The Local School Governance Team (LSGTeam) is a group of active school advocates that includes administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, and community members. The LSGTeam focuses on making decisions and recommendations that are in the best interest of students, families, and communities. The LSGTeam focuses on School Improvement Planning; Curriculum & Instruction; School Operations; Personnel; and School Budget.

The LSGTeam is co-led by the Principal and an elected parent or community member. The LSGTeam holds 6-12 open meetings throughout the year and the public is welcome to attend. Please contact a Co-Chair to find out information about the LSGTeam, future meetings, or how you can get more involved.

LSGT Dates 2022/2023:

1. Tuesday, August 9, 2022 - 7:00-8:00 pm @ the CCSD Board Office 595 Prince Ave, Athens, GA 30601

In 2018, the Clarke County School District set aside grant funds to distribute to LSGTs to create innovative programs that build the capacity of schools and communities to support the achievement, success, and well-being of children in alignment of one or more of the District's focus areas of literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development.

Grant Budget: $4,500

Gaines will be focusing on social-emotional development. The innovation includes painting murals on each hallway to promote a positive environment. Students will have input on the mural and will also help paint the mural. Images will depict scenes that help students think a about the decisions they make on a daily basis. A “mural club” will be created to get student input. Images will encourage and motivate, thus improving student social-emotional development. The goal is for 70% or higher of the students to have less than two discipline referrals. Student and staff feedback will be used for evaluation, as well as examining the number of behavior referrals.

Grant Budget: $2,000

Gaines will be focusing on social-emotional development for their students. The innovation includes the construction of a community garden that eventually becomes a farmers market. The construction of the garden includes preparing the area, planting, and managing the garden as it grows. Gaines students, and their families, will be invited to participate for every aspect of the construction and maintenance. The garden will be a shared space for fellowship in the community. Volunteers will help mentor the youth who choose to be a part of the process. This innovation addresses food insecurities, education about healthy food choices, and allows students to be a part of a mentoring program where they will have an opportunity to build relationships with positive adults in the community.