Floyd BOE bids farewell to 2
George Bevels and David Cox attend their final meeting as school board members.
The Floyd County Schools’ boardroom was filled to the brim with system graduates to honor a 28-year veteran board member during his last meeting Tuesday.
“Your first year on the board was the same year I graduated from Coosa High,” explained Chip Hood, board chairman, as he spoke to George Bevels. “In 1989, since you started on the board, more than 17,000 students have graduated from Floyd County Schools.”
Hood asked graduates from Floyd County Schools between 1989 and now to stand. As over half of the crowd took to their feet, Bevels smiled.
“It’s been a fun 28 years,” Bevels said. “I remember I got in trouble for my 30th wedding anniversary when I had an executive session that night and I told my wife, ‘oh, it shouldn’t be long.’ And then I got home at 11:30 p.m. and she was sitting on the deck waiting for me.”
Bevels, who represents the McHenry and Cave Spring communities, said he’s enjoyed his time on the board. He will be replaced by Melinda Jeffers.
Jay Shell, Coosa representative, tearing up as he spoke, talked on his friendship with Bevels.
“He was probably the first real friend I made in Rome when I moved here,” Shell said. “I worked on a project with him and just those few days with him, I realized his passion for his community and the schools.”
Bevels wasn’t the only member saying farewell. David Cox, Model and Johnson district representative, has served the board for nine years and is retiring. He will be replaced by Melinda Strickland.
Tony Daniel, Pepperell district representative, said both Cox and Bevels were huge helps to him and to Hood when they were elected to the board.
“I know I didn’t know
what to expect,” Daniel said. “These two men wrapped their arms around us and helped us tremendously. I feel like Chip and I both looked to them for a lot of wisdom.”
Cox said he appreciated the confidence Floyd County residents showed in electing him for two terms.
“I was told by former board member David Johnson that if you just do it for the kids, if that is what you think about, you know you’re doing the right thing,” he said. “That is always how I vote when I am deciding something. I think about what is best for the kids.”
Bevels said he was pleased that his first goal when joining the board has been met.
“I always said I wanted to leave this system in better shape than it was when I started,” he said. “I look now at the graduation rate and all of the great things happening, and I know it is better.” Daniel agreed. “I think it speaks well of both of these gentlemen and their legacy that the system is doing so well,” he said.
Bevels advised new board members to “always study every issue and to know in their heart they are making the right decision for the kids and the system.”
Cox repeated Johnson’s advice to him.
“If you do things with the kids in mind, you will do what is right,” he said. “We have had a lot of hard times in the past, but I am glad to be leaving the system with a strong budget and a great graduation rate.”
In other business, the board approved a contract to purchase some property near Coosa High School — 114.8 acres at $1,568 per acre. No set plans are in place for the property.
“We must plan for the future,” explained John Jackson, superintendent.
The board will hold a joint meeting at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with Rome City School board members. The two boards will meet with local legislators in the boardroom at the central office, 600 Riverside Parkway, and discuss issues facing education in Georgia for the upcoming year.