The Buford Board of Education held a meeting Monday, May 16, and recognized the Buford High School state championship Literary Team.
This included the region runner-up boys quartet of Dylan Appling, Mauricio Garduno-Rea, Kaden Roberts, Geo Nam and alternate Trevor Puckett.
The team’s region champions included Amelia Barnard for rhetorical essay, An Tran for argumentative essay and Anna Williams for extemporaneous speaking, domestic topic.
The state fourth place finishers were Karyme Santibanez for personal essay and Jenna Gubran with her partner Grace Johnson for oral interpretation, duo.
Sydney Holton placed third in the state oral interpretation, dramatic.
The state runner-ups were Dylan Appling for for boys solo and Sophia Lee for extemporaneous speaking, international topic.
Buford also had seven state champions including Jenna Gubran for oral interpretation, humorous, and Mara Eva Cline for girls solo.
Cline along with Alyssa Lovern, Rachel Bryson and alternates Caroline Echols, Maggie Dale and Barbara Machado-Requena also placed first in the girls trio.
The board also recognized the Georgia Department of Education exemplary English as a second language student and teacher.
BHS senior Ashley Romano is the exemplary ESOL student. Ashley came from Mexico and enrolled at BHS in February 2021. She has a 3.8 GPA, helps out as a manager for the baseball team and plans to become a closing attorney.
Anna Misely was selected as the exemplary ESOL teacher.
“She makes me feel like I belong, like I matter,” one student said. “Even when I fail at something, she just tells me that all I have to do is try and don’t give up. She teaches her students how to speak, read and write in English, and instills a love of learning in them. She makes books come alive, and that makes them more enjoyable and encourages me to read more.”
Next, the board voted to approve the financial reports as well as the purchase and renewal of various technology items. One point that came to the forefront of the conversation revolved around the district purchasing further measures of protection against malware and ransomware, which has become an ever-increasing threat to cities and school districts across the country.
The principals also gave their reports, which included an announcement for Buford Middle School’s car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, in the high school parking lot.
BHS principal Teresa Hagelthorn also recognized freshman Aya Web for being the GHSA AAAAAA state champion in the high jump. Hagelthorn also announced that the 34th annual Run the Rails event will take place Saturday, May 21, with the first race beginning at 7:30 a.m.
The superintendent’s report included a proposal by the BHS band to purchase a semi-trailer for $15,000 and then to make approximately $15,000 worth of modifications. After board member Phillip Beard mentioned that the real cost for this endeavor would likely come from insuring the trailer and all its contents as well as paying someone with a CDL license to drive it when needed, the proposal passed.
The report also mentioned that the price of school meals will increase next year. K-12 breakfast will increase from $1.25 to $1.50. K through fifth grade lunch will go from $2.50 to $2.75. Grades six through eighth lunch will increase from $2.50 to $2.85, and grades ninth through 12th lunch will go from $2.50 to $3.
The Buford Board of Education’s next meeting will be held at noon Monday, June 13, at the Central Office, 2625 Sawnee Ave. in Buford.
