The Rome City Schools Board of Education celebrated progress across the district and honored longtime employees for their service during its August Board of Education meeting on Tuesday evening at Rome High School’s College and Career Academy. The Board celebrated schools making significant academic progress as well as 19 employees who retired following years of service to Rome City Schools.
Main Elementary and Anna K. Davie Elementary were recognized after being identified as CSI Progress Schools, marking an important step forward for both schools.
Main Elementary received an additional recognition after moving off the Targeted Support and Improvement list, along with Rome Middle School. The accomplishments reflect the work of students, teachers, administrators, and support staff to improve student outcomes and continue moving the needle across the district.
"This is the kind of progress we want to celebrate because it represents a tremendous amount of work happening every day in our schools," Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland said. "Our students and staff have remained focused on improving, and these results show that commitment is making a difference. We are proud of the progress, but we also know the work continues."
The Board also recognized 19 Rome City Schools retirees: Dorothy Alford, Anna K. Davie; Amy Harrington and Miriam Loveless, East Central; Penny Atkinson, Elm Street; Belinda Miller and Sylvia Shields, Main; Karen Colbert, Diana Ferrell, Clara Kidd, Stephen Price and Allison Skeen, West Central; Andie Lee, West End; and Gloria Bradford, Angela Daniel, Michelle Lemons, Tamara McGhee, Dulce Morales, John Reid and Parke Wilkinson, Rome High.
"These individuals have given so much of themselves to Rome City Schools and, most importantly, to generations of students," Dr. Holland said. "Their impact cannot simply be measured by the number of years they worked in our district. It can be seen in the students they taught, the colleagues they supported, and the schools they helped make better. We thank each of them for their service and wish them the very best in retirement."
Rome City Schools Director of Instructional Technology, Safety, and Operations John Fricks provided the Board with an overview of the departments and services that make up Rome City Schools’ operational team. Fricks highlighted the work taking place across facilities and maintenance, transportation, school nutrition, technology, communications and safety to support the district’s schools, students and employees. He emphasized the department’s focus on operational excellence, accountability, collaboration, innovation and responsible stewardship, with the goal of providing the resources, transportation, facilities and support services necessary to create effective learning environments for students.
Fricks also reviewed recent improvements and performance across those operational areas, including facility projects, transportation and nutrition services, technology and communications support, as well as continued enhancements to the district’s Keep Schools Safe initiative. Safety improvements include expanded weapons detection capabilities, upgrades to emergency communication and response systems, and other measures designed to strengthen preparedness across the district. The overall approach is designed to ensure the many departments working behind the scenes each day operate collaboratively and efficiently to support the educational mission of Rome City Schools.