COMMUNITY SERVICES
Education
The Glynn County School System is at the forefront of public education, offering a variety of traditional and innovative educational programs designed to ensure that all students succeed academically, socially, athletically and personally. The school system serves more than 12,000 students in nine elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools, a prekindergarten center and other specialized facilities.
Transparency and accountability are the guiding principles of Glynn County’s instructional and administrative initiatives. The M.A.G.I.C. program – Making Achievement Gains In Classrooms – implemented throughout the county utilizes pre- and post-testing each nine weeks with analysis of data and differentiation of instruction to monitor individual student performance. Parents and the community can track the results of classrooms in the county by visiting the school system’s web site at www.glynn.k12.ga.us. Carrying this philosophy of openness through to the administrative level, goals and objectives established by the superintendent and the Board of Education are also available online, with documentation posted under each objective.
With a focus on academic achievement, Glynn County’s students have access to Advanced Placement courses, gifted programs, career/technical programs and new initiatives such as AVID – Advancement Via Individual Determination – that targets students with individualized instruction and an emphasis on high-level course work. Athletic and extracurricular activities are available at both the high school and middle school level. Even the elementary schools offer outlets such as chess, science or reading clubs and after school programs to extend the learning experience.
Glynn County’s vision for the future includes an ambitious facilities construction and renovation plan. Schools will be built with ninth-grade centers and sixth-grade academies to ensure that students are successful in new school environments. In middle school, academic themes such as the arts, convergence media and an International Baccalaureate program will help students to focus their interests and target future academic and career goals.
With an accountable Board of Education and school administration, a supportive business community, and involved parents and volunteers, the Glynn County School System is combining all of the ingredients necessary to become a world-class public education system. Log on to the web site or visit a school in person to see for yourself the M.A.G.I.C. that happens every day.
Colleges & Universities
Introduction to the College
Learning does not have to end with high school graduation. Opportunities in Glynn County and surrounding areas abound for our adult population. Coastal Georgia Community College located in Brunswick, a comprehensive two-year college of the University System of Georgia, offers opportunities in three areas: associate of arts and associate of science degrees which prepare students for transfer to senior colleges and universities; technical career, certificate, and associate degree programs which prepare students for immediate employment; and developmental courses for students who need to refresh or strengthen their academic background. Nursing and other Health Sciences programs contribute greatly to the regional health care provider workforce and the overall quality of life.
Under the dynamic leadership of President Dr. Dorothy L. Lord, the college’s curriculum has grown along with its student population. The Fall Semester 2006 enrollment of 3052 students is among the largest enrollment in the history of the college. CGCC continues to work closely with area businesses and industries to provide the specialized programs and workforce training needed. Coastal Georgia Community College is vital to the educational, cultural, and economic development of the coastal Georgia region. A 2005 study by the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth stated that the economic impact of the college on the community is approximately $54.4 million annually.
History of the College
Coastal Georgia Community College (formerly Brunswick College) has supplied Glynn County and the surrounding areas with qualified graduates for over four decades. The college was founded in 1961 by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia when the citizens of Brunswick and Glynn County approved a one-million dollar bond issue for construction of buildings and purchase of land.
Construction of the physical plant was started in 1963 and the buildings were ready for occupancy in September of 1964. In 1987 the delivery of postsecondary adult education was passed to a new Georgia government agency, the Department of Technical and Adult Education, which was created by the Georgia General Assembly. The College’s postsecondary technical and adult education programs were provided under the auspices of this new State government agency. Coastal Georgia Community College is one of only four institutions in Georgia to offer both academic transfer programs as a member of the University System of Georgia and Technical/Career programs in collaboration with the Department of Technical and Adult Education.
The Board of Regents authorized the Camden Center to serve the needs of Camden County residents in December 1992 and classes began in the former Kingsland Elementary School in January 1993. The permanent Camden Center facility opened for services in May 2004 at 8001 Lakes Boulevard in Kingsland.
