Tift County School System, Georgia, elections (2024)
| Tift County School System |
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| District details |
| School board members: 7 |
| Students: 7,661 (2022-2023) |
| Schools: 11 (2022-2023) |
| Website: Link |
Incumbent Tift County School Board Member Marilyn Burks (D) defeated Ambrose King Jr. (D) in the special election for Tift County School Board District 1 on November 5, 2024.[1] This was a rematch of the May 21 Democratic primary, in which Burks received 156 votes to King's 154.
After the primary, King contested the District 1 results. On August 30, Tift County Superior Court Judge Howard McClain ruled "...that Casey’s Court Apartments was inadvertently and incorrectly designated in District 6, when it should have properly been designated in District 1, which thereby resulted in at least six voters receiving an irregular ballot."[2]
In response to the ruling, Burks said, "I am a law-abiding person and I, you know, certainly I am one who supports the safeguard of rights of voters. I am certainly a strong proponent of that integrity."[2] King said, "When elections are flawed or biased against us or engineered against us, we lose that aspect that makes us true Americans…Election integrity is truly a bipartisan issue."[3]
Burks became vice-chair of the Tift County School Board in 2020. Burks received a bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University and a master's degree from Valdosta State University. Burks taught English at Tift County High School and Abraham Baldwin College and served as a department chair at Tift County High School.
In an interview, Burks said, "I have been able to reaffirm the power of quality, collaboration, listening, learning, and leadership. However, I know my work is not finished. The challenges we face in education today are numerous, and they require a strong, experienced, and dedicated leader who can make well reasoned, sound decisions...I am equipped with the qualifications for this role. I am running for re-election because I believe in the potential of every student who walks through our doors. I believe in the power of education to transform lives, build stronger communities, and create a brighter future for all of us. "[4] Burks said some of her priorities were improving student literacy, improving teachers' and employees' salaries and benefits, and addressing diversity and equity needs for all students.[4]
King received degrees from Abraham Baldwin College, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Morehouse College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center. King was a political strategist and campaign fundraiser, high school teacher, and lacrosse coach.[5]
On his campaign website, King said, "I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate the complicated issues, and a fresh approach to getting things done. Together we can restore trust, transparency, and create an all-inclusive City of Warren." His campaign website also said he "is fighting for a renewed promise in protecting the rights of children who seeks a free and an appropriate education."[5]
Tens of thousands of elections took place in 2024 up and down the ballot, including for school board. Hall Pass, our weekly education newsletter, is your one-stop shop for helping you stay current on school board elections, education legislation, and the debates influencing state and local K-12 policies. Click here to subscribe today to get our next edition in your inbox on Wednesday.
Elections
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Candidates and results
Tift County School System, school board, District 1
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tift County School System school board, District 1
Incumbent Marilyn R. Burks and Ambrose B. King Jr. ran in the Democratic primary for Tift County School System school board, District 1 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Marilyn R. Burks | ||
| Ambrose B. King Jr. | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Additional elections on the ballot
May 21, 2024
- Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
- Georgia Public Service Commission election, 2024
- Georgia State Senate elections, 2024
- Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2024
- Georgia Supreme Court elections, 2024
- Georgia intermediate appellate court elections, 2024
November 5, 2024
- Georgia's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
- Georgia Public Service Commission election, 2024
- Georgia State Senate elections, 2024
- Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2024
- Georgia Amendment 1, Local Option Homestead Property Tax Exemption Amendment (2024)
- Georgia Amendment 2, Creation of Tax Court Amendment (2024)
- Georgia Appropriations of Federal Legal Settlement Funds Amendment (2024)
- Georgia Referendum A, Personal Property Tax Exemption Increase Measure (2024)
- Georgia Statewide Homestead Property Tax Exemption Increase Measure (2024)
About the district
- See also: Tift County School System, Georgia
The Tift County School System is located in Georgia.
District map
Overlapping state house districts
The table was limited to the lower chamber because it provides the most granularity. State house districts tend to be more numerous and therefore smaller than state senate or U.S. House districts. This provides an impression of the partisan affiliations in the area.
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[6]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $25,743,000 | $3,310 | 23% |
| Local: | $34,211,000 | $4,399 | 30% |
| State: | $52,340,000 | $6,730 | 47% |
| Total: | $112,294,000 | $14,439 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $93,765,000 | $12,056 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $89,142,000 | $11,462 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $58,155,000 | $7,477 | 62% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $9,650,000 | $1,240 | 10% |
| Administration: | $7,698,000 | $989 | 8% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $13,639,000 | $1,753 | 15% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $4,469,000 | $574 | |
| Construction: | $3,738,000 | $480 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $15,000 | $1 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $139,000 | $17 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 7,661 | 0.5 |
| 2021-2022 | 7,623 | -2.0 |
| 2020-2021 | 7,777 | -1.5 |
| 2019-2020 | 7,891 | 0.1 |
| 2018-2019 | 7,887 | 0.2 |
| 2017-2018 | 7,868 | 1.3 |
| 2016-2017 | 7,763 | -0.9 |
| 2015-2016 | 7,834 | -1.4 |
| 2014-2015 | 7,942 | 0.9 |
| 2013-2014 | 7,867 | -0.5 |
| 2012-2013 | 7,906 | 1.2 |
| 2011-2012 | 7,810 | 0.7 |
| 2010-2011 | 7,755 | 1.7 |
| 2009-2010 | 7,620 | 0.9 |
| 2008-2009 | 7,551 | -1.3 |
| 2007-2008 | 7,649 | 0.1 |
| 2006-2007 | 7,640 | 0.0 |
| 2005-2006 | 7,638 | -0.9 |
| 2004-2005 | 7,708 | 0.6 |
| 2003-2004 | 7,661 | 0.3 |
| 2002-2003 | 7,641 | 2.4 |
| 2001-2002 | 7,460 | 0.2 |
| 2000-2001 | 7,446 | 0.6 |
| 1999-2000 | 7,401 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Tift County School System (%) | Georgia K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.5 | 4.7 |
| Black | 36.7 | 36.4 |
| Hispanic | 20.2 | 18.1 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Two or More Races | 3.5 | 4.6 |
| White | 38.0 | 35.9 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Tift County School System had 528.20 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 14.5.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 18.00 |
| Kindergarten: | 33.20 |
| Elementary: | 199.20 |
| Secondary: | 204.30 |
| Total: | 528.20 |
Tift County School System employed 16.80 district administrators and 38.30 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 16.80 |
| District Administrative Support: | 11.30 |
| School Administrators: | 38.30 |
| School Administrative Support: | 51.50 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 189.30 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 17.90 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 20.30 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 9.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 11.30 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 11.10 |
| Library/Media Support: | 9.50 |
| Student Support Services: | 31.50 |
| Other Support Services: | 138.30 |
Schools
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
No candidate in this race completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Georgia
2024 battleground elections
- See also: Battlegrounds
This was a battleground election. Other 2024 battleground elections included:
- Alabama's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (April 16 Democratic primary runoff)
- Louisiana's 6th Congressional District election, 2024
- United States Senate election in California, 2024
See also
| Tift County School System | Georgia | School Boards |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "November General Election," accessed November 7, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 WALB News 10, "Tift County School Board election deemed invalid; rematch set for Nov.," September 4, 2024
- ↑ AJC Politics, "Close Georgia election overturned after bipartisan alliance proves problems," September 3, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Facebook, "Candidate Interview: Ms. Marilyn Burks for Re-Election for District 1 - Board Member for Tift County," October 14, 2024
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ambrose King 2024 campaign website, "About," accessed October 24, 2024
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
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