Jackson Progress-Argus

Photo by Mike Davis

The March 7 Butts County Board of Education meeting was moved to the Ernest Battle Professional Development Center on Woodland Way because of the large number of students being recognized at the meeting for academic achievements. School board meetings are normally held in the boardroom at the Central Office, 181 North Mulberry Street, Jackson.

There were 50 students listed individually for recognition, plus the fifth-grade drama team from Jackson Elementary School. A few students received two awards, but faculty coaches and advisors were also honored. The room filled with proud parents and other fans of the students.

"I think we have broken a record for the most folks we ever had at a Board of Education meeting. How great is it that we had to move a meeting because we had so many students to recognize?" asked Butts County School Superintendent Lynda White.

The Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) Science Fair, which included students at Butts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Newton, Pike, Spalding, and Upson County schools, was held at the University of Georgia campus in Griffin on Feb. 28. Saleha Ahmed sponsored the students from Henderson Middle School who entered projects.

Butts County winners in the Junior Division were: first place, Timothy Shockley, who will advance to state competition; second place, Ramirra Marshall, Anslie Ballew, Katie Gafford, Quin Weaver, Will Bice, Keith Russell, Dylan Spraggins, Caleb McCullough; third place, Joba Duke, Alan Powell, Hannah Potts, Lauren Love, Samuel Elliott, Alex Hammock, Jasmine White, Claire Schuessler, Brittany Royals, Aaron Kline, and Jonathan Powell.

Cathleen Eckholm sponsored Jackson High School students who entered projects in the RESA Science Fair. Butts County winners in the Senior Division were: second place, Jerah McDonald, Alex Harwell, Trent Ashmore; and third place, Madison Williams, and Jake McDonald.

Eckholm was also the sponsor for JHS students in the Science Olympiad at Macon State College on Feb. 19. Winning fourth place in Astronomy were Cole Hurst and Cameron Aly. Winning sixth place in Disease Detectives were Cole Hurst and Cheyenne Carey.

The Henderson Middle School Math Team, sponsored by Melissa Valentine, placed second in the RESA math competition against schools from seven other counties. Members of the team were Will Bice, Lauren Love, Keith Russell, Arykah Malve, and Aatif Ahmed.

In the regional literacy competition for elementary and middle school students held at RESA in Griffin, Jasmine White represented the Butts County school district in the spelling bee, and finished fifth out of 17 contestants.

Ramirra Marshall placed first in seventh-grade poetry recitation, and Desani Holloman placed first in sixth-grade poetry recitation. Sean Buffalo placed first in fourth-grade ready writing. Lyana White placed second in seventh-grade poetry recitation, and Alexis Schmenk placed second in fifth-grade ready writing. Rachel Waldrop placed third in third-grade ready writing. The fifth-grade Jackson Elementary School drama team, sponsored by Tessa Yarbrough, placed first for its performance of a skit written by Yarbrough. The eight members of the drama team were recognized.

Jackson High School STAR student Tyler Van Dusen and STAR teacher Freda Aiken were honored by the Board of Education.

The Special Olympics team, sponsored by Patricia Duffy and Kendra Knauer, competed in bowling in the recent Winter Games. Receiving first place were Ken Cottingham, Johnny Smith, Jamell Watson, and Sarah Jenovese; second-place winners were Brandon Cox and Matthew Davies; and third-place winners were Anquavious Griffin and Jumerya Lindsey.