advocate for all children ... with the additional task of researching and providing recommendations on how to improve literacy rates for students with dyslexia, with other learning disabilities and for students from low-income households."

The proclamation further states that it was fitting to set aside a special day to celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Price in her Superintendent's role and the positive impact she is sure to have in increasing literacy rates.

"I, Mayor Parham-Copelan, on behalf of the City of Milledgeville, do hereby proclaim this day, June 13, 2023, as Dr. Noris Price Day."

Dr. Price said that day also happened to be her son's birthday.

"Thank you. Very special," she said.

Price joins Lindee Morgan, executive director of the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College & State University, and Katie Seymore, instructional coach at Putnam County Primary School, as area representatives among the 36 members of the committee.

Also on Tuesday, the board of education unanimously passed — with all five members present — the FY24 operating budget as part of the consent agenda.

The budget's projected revenue is $46.5 million and proposed expenses for FY24 comes out to $55 million. Finance Director Samantha Jenkins had said at the April board meeting that the expenditures would require going into the district's fund balance for the remaining $5.4 million. There is also the increased revenue and expense for Gov. Kemp's $2,000 raise for the certified employees that the district earned.

Two public hearings were held in May before Tuesday's vote. No discussion was held concerning the budget prior to the vote.

At Tuesday's meeting, Jenkins gave the financial report saying that the district collected 93% of the FY23 budgeted revenue and expended 76.9% of the budgeted expenditures while being nearly 92% through the fiscal year. She said $2.9 million was collected and $3.4 million was expended in May, bringing the fund equity down to $33.5 million.

ESPLOST collections in FY23 through April were $8.1 million, the average per month being $817,533.11. Both are higher than all of FY22.

Another part of the consent agenda was maintaining hours for all schools in 2023-24: 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. for the Early Learning Center; 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. for elementary schools and 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for Oak Hill Middle School and Baldwin High School.