Bremen City Schools had a packed house at their Monday night school board meeting as they spent most of the meeting celebrating the accomplishments of students and announcing new hires for the upcoming school year.
The board recognized several students as 2024 Literary State Champions. The Georgia High School Association literary competition includes writing, public speaking, acting, and singing, with region winners advancing to the recent state competition. Student performances are judged and earn points for their school based on their placement. Bremen High School hosted the 3A and 6A state literary competitions mid-March on their campus. Class 3A State Literary champions from Bremen are Michael Paul Agey, Hope Cohran, Owen Payne, Claudia Lancheros, Sophia Larson, Zakkary Bianchi, Rhett McBrayer, Owen Payne (again for different category), Jordan Strong, Preslei McCarty, Mia Mastroserio, and Ava Smith.
The board also celebrated Grayson Cooper for winning the class 3A State Wrestling championship.
The board also made announcements related to faculty. There are four retirements, one faculty transfer within the district, nine new teacher hires for the 2024-25 school year, as well as a nurse substitute, three teacher substitutes, and a bus driver substitute. During last month’s meeting the board announced that Jones Elementary Principal Silas Brown will be promoted to a new role as Director of Student and School Support.
Dr. Lindsey Long has been appointed to be the new principal for the upcoming school year at Jones Elementary. She is an experienced educator in the West Georgia community, having served as a teacher, special-education school coordinator, assistant principal, and most recently, as the principal of Whitesburg Elementary for five years. “Dr. Long is a proven educator and leader. She has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of effective teaching strategies and a commitment to creating supportive and challenging learning environments. We are confident that she will work hand-in-hand alongside our teacher and staff leaders to empower our students to thrive and achieve even greater success,” Christian said.
Dr. Long has earned five degrees from the University of West Georgia, including a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Specialist’s in early childhood education, a Specialist’s in educational leadership, and an Ed. D. in School Improvement. She successfully defended her dissertation earlier this month. She is married to B. J. Long, and they are the proud parents of three children, Jack, Caroline, and Sara Beth. “I am honored to have been given the privilege to continue the tradition of excellence at Jones Elementary School. I am strongly committed to the Bremen community and will utilize every opportunity to make a difference within the classroom, the community, and the entire Bremen City School district,” Long said.
The board also approved administrator salaries as a part of the meeting. According to Superintendent Shannon Christian, all certified staff salaries are minimally based upon the State of Georgia teacher salary schedule for 10 months of employment, plus the BCS local supplement considered the “salary base amount.” Years of creditable service and certification level contribute to step increases and incremental salary increases. The local supplement for administrative positions like principals, directors, and assistant superintendent varies between $6,000 and $25,000.
Information given about the district included items from the unanimously approved consent agenda, including facilities requests to use Blue Devil Family Park Tennis Courts for tennis camp and BHS gym for Bremen Steels Sports. In addition, the BHS Music Department requested funding to provide coffee service.
