Columbia digest

School board week

Governor Roy Barnes has proclaimed the week of March 4-8 as School Board Member Appreciation Week in Georgia.

"School board members are elected by citizens to be the governing bodies of local school systems, and therefore, must make decision with students, parents, taxpayers and school employees in mind," said Columbia County School Superintendent Tommy Price.

As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds. They also serve as advocates for the children in the local school system and are charged to make decisions with their best interests in mind.

Youth Challenge graduates

Three teens from Columbia County will be among 151 students scheduled to graduate from the National Guard-sponsored Youth Challenge Academy today at the Macon City Auditorium.

Grant Wallace, Stacey Kutzler and Shannon Patton are members of Class 20 of Georgia's Youth Challenge Academy.

Georgia's Youth Challenge Academy is a 22-week residential program that assists high school dropouts in completing their education and acquiring important life skills. Georgia was one of five states to organize a pilot Youth Challenge Academy program in 1993. Since its beginning, more than 3,150 former "at risk" teens have graduated from the program.