The Walker County School District is joining other school systems statewide to celebrate Georgia School Board Appreciation Week, March 17-21.  The weeklong observance calls attention to the contributions of the Walker County Board of Education on behalf of the students, families and communities in Walker County.

"School Board members are the community's voice in education.  They carry an immense responsibility for preparing our children for the future.  The set the vision and goals for these children that the schools follow," said Melissa Mathis, Walker County Schools Superintendent. 

Walker County School Board members are:  Chairman Mike Carruth, Patty Hart, Phyllis Hunter, James A. Smith and Susan Wells.

"In addition to their official duties, they volunteer hundreds of hours of personal time and immeasurable energy in our schools and communities working together with education professionals, families and business partners to ensure that our schools provide the best education possible," said Mathis.  "They are community minded individuals who have an extraordinary dedication to public schools."

As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing facilities and equipment, operating transportation systems, and appropriately dispersing school funds so that current schools perform efficiently and prepare for the future.  As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for children in local schools.  They must constantly study, evaluate and determine the best actions and best practices in the interest of those students.

Each of the 180 public school districts in Georgia have elected school board members who represent their community's unique needs and aspirations.  They are the connection between local, state and federal government on behalf of their students.

For more information concerning the Walker County Board of Education or School Board Appreciation Week, call 706-638-1240.