Since 1951, GSBA has served as
a leader in Georgia's public education system by advocating the
local control of public education and by offering programs and assistance
to local boards of education and local school systems. GSBA's services
have evolved from a professional development program and general
"meeting ground" for school board members into a full service Association.
Today, GSBA offers its members numerous programs including legislative
representation, year-round training opportunities, risk management
and finance services, legal and policy services, a superintendent
search service, and vehicles such as this Web site and its many
publications to keep school leaders informed and on track.
| 1951 |
GSBA is organized. |
| 1952 |
W. J. "Dub' Andrews is appointed GSBA's first
fulltime executive. He becomes GSBA's executive secretary.
Initially, the Association is run from the home of Mr. Andrews.
On October 16, 1952, GSBA holds its First
Annual Convention at the Piedmont Hotel in Atlanta. J.H. Woodall,
Sr. is GSBA president. The program features a panel discussion
on "School Finance, School Construction and School Legislation."
|
| 1959 |
GSBA
obtains a charter. |
| 1961 |
J. K. "Jack" Acree becomes GSBA's Executive
Secretary and serves until 1977. Mr. Acree's title changes
from executive secretary to executive director and finally
to executive vice president. Mr. Acree runs the Association
from his home until the early 1960s.
|
| 1960s |
The Association moves its operations to the
Sheraton Biltmore Hotel in downtown Atlanta. 1972
|
| 1972 |
Fair Dismissal Act - GSBA is a major player
in developing a reasonable Fair Dismissal Act.
|
| 1973 |
First Policy Reference Manual is published.
(The publication is later renamed the Legal Reference Manual.)
|
| 1978 |
Gary Ashley becomes GSBA's executive vice president.
The Association's headquarters is moved to
an office at Presidential Parkway in Atlanta.
|
| 1983 |
GSBA Executive Vice President Gary Ashley
officially opens the Association's present headquarters in
Lawrenceville.
|
| 1985 |
The first year of legal requirement for school
board members to obtain annual training under the "Quality
Basic Education Act."
|
| 1995 |
GSBA works with legislators on the Administrative
Tenure Bill and sees the legislation through to passage. This
legislation ends the practice of awarding tenure to school
system administrators.
|
| 1996 |
Constitutional Amendment 2 - GSBA is instrumental
in making the governance structure consistent throughout the
state by helping to ensure passage of this amendment that
provides for elected local school boards and appointed superintendents.
|
| 1997 |
GSBA leads the statewide effort to see passage
of the constitutional amendment to allow local boards of education
to call for and use a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax
(SPLOST) for educational purposes.
|
| 1998 |
GSBA introduces the first-in-the-nation voluntary
program of "Standards for Local Boards of Education." This
program provides minimum standards by which local boards should
measure their operations and thus, accountability to local
communities.
|
| 1999 |
GSBA develops it ePolicy service, where school systems can post their policy manuals online as searchable, web-based resources that are accessible to the district’s staff and the community at large.
|
| 2001 |
GSBA Celebrates 50th Anniversary!
Jeannie M. (Sis) Henry becomes GSBA's 4th
executive director.
GSBA continues forging ahead in technology by being the first in the country to develop an online guide to school law. The online guide is web-based and is key-word searchable.
|
| 2002 |
Rounding out its package of online resources, GSBA unveils eBoard, a paperless board meeting solution. Combining eBoard with eLaw and ePolicy, the three services come under the name GSBA eSolutions. GSBA eBoard continues to grow in popularity and is recognized around the country for its innovation.
The GSBA Worker's Compensation Fund celebrates its 10th Anniversary. |
| 2003 |
The GSBA Board of Directors adopts a far-reaching strategic plan drafted by a diverse group of school board members, superintendents, business leaders, legislators and others. |
| 2005 |
Ground is broken on a new building to house the association. It is in the same location as the old building, but because of stunning growth in services and the age of the existing building, a new, much larger structure was built. The first phase of the two-part construction process was completed in November, and staff were able to move into the new section at that time. The second phase began shortly afterwards, with the total reconstruction of the original building. |
| 2006 |
The reconstruction of the original building that joined seamlessly with the new addition was completed in May. GSBA Risk Management Services staff that had previously been working from a satellite office moved into the revamped office space, thus joining all staff under one roof with room for future growth. |
| 2007 |
GSBA announced the beginning of operations for its subsidiary, eBOARDsolutions, Inc. (EBS). EBS is now command central for GSBA's technology products and services. |
| 2008 |
Technology tied to good governance continues to grow. 160 of Georgia's school systems out of 180 use at least one of GSBA's Technology Tools.
Due to the demand for services, GSBA staff grows from 19 in 2000 to 36 in 2008. |
