Five killed in crash near Savannah Alpharetta student among them ►►PAGE 5
Parents say no to standardize testing 79 refusals for Forsyth this year ►►PAGE 14
Shoo-in at Schuler
West Forstyh takes home 8 awards ►►PAGE 10
April 29, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 18
Councilman Rupert Sexton resigns Leaves after 44 years in office By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com
KATHLEEN STURGEONSTAFF
On the back row, Kevin Boyd, Georgia Board of Education, Dr. Leigh Ann Putman, Metropolitan RESA, Senator Mike Williams¸ front row, from left, Georgia Superintendent Richard Woods, Ann Crow, Forsyth County Schools board member, Forsyth Superintendent Jeff Bearden, Darla Light, Forsyth County Schools board member and Polly Tennies, CES’ principal.
Chestatee ES named Family-Friendly School By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The oldest school in Forsyth County now has one more thing to boast about. Chestatee Elementary School was chosen as one of five schools for Georgia’s Family-Friendly Partnership School Initiative for 2015. The initiative was started in 2010 to assist Title I schools, families and communities in working together to create welcoming environments that lead to increased student achievement, according to the
Georgia Department of Education’s website. Chestatee is one of three Forsyth County schools to receive this in the past two years. “It’s exciting to come to Forsyth County,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods told the students. “It’s exciting because this is where great things are happening. It’s exciting to know you as young people are getting a good education and have opportunities. Your school is receiving a very special award. It is an award you all have worked hard to get.”
To receive the award, the school must be a Title I school, Woods said. Title I is a part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which provides federal funds to local educational agencies and public schools with high numbers or percentages of poor children to help ensure that all children meet student academic achievement standards. “It may not mean a whole lot to the kids, but for adults, it tells us you have a lot of challenges to overcome,” Woods said. “Perhaps you
See SCHOOL, Page 25
CUMMING, Ga. — Cumming City Councilman Rupert Sexton announced last week that he will retire May 1, after more than 44 years in office. Sexton has recently been in the spotlight after he was the subject of an impeachment investigation stemming from claims he released a document with city employees’ health insurance information on social media. The impeachment is not the cause for his retirement, Sexton said. “I’m 77 years old,” Sexton said. “It’s time to go. That’s
another issue, but it didn’t affect my retirement.” Sexton said he was born in Forsyth County’s Matt community in a SEXTON house whose log section was built in the 1770s. The frame part was built in 1817. “I’m retiring from the Cumming City Council effective May 1, 2015, after 44 years and four months,” Sexton said. “I served 58 percent of my
See SEXTON, Page 4
History of the current Cumming Council • Mayor H. Ford Gravitt: First elected to the office of mayor in 1970, he took office in January 1971. This is his 44th year as the chief elected official of the city of Cumming. He served as a councilmember prior to becoming mayor, bringing his public service total to 46 years. • Quincy Holton: First elected to office in 1968, he took office Jan. 1, 1969, making this his 46th year as councilmember. • Lewis Ledbetter: First elected to office in 1970 and taking office January 1971, this is his 44th year on council. • Ralph Perry: First elected to office in 1978 and taking office Jan. 1, 1979, this is his 36th year as councilmember. • John D. Pugh: First elected to office on July 14, 1992 to fill the term of Gabriel Dukas who died while in office. This year marks Pugh’s 23rd year on council. • Rupert Sexton: First elected to office in 1970 and taking office January 1971, this is his 44th year as councilmember. *Gravitt is the longest serving mayor in Georgia, and is second in the United States to former Brooklyn (Ohio) Mayor John Coyne, who served 52 years before losing an election in 1999. *The mayor and councilmen have 239 years of combined public service. *The last time anyone tried to run for council or mayor was in 2003, when Gravitt faced opposition for mayor. He won by a vote of 289-15.
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