LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga.- Director of Technology Sean Mullins gave the Board of Education a quote for the updated computers and Chromebooks the system needs for the next school year.

Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Jennifer Moss brought the board some changes to the middle school curriculum. Both these items will be up for a vote at the regular meeting on May 9 at 6:00 p.m.

At the board’s Feb. 9 work session, Mullins gave the board an update on where the technology department was heading for the following school year. To review the complete update visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/02/10/board-of-education-reviews-technology-updates/.

Part of that update included refreshing 140 teachers’ computers and 830 student Chromebooks. The quote for the teacher’s computers is $126,000 and the quote for the Chromebooks is $251,491.

This is already included in the budget under CARES money and it will be reimbursed. Mullins brought this before the board now due to how long the supply chain is taking to get items. This way the new equipment should be here well before the start of school in Aug.

The state is currently revising the math standards for middle school. These changes will not go into full effect until the 2024/25 school year, however, Moss is bringing some changes to the board to keep Lumpkin County schools in line with the changes.

Jennifer Moss while presenting the curriculum changes to the board.

The new plan will have sixth-grade general and sixth-grade advanced math. The same for seventh and then in eighth students on the advanced path will be able to choose either advanced math or enhanced algebra for high school credit.

There would also be a change to when the physical science curriculum is taught. Instead of taking it in eighth or ninth grade, it would be taken in eleventh so the students have the higher math skills required for the class.

“I think we are going to see our rate of success actually be higher not only in eighth grade but also at the high school level,” explained Moss.

Another change to the curriculum would be the middle school Spanish that is offered. Instead of the entry-level course being spread out between seventh and eighth grade as it currently is, it would just be offered as a year-long class in eighth grade. There would still be an introduction class offered in seventh but only the eighth-grade class would count as the high school credit.

None of these changes will affect the graduation requirements. Also other than the physical science change none of these changes affect the high school curriculum. There will be pathways to the Career Academy once it is open and available to students. To view the math standards visit https://www.georgiastandards.org/georgia-standards/pages/math-6-8.aspx.