MACON, Ga. — A state program that helps improve scores of Georgia's lowest-performing schools is in danger of shutting down after the man in charge resigned.
The leadership changes could affect three Bibb County Schools involved in the turnaround program.
Since Veterans Elementary School opened in 2016, Principal Cleveland Johnson is working to improve their college and career readiness performance scores.
"This was a new school, and so we had some scores that were in the 50s, and so since then we've had an over 10- point increase most recently," Johnson said.
Bibb County Schools Chief of Staff Keith Simmons credits a part of that success to their district's partnership with the state's turnaround program.
"In many turnaround-eligible schools, you're going to find high levels of poverty, high levels of turn, students enrolling and withdrawing. You're going to find high levels of absenteeism," Simmons said.
District leaders work with outside specialists to create a system that helps cut down those barriers and increase student performance.
"We do classroom instructional rounds and walk-throughs, we give feedback, then we have different people that come and support teaching and learning explicitly through professional development and things of that nature," Johnson.
In January, the state's Chief Turnaround Officer Eric Thomas resigned, and Governor Brian Kemp's proposed 2021 budget eliminates over $1 million from the program.
"I'm not quite sure what pivots the state will make in terms of how this work will look in the future, but right now, I know that the intent is for the schools to remain focused on the initiatives that they've established within their short-term action plan," Simmons said.
Lawmakers are wondering whether it's worth continuing the program, but either way, Principal Johnson says it's just one of the many tools they use to help improve scores.
"There's a lot of support that comes from a lot of different entities and not one sole entity. So our success is shared," Johnson said.
The state Board of Education placed Stephanie Johnson as the interim-chief turnaround officer. She currently serves as the deputy superintendent for school improvement.
Appling and Ballard-Hudson Middle Schools are also included in the program.
RELATED: 'They could've killed my child': Macon mom fears daughter's safety after Northeast High attack
STAY ALERT | Download our FREE app now to receive breaking news and weather alerts. You can find the app on the Apple Store and Google Play.
STAY UPDATED | Click here to subscribe to our Midday Minute newsletter and receive the latest headlines and information in your inbox every day.
Have a news tip? Email news@13wmaz.com, or visit our Facebook page.