Bibb County Board of Education Prepares for Accreditation

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – In a month, auditors will fill the halls of Bibb County schools for accreditation reviews and board members want to be ready.

During a work session on Monday, the Bibb County Board of Education met to discuss its strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for the process. On April 28, the team from AdvancedEd with the “Southern Association of Schools and Colleges” will assess the system’s operations.

“The downside is, we’re just sitting down and going through this,” board member Wanda West said during the session, “it is wise to review the standards.”

Board members agreed that some of their strengths include training and legal representation, but a lot of their weaknesses involve communication and outdated policies.

“The board needs to set goals,” board member Thelma Dillard said, “our goals, our personal goals, what are goals are.”

Without passing accreditation, students in Bibb County schools will have a harder time accessing loans and scholarships, and high school diplomas will not be accepted at all universities.

The review comes less than a month after the school system voted to buyout former superintendent Dr. Romain Dallemand. Despite recent administrative change, board members are confident; Bibb County schools will make the grade.

“This board, we’ve already come together in just the two months I’ve been on the board,” said board member Jason Downey, “you’ve seen a lot of unanimous votes 7 to 1 and votes 6 to 3, so we’re starting to work together as a board in moving forward.”

The board will meet on Tuesday to review board policies.