Bartow Schools Name New Principal, Another Retires

hired a new Adairsville High School principal during an executive session Monday.

Adairsville Middle’s principal, Bruce Mulkey, will be moving schools to take on the position.

Superintendent John Harper said that the transition would be an easy one for Mulkey.

“It’s a good transition for that community,” said Harper. “He knows that community well and has worked at the high school level before. We feel he’ll do a good job there and we’re very excited.”

Mulkey, who has been at Adairsville Middle for 3 years, has a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Jacksonville State University and bachelor's of Science in Health and Physical Education from Berry College.

Adairsville High’s previous principal Stan Lewis resigned nearly month ago and plans return to Hall County in Gainesville to reside as principal of Johnson High School.

Harper said there is no word yet on who will be taking Mulkey’s place at the middle school.

In addition, Harper said that Bartow schools also received the resignation that will leave another opening for a principal in the system. Cloverleaf Elementary School’s Melinda Moe plans to retire this year.

“We didn’t know that until this morning,” said Harper after Monday’s meeting.  “She’s been an outstanding employee for Bartow County School System and we’re going to miss her.”

Also at the Bartow County Board of Education’s business meeting:

• Harper asked the board to remove from the agenda the approval of the tentative budget, as there are no new developments on it. The board plans on having two more special called meetings to discuss and approve a budget: the first on June 23 at 5:30 p.m. and the second will be on June 30.
• The board approved not drastically changing classroom sizes under the Class Size Waiver Resolution for the 2011-2012 school year, as the state has eliminated classroom sizes. Harper said they hope to keep classroom sizes to a minimum. During their work session last week, Harper said that other school systems have “thrown classroom sizes to the wind” but even with this year's budget, they would remain with the same proximity as last year.
• The board approved all other items listed on its consent agenda and previous meeting minutes, which are attached to this article.