Evans, Griffin sworn in as school board members; Fromm re-elected chairman (with VIDEO)

Published 5:36 pm Friday, January 5, 2018

The Dalton Board of Education’s two newest members say they are eager to jump into school business, which includes moving forward on a new sixth- and seventh-grade school.

Matt Evans and Palmer Griffin were sworn in Friday afternoon by Whitfield County Probate Judge Sheri Blevins in a brief called meeting at City Hall.

“Dalton Public Schools is a big part of my story,” said Evans. “One of the great honors of my life is to be sitting here in this chair.”

Evans is a graduate of Dalton High School and his parents are retired Dalton Public Schools educators.

Griffin said he is looking forward to working with other board members “to do what we can for students and teachers and to represent our citizenry.”

Griffin is a career educator, retiring in 2012 after 35 years, including 24 years with Dalton Public Schools. When he retired, he was director of operations for the school system. He had also worked as a classroom teacher.

Both were elected in November, defeating incumbents for seats on the school board. Evans defeated Steve Laird; Griffin defeated Sherwood Jones in a three-person race.

The board members also elected officers for the year. Rick Fromm and Tulley Johnson were re-elected chairman and treasurer respectively, and Evans was elected vice chairman.

“I’m excited about carrying on the work of Dalton Public Schools,” said Fromm.

In November, Dalton residents voted 52.37 percent to 47.63 percent to allow the board to issue up to $50 million in bonds to finance a new sixth- and seventh-grade school that will be built on the North Dalton Bypass across from Dalton Middle School. The vote also created a new property tax of at least .4 mill which could rise to up to .8 mill to pay off the bonds. The school is being built to relieve overcrowding at Dalton High School and Dalton Middle School. Officials say the school will open in January 2021.

Fromm also made the following appointments to various organizations and activities:

• Joint Taxing Authority: Fromm

• Dalton Education Foundation trustee: Johnson

• Continuity and Succession team: Fromm

• Tax Allocation District representative: Griffin

• Georgia School Boards Association delegate: Pablo Perez

• Georgia School Boards Association alternate delegate: Johnson

• Georgia School Boards Association legislative liaison: Griffin