BOE approves agreements with ACEMAPP, UGA, Reinhardt

PICKENS, Ga. — The Pickens County Board of Education approved three agreements between the Pickens School District and the University of Georgia, Reinhardt University, and ACEMAPP, offered by the Michigan Health Council, respectively during their Feb. 10 meeting.

“I’m excited to bring this agreement to the board for its approval, as this will open yet another door for our CTAE Department and our students,” Superintendent Tony Young said of the member agreement with the Michigan Health Council, who developed ACEMAPP. He continued, “ACEMAPP is the electronic platform that Piedmont Healthcare uses for the credentialing of all students within their organization, including high schools students, so becoming familiar with this platform will give our students a leg up as they move into the healthcare field.”

The member agreement itself explains that “ACEMAPP maintains a database of student, volunteer and contractual staff profiles, computer based learning and assessments and other requirements necessary for clinical placements and onboarding into health system facilities which will be accessible by colleges, universities, clinical sites, faculty and students and a database of clinical placement, job shadowing, and observational opportunities along with institutional profiles of members and allows Members access to information concerning such opportunities.”

Superintendent Young noted that it is not used only for credentialing, but for testing and communication, along with a platform for students to upload their certifications and areas of knowledge: “Having our students become familiar with this and become a part of that infrastructure will help them when they actually graduate and begin to … apply for healthcare positions.” He also explained that ACEMAPP is used by a majority of healthcare providers, making students more accessible to potential employers. First year costs, about $900 according to Young, will be covered by Piedmont Healthcare, but the district will take on the costs in subsequent years. The board unanimously approved the agreement.

Two other agreements were approved by the board in the same meeting. One, with University of Georgia’s Mary Frances Early College of Education, will allow UGA students to participate inside the Pickens School District. The memorandum of understanding grants permission for UGA students to take part in “school and classroom observations; exploratory and pre-student teaching activities; special field studies and research projects; and student teaching/capstone experiences.” Another agreement, with Reinhardt University, continues an already existing relationship. Superintendent Young said the agreement would “continue to allow their nursing students to shadow our nursing students, as a part of their training for certification. As nursing is such a high demand field around the country and as well as in Pickens County, I’m pleased the board is willing to assist the university as they train our future nurses.”