Oconee County School Superintendent Melissa Butler found both strengths and areas for improvement in her 90-day assessment of the school system she took responsibility for on Oct. 14.
In a report she released last week, Butler said community members and faculty and staff said Oconee County Schools has high quality educators and staff, a positive school culture, and academic rigor.
Butler said she was told that the system’s school safety initiatives, and particularly its School Resource Officer Program, are highly regarded.
Community members and faculty and staff also told Butler that Oconee County Schools needs to expand its Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) offerings and “strengthen workforce pathways,” she reported.
Oconee County Schools also needs to improve communication and transparency, providing clearer and more consistent communication with both staff and the community, Butler said she was told.
Other areas of improvement are in compensation, staffing and retention, in special education capacity and consistency, in facility modernization across the 12 campuses, and in operational systems and support.
Butler offered an action plan to address each of the areas for improvement and said the 90-day assessment had given her “clear direction” for moving forward.
Study Methodology
Butler announced the completion of her 90-day assessment at the Board of Education meeting on Jan. 12 and promised release of the report later in the week.
 |
| Butler 1/12/2026 |
Butler distributed the four-page summary of her findings on Jan. 14. The report is available on the Oconee County Schools web site.
Butler said she had used two separate surveys, one of community members and the other of Oconee County Schools faculty and staff.
She received responses from 333 “external stakeholders, including parents, grandparents, and local business owners” and from 433 “internal stakeholders,” she said.,
“I also visited every school and classroom in the district and met with student, teacher, and parent advisory groups,” Butler wrote in the report.
“The purpose of this work was to listen carefully, establish a shared understanding of current perceptions, and identify both strengths to celebrate and opportunities for growth as we move forward together,” she said.
Strengths
Butler listed five strengths of Oconee County Schools.
She said she identified “Strong appreciation for teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and support staff who are described as caring, committed, and student-centered.”
“Oconee County Schools are viewed as welcoming environments with strong relationships, a sense of belonging, and a focus on student well-being,” she said.
She said the report identified “Confidence in the district’s academic foundation and preparation for postsecondary success, particularly for college-bound students.”
The surveys offered “Positive feedback regarding safety initiatives, including the presence of School Resource Officers and wraparound student supports.”
Finally, she received praise for the individual education program teams, “individualized supports, and the dedication of special education staff in meeting diverse student needs.”
Action Plan
At the meeting on Jan. 12, Butler said she already had begun examining CTAE programs at nearby school districts.
 |
| Butler With Board During Recognitions 1/12/2026 |
She said she will conduct a district-wide review of current CTAE offerings, develop a phased CTAE improvement and expansion plan, establish strategic partnerships with local businesses, and increase available funding for CTAE initiatives.
To improve community engagement and transparency, Butler is proposing local school-based meeting with Board members and the superintendent, a redesign of leadership meetings to focus dialogue inside the school system, and adding a link on the system website “for community members to easily connect with the superintendent.”
Butler said she was asked to provide more explanation of district-level decisions and improved information flow.
Butler said she plans to “Conduct an audit of the district allotment process to review staffing equity, workload distribution, and alignment to student needs” and “Complete a comprehensive salary comparison study for each job category in Oconee County Schools relative to surrounding districts.”
To address special education and behavioral needs services, Butler said she will “develop a plan for instructional coaching roles” and “Design and launch an internal leadership academy” for special education.
Finally, Butler said she will develop a comprehensive facilities master plan “that prioritizes aging campuses, safety and security improvements, and updated learning environments across all schools.”
“I appreciate the Board’s wholehearted support and commitment to this listening process, as well as the continued partnership of the Oconee County Schools community, as we translate this feedback into thoughtful, responsible, and sustainable action,” Butler wrote in concluding her report.
No comments:
Post a Comment