Macon Schools Efficiency Review Flags 'Fragmented Workflows' and Risks

The study found the district relies heavily on employees to compensate for system gaps, with unclear accountability and inconsistent management practices.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:35am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeating grid of school supplies and transportation icons in neon colors, conceptually representing the operational review of the Bibb County School District.The Bibb County School District's efficiency review aims to identify opportunities to streamline operations and address persistent financial challenges.Macon Today

A recent organizational review and efficiency study of the Bibb County School District in Macon, Georgia found several issues, including fragmented workflows, unclear accountability, and inconsistent management practices in some departments. The $58,050 study, conducted by LEAN Frog Consulting, examined 10 non-instructional departments from 2022 to 2025 and raised concerns about the district's ability to maintain operations as long-serving staff retire.

Why it matters

The efficiency study comes as the Bibb County School District faces a persistent budget deficit, with expenses outpacing revenue. The findings could help the district identify opportunities to reorganize structures and reallocate resources to address its financial challenges.

The details

The study found the district relies heavily on institutional knowledge and individual effort, with manual coordination, spreadsheet-based workflows, duplicate data entry, and paper-based systems that raise the risk of operations collapsing when long-serving staff leave. Thirteen percent of employees in the reviewed departments are eligible to retire now, and 28% within five years, with the highest retirement exposure in facilities and maintenance, finance, and transportation. Consultants warned against broad staffing cuts before redesigning work processes. The study also found the district's per-pupil operating costs exceeded per-pupil revenues in the 2024-25 school year, creating a $158 per-student deficit, and flagged a crisis in the school nutrition department where food costs rose significantly.

  • The efficiency study was conducted from 2022 to 2025.
  • The Bibb County Board of Education reviewed the study's findings in late March 2026.

The players

Bibb County School District

The public school district serving Macon, Georgia.

LEAN Frog Consulting

The consulting firm that conducted the organizational review and efficiency study for the Bibb County School District.

Katika Lovett

The Deputy Superintendent of the Bibb County School District.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted to use the operational efficiency study as an opportunity to look for potential cost savings. We want to look for opportunities where we could increase our efficiencies and maximize the use of both the people and tools that we have in place.”

— Katika Lovett, Deputy Superintendent, Bibb County School District

“We're focusing on efforts for retention and trying to make our district the place where people want to continue to be.”

— Katika Lovett, Deputy Superintendent, Bibb County School District

What’s next

The district's efficiency study is currently in phase three, which includes reviewing data and feedback. Phase four will focus on detailed recommendations, with concrete information expected by May or June 2026.

The takeaway

The efficiency study highlights the need for the Bibb County School District to address systemic issues, such as fragmented workflows and reliance on institutional knowledge, in order to improve its financial sustainability and better serve students and the community.