Report: State school board member questions Bibb superintendent amid rise in federally identified low-performing schools
The Georgia Board of Education addressed a sharp rise in low-performing schools in Bibb County at its committee meeting on Wednesday.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Georgia Board of Education addressed a sharp rise in low-performing schools in Bibb County at its committee meeting on Wednesday, pressing Superintendent Dr. Dan Sims for answers, The Macon Newsroom (macon-newsroom.com) reported Thursday.
Eight of the district’s 33 schools were included on the federal low-performance list received by the state in January, up from five in 2022.
“That’s a huge increase for Bibb County,” state school board member Mike Royal said. “I’m frankly shocked to see it on there and I have some questions.”
Superintendent Sims participated in the meeting remotely to observe the charter contract renewal for the career center. When questioned by Royal about the percentage of schools on the low-performance list, Sims admitted he did not have the number readily available.
“I don’t have it readily in my head, but we have discussed that as a team,” Sims responded, suggesting another staff member might have the information before revealing he was on the call for the charter contract renewal and that he wasn’t aware the separate issue was going to be discussed.
Royal said he didn’t want Sims to feel ambushed, but that he did find it concerning that a superintendent wouldn’t know the information off the top of the head.
“I’m just being 1,000% honest,” Royal said.
Sims, who said he’d need to find the information on a document, later identified 11 schools on the federally identified list, The Macon Newsroom reported.
The state board discussed the rise in federally identified schools in Bibb County at its regular meeting on Thursday while preparing to vote on strategic waiver contracts for school districts across Georgia. The waivers, part of a state education overhaul in 2016, grant districts flexibility on rules like class size limits and teacher certification requirements in exchange for improved academic performance. Most districts, including Bibb, chose to become strategic waiver districts.
Only three districts—Bibb, Richmond, and Talbot counties—received one-year contracts instead of the typical six-year term. Royal said the waivers represent a commitment to do better.
“I’m just trying to be honest: obviously, Bibb County has been going backwards as far as these metrics go,” he said.
Royal mentioned Bibb County’s past successes and said he was hopeful for positive changes.
“By bringing this out and doing it, this sheds light on these issues and we can hopefully move forward in a positive way to make sure these kids are getting the education they deserve,” he said.
The state board approved the one-year waivers at Thursday’s meeting.
The following Bibb County schools are on the low-performing list for “Comprehensive Support and Improvement”:
- Appling Middle School
- Bernd Elementary School
- Bruce Elementary School
- Hartley Elementary School
- Ingram/Pye Elementary School
- Rosa Taylor Elementary School
- Union Elementary School
- Williams Elementary School
Westside High School was also identified for “Additional Targeted Support and Improvement” due to low academic performance among its students with disabilities.
