School board members serve at state level

Published 5:43 pm Monday, May 29, 2017

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Colquitt County Board of Education members Trudie Hill and Robby Pitts are not only serving their constituents locally, but at the state level as well.

Hill, a retired educator, was once again named to the 2017 Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) Governmental Operations Committee (GOC). The GSBA president annually makes appointments to this committee after considerable deliberation with the staff and Board of Directors.

“As a member of this committee, GOC members will not only represent the local school board, but will represent the interests of all of Georgia’s school boards. The responsibilities of the GOC are considerable and the committee’s role is more critical than ever in light of education reform,” shared GSBA Executive Director Valarie Wilson.

Duties of the Governmental Operations Committee include voting on the recommendations for legislative positions submitted by the GSBA membership and offering its recommendations to the GSBA Delegate Assembly during the 2017 Summer Conference.

Hill, who joined the Colquitt County Board of Education in June of 2004, also serves as the legislative liaison to the Colquitt County Board of Education. In this role, she keeps the board abreast of legislative changes affecting education.

“I am deeply honored for the opportunity to serve on the local and state level,” Hill said. “It has been a humbling experience advocating on behalf of students and doing what is best for them.”

Pitts, who began his tenure as a member of the Colquitt County Board of Education in January 2015, was recently appointed as a trustee of the GSBA Risk Management Fund.

This entity, in place since 1992, was established to administer property and liability coverage, lower administrative costs and reduce claims through active programs for loss prevention and loss control for Georgia School Board Association member districts.

Upon appointment by current trustees, each trustee candidate is required to complete an application that is submitted to the Georgia Department of insurance. Trustees meet on a quarterly basis to address business issues and receive updates from management about the affairs of the fund.

“We are so glad to have Mr. Pitts join us as a trustee. His investment and financial knowledge will be an asset to the Risk Management Fund and to the Board of Trustees,” commented Director of GSBA Risk Management Fund Trudy Sower.

On March 20, the Colquitt County School Board voted unanimously for Pitts to represent the board at the 2017 Georgia School Board Association Summer Conference and Delegate Assembly, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Savannah in Savannah, Georgia, June 9-10,.

Board Member Kevin Sumner will serve as his alternate for this appointment.

At the Delegate Assembly, one voting delegate from each local school board votes on the GOC recommendations, and the resulting document of GSBA legislative positions becomes the cornerstone, which guides GSBA efforts for the coming year.

“I am honored to give of my time and experience. My goal as a Colquitt County Board of Education member is to model that I work for the students, staff, and community. While the Board of Education certainly has authority, as an individual member my role is one of humble service,” Pitts said.

Superintendent Doug Howell shared, “Community service is fundamental to the success of our country. Mrs. Hill and Mr. Pitts not only serve our local community but our state. Volunteering of your time and talents is a sacrifice that does not go unnoticed. We are grateful for their commitment to serving others.”