Northeast High School - Valhalla Yearbook (Macon, GA)

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n. Thomas Hagler oversees Girth of middle rehoots, staggered school day The Bibb County Board of Education brought a number of changes into effect in the 1984-85 school year. The biggest change was the opening of the middle schools to replace the junior high schools. Another change made was in the stag gered starting and closing times to accom: modate bus scheduling problems. The new middle school forced the entire restructuring of the school system. In the old format, the elementary school housed grades kindergarten through seven, the junior high had grades eight and nine, and the high school held grades ten through twelve. In the new format started this year, the elementary had only grades kindergarten through six, the new middle school housed grades seven and eight, and the high schools held grades nine-twelve. The middle school issue had been con: sidered twice before, but the board voted against it although research has shown that middle schools are a transitional level between elementary and high school. Seventh and eighth graders now get a chance to experience and adapt to the en- vironment of a high school before entering the freshman year. Also, by moving the ninth grade up to the high school, the same courses do not have to be taught at the high school and junior high school to allow students to meet graduation requirements. A number of changes were made in the time schedules of the schools to try to make it easier for the buses to move the 25,000 students in Bibb County. The three high schools now start classes at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. The middle schools and elementary schools start as early as 7:45 or as late as 9:00 a.m. with ap- propriate closing times. This means that some schools like the Northeast middle school, do not dismiss students until 3:30 p.m. At first, the board had approved a plan to start classes at 7:30 a.m. at the high schools, but afier much protest from the public, a compromise was agreed upon to open at 7:45 a.m. Interviewed in December, Dr. Dave Brotherton, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools, said, ‘| am please with the way things have gone to this point.” Mr. Robert Brown Mr. Ed DeFore Mr. William S. Hutchings Mayor George Israel Mr. William Lane Dr. R. J. Martin Mr. Steven Massey Mr. Ken Priester Rev. Eddie Smith Mrs. Judy Townsend Dr. Melvyn Williams Mr. T. Louie Wood Mr. Earl Zimmerman, Jr. County Administration 87

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Dr. Thomas J. Hagler is Superintendent of Schools for Bibb County November elections yield three new Goard members There were actually thirteen members on the Bibb County Board of Education during this school year. Serving the com- plete year were Mr. Ed Defore, Mr. William Hutchings, Mayor George Israel, Mr. William Lane, Mrs. Judy Townsend, Dr. Melvin Williams, and Mr. Earl Zimmerman. 86 County Administration Three new members — Mr. Robert Brown, Mr. Steve Massey, and Rev. Eddie Smith — were elected in November. They replaced Dr. R. J. Martin and Mr. T. Louie Wood, who retired from the board having served the maximum number of con- secutive terms, while Mr. Ken Priester was defeated in the election.

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Dr. G. Milton Dunaway is the Northeast Complex Principal. (He also is the Smith building principal.) Mrs. L. W. Wimberly is the Lasseter building principal Mr. Jesse Mays is the Smith building assistant Mr. Raymond Hughes is the Lasseter building assis principal tant principal Mr. William Grant is the vocational supervisor 88 Northeast Administration