Memorandum from Mary Kay Murphy
Mary Kay Murphy, Ph.D. District 3  School Board Member

August 12, 2005

   The Georgia School Boards Association is an organization that serves school board members in Georgia’s 180 school districts. It is an organization that provides training to newly elected and veteran school board members throughout Georgia and links their work to education and training programs offered by the National School Boards Association.

   As one of five Gwinnett County School Board members, I have benefited from the education, training, and advocacy of the Georgia School Boards Association, located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Gwinnett County.

   Jeannine “Sis” Henry is Executive Director of the organization. In June 2005, I was elected to a three-year term as District 5 Board Member for the Georgia School Boards Association. In this position, I represent all the schools in Gwinnett County, Fulton County, Buford City, and the City of Atlanta. 

   My responsibilities include participating in quarterly meetings of the Board, attending the annual Conference and Legal Seminar in December of each year, and participating in the legislative network for both the State of Georgia during the annual term of the Georgia General Assembly as well as at the federal level when the U.S. Congress is in session. 

   The Legislative Network initiatives of GSBA at the national level include meeting with members of the Georgia delegations of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to discuss topics of significance to public education funding. Likely topics for the 2006 session include legislation related to the “No Child Left Behind” law as well as the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.” 

   I appreciate the support that our Superintendent and School Board members provided to me as my name was placed in nomination for the elected position of District 5 Board Member of GSBA. 

   I believe deeply in the mission and vision of the Georgia School Boards Association and in its role of providing education and training to lay people who are elected to public service as School Board members. Topics such as the appropriate role of the School Board member and of the superintendent are high on the agenda for GSBA training workshops for its members. 

   Other topics for School Board member training include budgeting and financing public education at the local district level and the annual legal seminar where major topics related to school law are presented, reviewed, and updated. Such topics include “Religion and Public Education,” “Discipline and School Attendance,” and other issues likely to affect the teachers, students, parents, and School Board members at the local public school level.

   My service on the GSBA Board will complement my work on the Gwinnett County Board of Education. GSBA Directors must hold public office as School Board members to serve on the Board. 

   Thank you to the District III community of Gwinnett County for allowing me the privilege of representing you on the Gwinnett County Board of Education. With this new position as District 5 Board Member of GSBA, I will continue to work to represent our community in a way that brings positive results to the Norcross Cluster, the Duluth Cluster, and to Mason and Hull schools in the Peachtree Ridge Cluster.

   As the 2005-06 school year begins, we look forward to a great opportunity for key members of the Gwinnett County Public Schools to speak to members of the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association on Monday, September 19, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. at Simpsonwood Conference Center.

   On that date, UPCCA will present a panel discussion on public education in District III. Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks, Duluth High School Principal Pat Blenke, and Norcross High School Principal Mary Anne Charron will update our community on the “State of Public Education” in Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Duluth, and Berkeley Lake. It will be my privilege to serve as moderator of the panel.

   The evening will present an excellent opportunity for residents of these communities to meet face to face with Superintendent Wilbanks and with the Principals of the two high schools in District III—Norcross High School and Duluth High School. Each school is making outstanding progress in academic and athletics. Each school is earning State and National honors that bring credit to our community. 

   Mark your calendars to make sure you are in attendance on September 19, 2005, at Simpsonwood Conference Center to learn first-hand the state of public education in our community.