[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6462732,"mediaKeyId","5796920-96e03adfdd1502a7711e80ca071612ff","parentId",5796920,"title","Rockdale schools highlight local-food pilot, student awards and outreach; district reports finances for August","audioSeconds",1735,"startMs",1158000,"endMs",2893000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796920-96e03adfdd1502a7711e80ca071612ff&start=1158&end=2893","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796920-96e03adfdd1502a7711e80ca071612ff/thumbnail_1158000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462732/Georgia/Rockdale-schools-highlight-local-food-pilot-student-awards-and-outreach-district-reports-finances-for-August","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462732-a9438b46a79928b9a0212fb2907f0e0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770549821&Signature=RvV2ir8CVcLw4Xf~JAGwnxiS8e~tc-dCW6B17SMTYM1oiXiIzYLk8nFuuq6LEUX8x-UoZDfKWWUiAAKfC5CWzyp2ZUYAPWzQ3wA~n2BFSo7m6tKqBtVVY3wLslFeaAHBTucK~LVreu7w7YKDYEa4nZNmt~zXrp4086yjCWK07pknJsL2fLgE4MYSwzvi-VIB~Gt65xoXLQsZcBegSg-8FJiWFNLfVYHVngPK4XyoHpxCfjndIPN6yb5KgPG8yndl~qSp4B5iWUdiq9-2dU2uYz1hVXbWs6LgBjbajpCczT58d5Bnqv0talg9xsRwYhQDu841K-VGOASHpzkV6HmsqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School Board of Georgia ","date","2025-09-19T15:13:36Z","article","Rockdale County Public Schools highlighted several district programs and student recognitions during the board meeting, including participation in a local-food pilot program, student awards and scholarships, and the district’s August financial report.

Why it matters: The topics touch school nutrition, student achievement and college access initiatives that affect thousands of students and local farmers who supplied produce to district cafeterias during a two-year pilot.

Local food pilot: Cindy Ball, the district’s chief of community impact, presented information about the Georgia Acre Collective local food incentive pilot, led by the Common Market Southeast. Ball said the pilot, launched in 2023, funneled nearly $128,000 into Georgia’s local food economy, connected 37 small-scale farms with school cafeterias and delivered about 67,000 pounds of locally sourced food to students across three districts, including Rockdale County Public Schools. Ball identified CJ Hicks, JH House and Peaks Chapel elementary schools as Rockdale pilot sites and said the pilot served approximately 74,000 students across partner districts.

Ball and video participants described additional supports: technical assistance for school nutrition staffs and culinary trainings that enabled some districts to move from precooked products to preparing raw ingredients. The district asked that the program find continued funding; Ball said Rockdale hopes the pilot can continue if additional funds become available.

Student awards and outreach: Administrators and school staff recognized achievements from across the district. Joshua Buchanan, an eighth grader at General Ray Davis Middle School, announced that Davis had the most student projects in the county to qualify as grand champions at the county and state science fairs and named students who advanced and earned Thermo Fisher nominations. The district also reported 168 students were named AP scholars this year and a 38% increase in students scoring 3 or higher on AP exams compared with last year.

Rockdale students also received scholarships and awards tied to agricultural and conservation programs. The Rockdale Soil and Water Conservation District sponsored 16 students to attend the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), totaling $6,000 in sponsorships; several students received scholarships and division awards from the workshop and ABAC Foundation.

Financial update: Joycelyn Smith, chief financial officer, provided the final financial report for August. She reported monthly revenue of $10,500,000 and year-to-date revenue of $20,100,000 (about 8.8% of budget). August expenditures were $16,400,000 and year-to-date expenditures were $35,000,000 (about 15.1% of budget). Smith reported open encumbrances of $4,076,335 and a fund balance of approximately $14,078,187.