Upon the recommendations of consultants retained by the Board of Regents to review institutional missions and because of Brunswick College's clear geographic service region and commitment to a comprehensive mission of transfer programs, technical programs, lifelong learning, and community service, the Board of Regents adopted the name of Coastal Georgia Community College for Brunswick College in July of 1996. In 2001, adult literacy programs for Glynn, McIntosh, and Camden counties were assigned to Coastal Georgia Community College by the Department of Technical and Adult Education.
Major Programs of Study
As a unit of the University System of Georgia and a two-year institution, Coastal Georgia Community College’s mission is to provide pre-baccalaureate programs of study for transfer, to provide preparation for immediate employment in a variety of technical program areas, to provide assistance to students who are academically under-prepared for college level study, and provide lifelong learning opportunities for workforce development and career enhancement as well as personal development.
Coastal Georgia Community College offers a wide variety of educational opportunities including ten career associate degree programs, 39 associate degree programs for transfer, and 50 career and technical programs. Seven bachelor, seven master, and two education specialist degrees are available through the Brunswick Center consortium with Armstrong Atlantic State University and Georgia Southern University. This unique partnership allows students to complete these degrees without travel to distant campuses. Bachelor degree programs available include Criminal Justice, History, Early Childhood Education, Middle School Education, Nursing, General Studies, and Business Administration. Master degree programs available include Nursing, Early Childhood Education, Middle School Education, Special Education, Business Administration, Nursing, and Education. Also available through the Brunswick Center are Education Specialist degrees to include Counselor Education and Educational Leadership. The consortium is administered by CGCC and is supported with staff, classrooms, offices, and library resources at both college locations.
The Department of Continuing Education and Community Services, located in the Southeast Georgia Conference Center on the Brunswick campus, offers courses in personal and professional development throughout the year. A wide range of classes is available for all ages-children to seniors-including Kids in College, photography, landscaping, legal assisting, medical office administration, and computer courses. Customized training is available for businesses in managerial/supervisory training, communication skills, conflict resolution, team building, skills certification, introductory and advanced computer training, and safety in the workplace. The staff can also design specific programs to fit training needs.
Continuing Education also administers the Adult Literacy program for “service delivery area 26” which includes Camden, Glynn and McIntosh Counties. The program is designed to help learners acquire the necessary skills in reading, speaking and writing to be able to successfully compete in today’s workplace, thereby exercising their full citizenship. English literacy and civics classes are provided, as well as classes designed to prepare adult learners to take the GED exam. Classes are offered during the day and in the evening in all three counties, without charge.
Recent Accomplishments
For more information on Coastal Georgia Community College, its services, and programs please call (912) 264-7235 or 1-800-675-7235 or visit www.cgcc.edu.
Health Care
The core of Glynn County's comprehensive healthcare system is the Brunswick Campus of Southeast Georgia Health System. This 316-bed non-profit hospital offers round-the-clock care in a state-of-the-art facility. Approximately 12,500 patients are admitted annually, and more than 65,000 are treated in the Emergency Care Center.
In October 2005, the Georgia Department of Community Health selected Southeast Georgia Health System as only one of ten Georgia hospitals to participate in phase two of Atlantic C-PORT, the Cardiovascular-Patient Outcomes Research Team clinical trial currently underway in five states. Researchers are reviewing 16,000 cardiac stents and angioplasty procedures performed in trial-participating facilities to determine whether outcomes are comparable regardless of the availability of on-site open heart surgery services.
The Cancer Care Center is located inside the new six-story Outpatient Care Center at the Brunswick Campus. All outpatient cancer diagnostic, treatment and therapy programs are on the first and second floors to assure patients and their families’ seamless access to care. The Cancer Care Center recently received its third consecutive accreditation by the American College of Surgeons. There are only 1,430 recognized programs in the United States and Puerto Rico, representing 25 percent of all hospitals. The Health System’s recent acquisition of the very latest and best cancer diagnostic and treatment equipment available, including and two Varian Linear Accelerators with on-board imaging and respiratory gating, puts the center ahead of hospitals in our region for cancer treatment technology.
In addition to the latest equipment in the Cancer Care Center, the Brunswick Campus also has some the latest in diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, which includes Magnetic Resonance Imaging (M.R.I.), Computerized Axial Tomography (C.A.T. Scan), Lithotripsy, 4 D Ultrasound and digital X-ray imaging and storage (Picture Archive Communication System). The Maternity Center provides comprehensive maternity services to the community, with more than 1,200 infants born at the hospital each year.
