[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6477151,"mediaKeyId","5713134-ce69017615275e44a6d4cc4c6d9a576b","parentId",5713134,"title","Clayton County honors 30 schools with 39 school-nutrition awards; students and staff also recognized","audioSeconds",101,"startMs",452000,"endMs",553000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713134-ce69017615275e44a6d4cc4c6d9a576b&start=452&end=553","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713134-ce69017615275e44a6d4cc4c6d9a576b/thumbnail_452000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477151/Georgia/Clayton-County-honors-30-schools-with-39-school-nutrition-awards-students-and-staff-also-recognized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477151-780c35df0e017a4a11a1017a9b513b01/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437331&Signature=P2LOoFkrvuB6qvQAbpU-zJzGFAgHYloFXpLHv2DVLoG322F496TCJDSun7V6wJudRpirE6~CorbDtkLLtMGd4WvEEkHCjBjHl6XNubtYO~q9OcqVyuUmoKZ5n-t9Pl3WdHyD6Q5J~1cA8kMldedVH9CU7aQsL3o3YWXiR~CBqp4OqxaOz~6hOrqkNiBL8~kbDH8xfFT3sEKjjDYjPRcgRu0oSt5rt6gt~0QWdPnf4-u--Bfg~bcwXciSGdn6UyN4gw7izDb0TQKL6Lj-fmtRQyxKhQ8wPQmjKzcilGOYxcatCaA3-jVCjz54uV86NmB1-Dv9KHIPesOz4zu9YEH~Kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School Board of Georgia ","date","2025-09-03T19:55:33Z","article","At the start of the Sept. 3 board meeting, Clayton County Public Schools recognized 30 schools that together earned 39 awards from the Georgia School Nutrition Association for improvements and consistently high participation in student breakfast and lunch programs.

Audrey Hamilton, executive director of school nutrition, and members of her leadership team joined the board and invited cafeteria managers forward for recognition. Hamilton said the awards included categories for a 3% increase in school breakfast participation, consistently high breakfast participation, a 3% increase in school lunch participation, and consistently high lunch participation.

Hamilton reported that 15 elementary school programs, seven middle school programs and eight high school programs were honored. She singled out MD Roberts Middle School of the Arts (led by Kwanzita Marshall) and Riverdale High School (led by Angela Christopher) as programs that each earned recognition in three categories. Five other schools were honored in two categories, including Arnold Elementary (Annie Holmes), Callaway Elementary (Shamika McGee), Mondays Mill Middle School (Latonya Watch), Northcutt Elementary (Chikayla Deandrea Hassan), and Rivers Edge Elementary (Takara Avery).

Separately, the board announced continuation of the district’s “You’ve Been Noticed” recognition program. Two students each received $100 gift cards from a new partner, Rees Automotive; the meeting named Julius Judah Whaley as one of the student recipients. Monthly employee award recipients will receive $500 checks; board members drew names and congratulated the winners.

Board chair Ben Stryker and Superintendent Anthony Smith led the recognitions and asked honorees to come forward for a group photograph.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Clayton County Board of Education Regular Board Meeting | September 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board recognized school nutrition programs across Clayton County that earned awards for breakfast and lunch participation, and presented employee and student recognitions including gift cards and monthly awards.","taxTitle","Clayton County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15363,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6477156,"Parents and advocates urge greater transparency, equity and cameras in special-needs classrooms",165,1593000,1758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713134-ce69017615275e44a6d4cc4c6d9a576b&start=1593&end=1758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713134-ce69017615275e44a6d4cc4c6d9a576b/thumbnail_1593000.jpg","/articles/6477156/Georgia/Parents-and-advocates-urge-greater-transparency-equity-and-cameras-in-special-needs-classrooms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477156-010c52e3cbd23443cd49b383bd068a74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437331&Signature=abP8ciCSNN-gdnR-ekaEiSAxM-UCYJcksReY38fDTmKvSRv-cztNEri4yoDTG~XRAEbTT6AuZ6gpEarEUcQcSEoKx4mkZbDrmm6AAxAgjyhxeKjONiv2JZMkCYPkgphx942JjPUiuIFCo3olEbAiZfzM57UgPu9QxQrsZxrXC3c~Cc-UXe7BGTnO6~yaBvsmW7JiWurlb7bfKA5F5gQIAp4ut88DYnMAGvQIRhP1EJBu9rNUEePpzwKnCXfOtc6tz7pURakKC6grsLYyWpopoShB0UxQURl50gvvzOCcWLbF4rIE2rwS8y9AGc0FINxM1DHa-6kCxq2IFZfFBL8lAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During public participation at the Sept. 3 Clayton County Board of Education meeting, three community speakers urged the board to address family engagement concerns, recommended mandatory classroom cameras in special-needs rooms for parental access, and raised coordination issues around donated school supplies.

Maria Marino, a parent at Unidos, told the board that parents at her school felt ignored and that district processes were not being followed. “Parents who stand up for their children are too often treated as a problem instead of partners,” Marino said, asking the board to “take immediate action to restore fairness, ensure proper communication, and give parents the respect and voice they deserve.” She said Unidos serves a majority-immigrant community and argued that some events and parent-student lunches had been curtailed this year, which she described as inconsistent with family engagement expectations and Title I obligations.