Next steps: Ball said the district will continue to pursue funding for local-food partnerships and asked the community to help sustain pilot gains. Administrators said they will continue outreach on college scholarships and financial-aid events, and the CFO noted routine financial monitoring will continue as the fiscal year advances.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Regular Meeting 9/19/25","oneSentenceSummary","District staff highlighted a local-food pilot that delivered locally sourced produce to Rockdale cafeterias, recognized student awards and scholarships, and presented August financials showing revenues and expenditures year to date.","taxTitle","Rockdale County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15315,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6462734,"Rockdale Board approves contract to hold 2026 graduation at New Birth after debate over rising costs",0,4406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796920-96e03adfdd1502a7711e80ca071612ff&start=4406&end=4406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796920-96e03adfdd1502a7711e80ca071612ff/thumbnail_4406000.jpg","/articles/6462734/Georgia/Rockdale-Board-approves-contract-to-hold-2026-graduation-at-New-Birth-after-debate-over-rising-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462734-b1689096eee5f508b7d7e28301e9cb09/orig.mp4?Expires=1770549821&Signature=esIur0kdYvVKfBaZX0~AGuIwsVLkvaT41TbvRnfbqRWnnuSSss9fEJDqD7HPdSt~ufpvA64bQTWDJIlNi2zjVha5dCx9lWz2bbNqxZ9QS4tu3T2eu9oE3N6gJk4S0dXf6N4IvHqyHDUYF-r9TubaekMNGVXW67i9FRw4~ovykRf-DFmvjVsmeXiSI1vfqHyzSy3I~QSYLzjghfgdJV0dZ8sNAWk8iN9vsbCkF-y8tPedFLONmpTa27AeWQuUu0Yp97S04dgC-2OQ~9d2L5V8P3pYDn31QgdGQk7R34m~AAPAvMqm-lPF-PSFFBuug6fmH04fkLlAlN8VKnqyBN~8Iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rockdale County Board of Education voted 7-0 to approve a contract with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to host Rockdale County Public Schools’ 2026 graduation on May 29, 2026.

The contract approval came after nearly an hour of discussion in which board members and members of the public raised concerns about the event’s escalating cost and who should pay for it. Heather Duncan made the motion to approve the contract and Janie Jones seconded; the board voted unanimously to approve the contract.

Why it matters: Board members said the venue is accessible and popular with families but warned that costs have risen sharply in recent years and may force the district to subsidize ceremonies with maintenance-and-operations funds if senior dues alone prove insufficient.

Board member remarks and public comments focused on funding and access. A parent who testified during public comment, Jessica Oglesby, urged the board to continue hosting graduations at New Birth and suggested a multiyear contract to give families more time to plan and budget. \"It has proven to be a safe and accessible ... family friendly venue,\" Oglesby said.

Several board members said they supported holding graduations at New Birth this year but signaled limits. One board member noted the venue’s cost trajectory: \"This will be the fourth year we will have held this graduation at New Birth — started off at $45,000, the third year it went to $90,000, and this year is projected at $105,000,\" and said that if the district must subsidize the event from county M&O funds, their support would end. Another board member, Heather Duncan, argued for celebrating students even if the board needs to find district funding, saying, \"Let's celebrate our students. Let's find the money and let's celebrate our students in the way that they deserve to be celebrated.\" The transcript shows the board discussed options including earlier disclosure of costs to families, possible subsidies for students who cannot pay, and the trade-off between ceremony spending and other district priorities.

Motion and vote details: The motion to approve the contract was made by Heather Duncan and seconded by Janie Jones. The board recorded a unanimous vote in favor (tally: yes 7, no 0). Earlier in the meeting the board also voted 7-0 to approve the agenda, to approve minutes for August meetings, and to adopt the consent agenda; those routine approvals were recorded before the graduation discussion.

Cost and funding context: Board discussion referenced senior dues as the primary current funding source for off-site graduations and noted the district subsidized prior ceremonies when dues were insufficient. Board members repeatedly asked administration to provide clearer, earlier cost information to families and to consider whether the district should set aside funds or identify other funding sources if off-site ceremonies remain the preference.

Looking ahead: With the contract approved, the board and administration said they will work on logistics and on communicating costs to families earlier so that parents and students can plan. The motion was carried 7-0 and the meeting adjourned later in the evening.","The Rockdale County Board of Education voted 7-0 to approve a contract with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to host RCPS 2026 graduation on May 29, 2026, after board members and public commenters debated escalating venue costs and whether the district should subsidize fees.","actionData","errors"]

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Rockdale schools highlight local-food pilot, student awards and outreach; district reports finances for August

Rockdale Board approves contract to hold 2026 graduation at New Birth after debate over rising costs