The System recently announced a new partnership with Brooks Rehabilitation, a Jacksonville based non-profit, to provide inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy for patients at the Brunswick Campus and the System’s St. Simons Immediate Care Center and McIntosh Family Medicine Center. This expanded partnership gives southeast Georgia patients access to the proven therapy protocols and cutting-edge research being conducted by the region’s leading rehabilitation provider.
Through its comprehensive Health Promotion and Wellness program, the Health System provides numerous health screenings in the community as well as occupational medicine services and free monthly educational seminars. Southeast Georgia Health System supports health screenings and preventative education programs for the community with its Wellness on Wheels (WOW) vehicle. Staff members take the WOW vehicle to health departments, YWCAs, industries and businesses, malls, health fairs, and community events throughout southeast Georgia, taking quality health care to where it is needed. The services offered include screening mammograms, bone density screens, pulmonary function tests, blood pressure checks, lab draws, urine drug screens, vaccinations, tuberculosis skin tests, diabetes screens, cholesterol screens, health education, and hearing screens.
In addition to the Brunswick Campus, the Health System offers residents and visitors to Glynn County: three Immediate Care Centers—for the treatments of minor illnesses and emergencies; Glynn Family Medicine Center; the Ear, Nose, & Throat Surgical Center; and a Sleep Management Center in Glynn County. Additionally, the Health System has the Camden Campus, a 40- bed acute care hospital located in St. Marys, as well as the St. Marys Convalescent Center, Southeast Georgia Physician Associates in St. Marys, the Brantley Family Medicine Center in Nahunta, and the McIntosh Family Medicine Center in Darien.
The Brunswick Campus employs approximately 1,400 individuals, making it the third largest non-manufacturing employer in Glynn County, with an annual payroll in excess of $40 million dollars. The medical staff has a roster of more than 190 physicians with practices in nearly every major medical specialty.
For a complete listing of the System’s services and physicians, visit the Southeast Georgia Health System website at www.sghs.org or search the Chamber membership database.
Additional Medical Facilities
Island Convenient Care and Glynn Immediate Care, P.C., are fine examples of quality medical care facilities in Glynn County. Another fine facility, Charter-By-The Sea offers psychiatric services and addictive disease treatments on St. Simons Island. For a complete listing of chamber endorsed medical facilities, please visit the membership directory.
There are several nursing and convalescent centers throughout the county. Hospice support is available for the terminally ill, while home health agencies are also available for those who need special assistance.
A number of board-certified physicians offer expert specialty and primary care throughout the area. House calls can even be arranged for patients of all ages through the St. Simons Island Clinic.
The Glynn County Health Department is also available to answer your medical questions, and provides a number of services to our area. The department is open Monday through Friday during the day.
Taking care of our community has always been important to those of us who are fortunate enough to call Glynn County home. By educating our population and ensuring their health and happiness, we are looking toward our future. Our quality of life continues to soar because we have taken the time to build state-of-the-art schools and medical facilities. We continue to employ caring and qualified professionals.
Because we've taken all of this into consideration, you can focus on that golf game and our beautiful beaches. We have made the commitment to provide superior community services so that you can enjoy your time in Glynn County, just as we do.
Public Libraries
Communications
Telephone services, both regular and cellular, and Internet services are provided by a variety of carriers. Listings available at The Chamber of Commerce.
Media
Newspapers
Radio: AM: WGIG 1440, WMOG 1490, WCGA 1100, WSFN 790; FM: WHFX 92.7, WBGA 102.5, WFGA 103.3, WYNR 107.7, WSEG 104.1 & WXMK 105.9
Television: WSAV Ch. 3, NBC; WJXT Ch. 4, CBS; WJCT Ch. 7; WJKS Ch 17; WJCL Ch. 22; WTOC Ch. 11; WTLV Ch. 12; WAWS Ch. 30
Cable: Comcast 264-5956
Satellite: Satelite TV by BTC (800)355-5327
Movies