Titan Family and Friends,
Greetings to all of our LOA family! We are in the thick of Christmas celebrations on campus. Students, teachers, and administrative staff alike are enjoying the festivities this time of year brings while also preparing for finals and wrapping up the first semester. Before we break for the holidays, we would like to take a moment to share with you the highlights of our most recent Board of Governors meeting held Monday, December 04, 2023 as well as some highlights from our November meeting. There is much information to relay due to the charter renewal; therefore, this update is longer than our usual:
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LOA Waiting List - There are currently 376 students on the waiting list of which 30 are listed as priority
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Board Training - Dr. Bowling discussed options for the Board of Governors training that is required for members of the board. There will be a Governance Training March 11th - 13th.
- August and September Academic and Athletic Highlights -
- Roughly 41% of students are enrolled in an AP class
- In Quarter 1, 19.4% of students enrolled in Dual Enrollment
- In Quarter 2, 19% of students enrolled in Dual Enrollment
- Currently, 97.3% of students are expected attend college
- 82.7% of students are HOPE eligible as of the start of the senior year
- 44% eligible for ZELL at above 3.7 GPA at start of senior year
- 94 senior students have sent college applications
- 14 senior students have received college acceptance letters
- 3 senior students have committed to a college
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One athletic commitment has been made - Drew Williams will attend University of Tennessee Martin for Golf
- Charter Renewal Update -
- Dr. Bowling shared a timeline of the Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) Charter Renewal petition process thus far, beginning with the initial submission of the Charter Petition on April 11, 2023.
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Charter Renewal Timeline - Dr. Bowling shared his meetings with Dr. Houston had been positive and diplomatic, and that an original 60+ list of items the Greene County School Board (GCSB) orginally began with, had been narrowed down to a few disagreements. Dr. Bowling reminded attendees that Dr. Houston and he alone are not at liberty to officially agree on amended items separate from the oversight of our governing boards, nor without board action.
- Dr. Bowling pointed out that the Charter Petition was submitted to the GCSB again on Friday, November 10th. This petition was submitted to include language that reflected agreed upon items from the original 60+ with a few looming items that had not been agreed on. Regarding those items, LOA believed the petition preserved their autonomy as a charter school, while supporting the interests of all the students of Greene County.
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LOA Charter Petition - Amended - On November 16th, the GCSB voted to approve the LOA Charter Petition “as amended”. Negotiations concluded the following day.
- Following Dr. Bowling’s executive report, Board Members held a discussion. Notable items from the discussion included:
- The importance of an increase in the enrollment cap to the extent it allows for priority enrollment of children of full-time employees. This increase is important to recruit high quality employees, especially given a nationwide teacher shortage. LOA has agreed to forfeit any local funding for these students.
- A long-standing request (beginning July 19, 2023) from the LOA BOG to meet with members of the GCSB regarding the charter that has previously been denied by the GCSB.
- LOA BOG’s interest in meeting with the GCSB to further discuss the enrollment cap issue.
- LOA BOG’s interest in building a relationship with the GCSB characterized by appropriate disagreement and diplomacy, and in a way that serves the interests of all students in Greene County.
- An urgent need to approve the Charter Petition in the interest of all LOA stakeholders considering GCSB’s refusal to continue to negotiate.
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Addendum - Following the discussion, the LOA BOG voted (6-0) to approve the charter as amended and approved to send this petition to the GADOE with a signing memorandum requesting consideration of an adjustment to the one issue regarding the enrollment cap.
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Cognia Virtual Visit - The Cognia virtual visit was held on Nov 28, 2023. The Cognia Accreditation was submitted.
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ESPLOST Expenditure Considerations - request was made by Dr. Bowling to move forward with getting bids for the following:
- Updating Security Cameras and Access Control
- Safety Film (Anti-shatter) for windows/doors
LOA’s Board of Governors will hold its next meeting Monday, January 08, 2023. In the meantime, if there are any questions or concerns, you can the LOA Board of Governors by emailing LOABOG@lakeoconeeacademy.org.
We are ONE TITAN!!
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The Cynthia Tucker Memorial Scholarship embodies the enduring spirit of resilience and determination. Established in loving memory of Mrs. Cynthia "Cindy" Tucker, this scholarship seeks to empower and support children who have confronted adversity with unwavering grit and grace. It is devoted to individuals who have demonstrated tenacity, working relentlessly towards their goals, and faced challenges with steadfast determination. The scholarship aims to recognize and honor those who, through their inspiring journeys of self-improvement, become beacons for others. Through this initiative, our goal is to uplift and contribute to the future success of individuals who have confronted challenges head-on, emerging stronger — a true reflection of Cindy Tucker's commitment to fostering academic achievement and personal growth.
To contribute to the Cynthia Tucker Memorial Scholarship Fund, checks should be made payable to Lake Oconee Academy with "Cindy Tucker Fund" noted in the memo. Please mail checks to Lake Oconee Academy, 1021 Titan Circle, Greensboro, GA 30642
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LOA Given Gold Honor Roll Distinction In Advanced Placement® Program School |
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LOA Students Win BIG at the Annual Georgia National Fair Art Exhibit |
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Lake Oconee Academy Honors Hispanic Heritage Month with Night of Celebration |
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Lake Oconee Academy Band Performs at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida |
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Marcus Rhodes recognized as 1 of 6 recipients of the REACH Scholarship in Greene Co. |
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Atlanta Braves Photographer, Kevin Liles, Visits Lake Oconee Academy |
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The 10th Annual Denim & Diamonds is scheduled for March 2, 2024. Stay tuned for information about volunteer opportunities and the Denim & Diamonds raffle starting in January!
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Join the Official LOA Parents Facebook Page |
Hey Titan Parents! Stay connected and join the OFFICIAL LOA Parents Group on Facebook.
This page fosters relationships between LOA families and serves as a platform to share ideas and lend support to families as needed. Feel free to swap/sell uniforms, coordinate carpools, or even ask questions. We are ONE TITAN and we hope you will enjoy utilizing this group as an OFFICIAL LOA communication tool. If you have questions regarding your child's specific needs, please contact your child's teacher or the elementary, middle school, or high school front office directly.
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Visit the Charter Renewal Resource Center
Our dedication to transparency and accurate information drives us to provide resources and make them easily accessible. For this reason, we have established an online Charter Renewal Resource Center. Here, parents, faculty, and the community can access pertinent documents and stay updated with the latest information. We will frequently update the Charter Renewal Resource Center, so remember to bookmark the page and visit it regularly for the most current information.
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Regular Board Communications |
The LOABOG is pleased to offer many ways to Stay Connected!
- Quarterly Town Hall sessions to keep the community informed and answer questions.
- Monthly Newsletters sent out with important news about LOA, the Greene County BOE and the Charter Renewal.
- Social Media Posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
- News Posts on LakeOconeeAcademy.org
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Follow Us On Social Media |
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Lake Oconee Academy Board of Governors
706.454.1562
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