Rome City Schools had plenty to celebrate at the October Board of Education meeting at the College and Career Academy at Rome High School on Tuesday night.
The board was celebrated first for being recognized as a GSBA Exemplary Board for the third consecutive year. Board members then heard that several schools were honored for PBIS distinctions
Rome High School, Elm Street Elementary, West Central Elementary, and West End Elementary schools were all honored as PBIS Distinguished Schools. Rome Middle School and Main Elementary were recognized as PBIS Operational Schools. East Central Elementary and Anna K. Davie Elementary were recognized as PBIS Emerging Schools.
Rome High School students were celebrated for their excellence on both the SAT and ACT, with the Class of 2025 surpassing state and national averages on the SAT and topping national averages on the ACT.
Rome High School’s Sound of the Seven Hills Marching Band was also honored for its recent success at two marching band festivals. The band was named the grand champion of the Northeast Alabama Marching Invitational in Albertville, Alabama, a couple of weeks ago, and then was again honored as grand champion at the Pell City Marching Festival this past weekend.
The school spotlight shone on Elm Street Elementary. Elm Street students led the board in the pledge of allegiance at the start of the meeting, and Elm Street Principal Lisa Strack reviewed highlights from the school, praising the school’s staff and students for their hard work and for moving the needle.
Strack noted that the school has elevated student achievement by focusing on getting the students to school and building trust with them. She mentioned the school won the RCS Attendance Day Challenge and was recently honored as a PBIS Recognition School and earned a four-star climate rating.
Strack also said growth is the goal, and Elm Street takes that seriously. The school achieved the highest growth in ELA in the Northwest Georgia RESA, and the No. 2 spot in NWGA RESA in math in the recent Georgia Milestones. The school also showed significant growth in fifth-grade science, math, and literacy.
“We have an amazing team, amazing students, and amazing partners. Elm Street is truly the best street,” she said.
Director of Instructional Technology, Safety, and Operations John Fricks spoke to the board about the School Dog safety app, and Maintenance and Facilities officer Chris Wade gave an update on the new Rome Middle School, including video footage of the school and the new access road off of Veterans Memorial Highway, complete with an acceleration and deceleration lane.
Dr. Holland noted some big events coming up for the school system, with the Peach State Marching Band Festival set to take over Barron Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 25, and the first home flag football game also at Barron Stadium on Monday, October 27. He also noted that Read Across Rome will take place at the schools on Friday, Oct. 31, with staff and community members reading to first grade classes across the district. He also noted that the Rome High Theatre Department would present “Lord of the Flies” at the Performing Arts Center at Rome High on Thursday, Oct. 23.