Christina McCullough, founder of Shine, a nonprofit supporting children with autism, asked the board to require cameras in all special-needs classrooms with parental access to view and save footage. “Cameras are not about mistrust. They are about safety, accountability, and a peace of mind,” McCullough said. She urged the district to prioritize transparency and safety and to give families full access to recordings when needed.

Linda Jones, president of the Progressive Seniors Organization, described efforts by a small group of senior volunteers who donate school supplies each year and said coordination problems led to disappointment this season. Jones said the group donated roughly $1,000 in supplies to second-grade students at Lily East Pseudo Elementary School in Jonesboro and asked the district to improve communication so community volunteers receive agreed-upon support when they arrive.

Board Chair Ben Stryker read the public-participation rules at the start of the period and noted that issues arising during public comment can be added to future agendas or forwarded to administration for follow-up.

The speakers cited board policy BCBI (public participation guidelines) and referenced Title I survey processes; the transcript shows requests for improved adherence to the family engagement plan and for clearer communication between schools and community volunteers.

","Speakers at the Clayton County Board of Education public participation period raised concerns about family engagement and equity at Unidos, asked for cameras in special-needs classrooms, and described coordination problems with senior volunteer donations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6477160,"Clayton County board approves multiple school leadership appointments; tribunal appeal fails on tie",66,2265000,2331000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713134-ce69017615275e44a6d4cc4c6d9a576b&start=2265&end=2331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713134-ce69017615275e44a6d4cc4c6d9a576b/thumbnail_2265000.jpg","/articles/6477160/Georgia/Clayton-County-board-approves-multiple-school-leadership-appointments-tribunal-appeal-fails-on-tie","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477160-e79cce291dd612f225f148bc413c2d87/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437331&Signature=TejfzNwhdWUnaul-dhD3C0T~55qYk651KEys~1LrlZAv3EDUa2X~BOXKLasMgJ-PbHYLWZhIaG-ohIPRT7YkiilynuNh015v5xNd99QUluqf9hggdQ048HkLBdRoLr93Lh5EahSatUyJjn-ZJxmeY4pk65V6fgjJ1wNIcbAhks5EqPDyvn~i9~st8DNZWHDWVMj7ln4xxCFTi0Yo66xfm6sWgo4kEuKQTBFrJ5idRTBPbkM~iXiXAwL1O75iqUqtdzBsx7fOgkE94a~HvwF9l~VANG3Yd5kYmjJmm75zGmIQCITfFchGAHfKpLmn2tcac97sFXD3FJ~FQ0QQrb4KoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clayton County Board of Education on Sept. 3 unanimously approved four administrative appointments, adopted the consent agenda and the district Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) budget, and voted down an appeal of a tribunal decision after a 4–4 tie.

The board accepted Superintendent Anthony Smith’s recommendations to appoint Cynthia Freeman Smalls as principal of Perry Career Academy; Francis Thomas as principal of Church Street Elementary; Brandy Roman as assistant principal at East Clayton Elementary; and Eldrick Horton as assistant superintendent for high schools. Each appointment passed on a unanimous voice vote, recorded by the chair as unanimous.

Board Chair Ben Stryker introduced the superintendent’s recommendations and called for votes. Mark Christmas moved to accept the recommendation naming Cynthia Freeman Smalls for Perry Career Academy; the motion was seconded and recorded as unanimous. A similar process followed for the other appointments; the board chair announced each vote as unanimous and congratulated the appointees.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included the financial report, SPLOST revenue report, purchasing report, budget amendments, SPLOST construction report, capital purchasing report and personnel changes. Jesse Goree moved the consent agenda and the board voted unanimously to adopt it.

On a separate vote, the board approved the district annual CTAE budget; the motion was moved and seconded and the chair announced the vote as unanimous.

A motion to uphold the decision of a tribunal panel in case 2025-2026-01 failed after the roll call produced an even split. The chair reported the tally as four in favor and four opposed and declared the motion failed.

The board also announced that it would take photos with the newly appointed administrators and closed the business portion of the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Cynthia Freeman Smalls — Principal, Perry Career Academy. Motion to accept superintendent’s recommendation moved by Mark Christmas; second not specified on the record. Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Francis Thomas — Principal, Church Street Elementary. Motion moved by a board member; seconded by Mark Christmas. Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Brandy Roman — Assistant Principal, East Clayton Elementary. Motion moved by Joy Tellis Cooper; seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Eldrick Horton — Assistant Superintendent (High Schools). Motion moved by Jesse Goree; seconded by Jasmine Bowles. Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Tribunal panel decision, case 2025-2026-01. Motion to uphold the tribunal decision moved on the record; seconded. Vote: 4 yes, 4 no. Outcome: motion fails.
- Consent agenda (financials, SPLOST reports, purchasing, budget amendments, capital, personnel). Motion moved by Jesse Goree; seconded. Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- District annual CTAE budget. Motion moved and seconded. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

The board adjourned at 6:44 p.m.

","The Clayton County Board of Education unanimously approved four administrative appointments, passed the consent agenda and the district CTAE budget, and saw a tribunal appeal fail after a 4–4 split vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Clayton County honors 30 schools with 39 school-nutrition awards; students and staff also recognized

Parents and advocates urge greater transparency, equity and cameras in special-needs classrooms

Clayton County board approves multiple school leadership appointments; tribunal appeal fails on tie