Cornelius, candidate for Coffee County director, backs universal meals, prioritizes safety and teacher support

Dr. Cornelius, a current Coffee County Schools administrator and candidate for director of schools, told the Coffee County Board of Education in a public interview that he would support implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) systemwide, place “absolute” priority on school safety and emphasize teacher support, data-driven decisions and parent engagement if hired.

Cornelius framed his platform as practical and operational. He told the board the district should provide a fiscal note for any large program while pursuing policies that benefit students: “If you’ve got a chance to have every family, every student to be fed breakfast and lunch with no charge, then why would you not undertake it?” he said.

Why it matters: The director of schools controls many operational and budget priorities that affect meals, staffing and safety practices across the district. Decisions about CEP, Title I designations and E-rate eligibility can change funding flows, staff assignments and Internet subsidy formulas for district schools.

Cornelius said he would support systemwide CEP — a federal option under the National School Lunch Program that allows eligible districts to serve meals to all students at no charge — but would present the board a “complete fiscal note” before implementation. He warned CEP can have downstream effects on federal program counts and reimbursements, naming Title I and the E-rate internet subsidy as items the district would need to evaluate: changes in the free-and-reduced percentage under CEP can affect those calculations, he said.

On safety, Cornelius called school security the district’s top priority: “There is absolutely nothing that’s more important than school safety,” he said, noting Coffee County has invested ESSER funds in window laminate, entrance redesigns and other measures. He said the district should continue tabletop planning with local law enforcement, emergency services and the juvenile court to prepare for drills and incidents while avoiding public disclosure of sensitive operational details.

On discipline and school climate, Cornelius emphasized consistency, fairness and empathy. He said administrators should explain discipline outcomes back to teachers so staff understand how referrals are resolved and feel supported: “When they got sent to me, I was fair, I was consistent, and I listened,” he said. He recommended training teachers on classroom-level interventions and combining that training with clear, district-level expectations.

Improving student achievement, he said, starts with supporting and retaining teachers. “There is no greater influence on student performance than that of the teacher,” Cornelius said, calling teacher retention and professional development the district’s highest levers for raising TCAP and other proficiency measures. He described providing teachers and principals with detailed data reports at the start of the year and using that information to craft targeted interventions.

Cornelius described existing work in attendance and student supports, including a physician-certified chronic-illness verification form the district uses to reduce unnecessary medical excuses. He estimated the district currently has “about eight” students with that verification and said the process was developed with nurses and attendance coordinators to limit misuse while protecting students with genuine medical needs.

On bullying, Cornelius said the district treats allegations seriously and follows the state reporting path that combines bullying and harassment categories. He said administrators must investigate allegations, keep the complainant informed about steps taken and close the communication loop. He added a firm policy for staff misconduct: “There’s no room in my system for teachers bullying a student,” he said.

Cornelius also discussed increasing parent engagement through quarterly parent nights and parent advisory committees, boosting communications through social media and local student media projects, and exploring podcasts produced by the high school audiovisual program. He raised the need to close communication loops: if the district promises to follow up, it must do so.

On expanded programs, he described starting a dual-enrollment initiative years earlier that allowed a small cohort of students to earn associate degrees along with their high school diplomas; he said eight students completed that early effort and that the district should continue to expand dual-enrollment opportunities with local partners.

Cornelius closed by saying he would provide the board with research and data supporting recommendations, and that, if selected, he would aim for a measured, months-long transition plan for his current office and for onboarding a successor. The board expects to make a hiring decision on April 28, the interview concluded.

Ending: The board’s selection will determine who sets district priorities on meals, safety, discipline and academic programs; the candidate said he would bring a data-based, collaborative approach to the role if chosen.