The annual “Speak Up for Education” session, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 26 at Julia P. Bryant Elementary School, will among other things serve as the public hearing on the Bulloch County Schools’ becoming what people in education circles call an “IE Squared” district.It will also be the first of seven Bulloch County Board of Education meetings held at schools this year.As in past years, “Speak Up for Education” gives parents and other citizens a chance to talk to educators and board members about major issues affecting the schools. It also serves as a joint meeting of the elected Board of Education and the 15 appointed school councils.This year, the main topic will be the board’s move to make the Bulloch County Schools an Investing in Educational Excellence, or IE2, system. This is the less ambitious of two “flexibility options” under which the state government now offers exceptions from its school regulations, such as maximum numbers of students per teacher and the requirement that teachers be certified.During the regular board meeting Thursday, Superintendent Charles Wilson urged all board members to attend the Feb. 26 session.“It will be the opportunity for us to share our vision for the strategic plan as well as what are the options inside an IE Squared model in our application,” he said.Breakout sessions are also planned, in which each school principal, council members, parents and community members will be asked to share ideas for school improvement.Other meetings at schoolsUnder the schedule the board adopted in January, it will hold six more of its meetings at schools this year.