SR449: SR449 Oatts, Dr. Terry O.; congratulate

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate honoring Dr. Terry O. Oatts, who served as superintendent of Rockdale County Public Schools from May 2018 to February 2025 and worked in Georgia public education for 31 years total. The resolution recounts his work improving school safety, raising graduation rates, expanding career and technical education programs, and leading the district through crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the BioLab fire near Rockdale County. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally congratulates Oatts on his retirement and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for him.

• Formally congratulates Dr. Terry O. Oatts on his retirement as superintendent of Rockdale County Public Schools.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Dr. Oatts.
• Recites a list of achievements and actions attributed to Oatts during his tenure, without creating any new legal requirement.
• Extends the Senate's best wishes for Oatts's future health and happiness.

The resolution directly names Dr. Terry O. Oatts and references Rockdale County Public Schools, its students, staff, and families, as well as intergovernmental partners involved in the BioLab fire response.

This resolution has no legal effect and changes no Georgia statute. Its significance is symbolic: it is an official Senate record recognizing a long-serving public school superintendent's career and specific actions taken during his tenure.

• The whereas clauses describe Oatts's tenure as superintendent from May 30, 2018 to February 14, 2025 and his 31 years of overall service.
• The resolution credits Oatts with implementing school safety measures, including safety vestibules, added School Resource Officers, and a weapons detection system.
• It notes improved graduation rates, reaching 88.75 percent, and a CTAE (career, technical, and agricultural education) graduation rate of 99.5 percent.
• It describes his leadership during the BioLab Fire evacuation, including use of school buses and school closures.
• The resolved clause congratulates Oatts and wishes him well in retirement.
• The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to Oatts.

1. 2025-03-25Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-21Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)Primary sponsor
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)

• public education
• Rockdale County Public Schools
• school safety
• legislative honor