Houston County School Board honors employees for 30-plus years of service, dedication to community

At Houston County’s School Board meeting Tuesday afternoon, 11 employees of the Houston County School system were recognized for devoting 30, 35, or 40 years to the children of Houston County. 

“Thinking about teaching for 30, 35 years and working in the schools for 40 years, that’s a lot of time,” said Board member Dr. Rick Unruh, congratulating the employees. “The things that have changed over that period of time just boggle my mind. The expectations are totally different and we thank you – I thank you for sticking with it, for changing with the times, and being here this year as well.”

Robert Clark of Shirley Hills Elementary has served 40 years in the Houston County School System. Mary Stewart of Langston Road Elementary has served 35 years in the Houston County School System. Rodney Black in the Maintenance Department, Susan Cowart of Houston County High School, Teri Dalton of Parkwood Elementary, Elijah Davis in the Maintenance Department, Kenneth King of Northside Middle School, Grace Lee of Russell Elementary, Wanda McKinley of Russell Elementary, Pamela Owens of Veterans High School, and Kim Stallworth of Hilltop Elementary all served 30 years in the Houston County School System.

Several students throughout Houston County were honored during the meeting such as Veterans High School student, Matthew Connair, who competed in a multi-national event this past summer in Berlin, Germany. “Matthew was a member of the team that won third place in the Junior Varsity History Bowl at the International History Olympiad,” said Houston County Board Chairman Fred Wilson.

Five students from Houston County High School competed at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference and brought home awards ranking them in the top four in the United States. Three of the students (Vennela Gosukonda, Shivani Narain, and Krina Patel) were in attendance Tuesday to be recognized. Gosukonda and Narain both finished second in Hospitality Management and Patel finished second in Personal Finance. Also recognized was Houston County High School Student Christopher Saetia for placing in the top 10 in the U.S. in two competitions at the National Conference for Technology Student Association. Saetia placed fourth for 2D-Aided Design in Architecture and ninth for Future Technology Teacher.

In other discussion, the School Board approved of a Board Resolution Certificate for the project completion for the construction of a facility at Northside High School. This resolution will certify that the project and all invoices for the construction of the addition at Northside High School have been paid. This resolution will allow the state to reimburse 100% of the state funds earned for the construction project. The School Board also agreed to approve of the Right of Way easement for Flint Electric Membership Corporation to move power lines in the existing parking lot of McConnell Talbert Stadium to the property line along Martin Luther King Boulevard. Completing this would allow the new competition gym that is being built at Warner Robins High School to be constructed on the land that has been designated for the new gym, with the Right of Way easement moving the power line out of the construction limits to a permanent location along the road at Martin Luther King Drive.