Community News
New principal for BCHS, former coach returning.
By Dave Whitaker
Mar 22, 2017, 14:30

It was a long night for Superintendent Steve Smith and the Board of Education. Besides the normal items that a part of every meeting, they did the staffing and leadership plans for 2017-18.

Several items of note came from the meeting. One of which was the vote to apply for an Air Force JROTC program. While the waiting list is estimated to be 15 years, the administration will work toward moving up the list.

Another informational meeting to gauge interest in a virtual school will be held in the high school auditorium April 13 at 7 pm. It's designed to provide a way for home schooled students to enroll in online classes offered by the school system and have access to extra curricular activities.

Amongst the personnel moves from the Executive Session included the upcoming retirement of BCHS teacher Debbie Caldwell. Effective June 1, Caldwell has spent the past several years as an assistant track coach with pole vaulters.

The biggest news of the night came from the FY 18 Leadership and Staffing plans. Dr. Trey Belflower will be moving from the Principal's Office to the Board Offices as the new Director of Operations and Federal Programs. Current Assistant Principal/CTAE Director Matt Gibbs will be Principal.

Benjy Rogers will be returning as SPED Adaptive PE Teacher as a 49 percent (part time salary) basis. Several new hires came via the FY 18 Staffing Plan. Stacy Nobles, who was an assistant coach with Von Lassiter under Sam Barrs, is returning.

Though the board hasn't set the athletic staffing plan for 2017-18, Nobles told WMAZ's Marvin James he would be strength and conditioning coach as well as assistant athletic director. He returns after a six-year stint at West Laurens as head football coach.

The new band director for both BCHS and BCMS will be Steven Robert Whitaker (no relation.) Other teaching hires included Randall Owens (expected to join the football staff) and BCHS alums Annie Fletcher and Emmie Meadows. Fletcher, a cheerleader and track star will teach at Bleckley Elementary. Meadows, a softball and tennis player, will teach at BCHS.

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