An unofficial summary of discussions, presentations, and actions of the Columbia County Board of Education

February 2006

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
There was no public participation.

NEXT MEETING:
The next scheduled Board meeting will be a Study Session on February 28 at the Board of Education in Appling at 6:00pm.

The agenda for the next BOE  meeting can be found here and is updated by the Friday before the next BOE meeting.

BOARD APPROVALS
Consent Items.  The Board gave final approval of consent items: minutes of 1/5/06 and 1/10/06, December financials, employee travel, fundraisers, and partners in education.
Budget Amendments/Transfers. The Board gave final approval to the following General Fund or Special Revenue Amendments/Transfers: Budget Amendment No. 29 - Request matching grant funds for Blue Ridge Elementary.  The school grant was received from Target Read Across America Grant ($1,500); Budget Amendment No. 30 - Request matching grant funds for Evans Middle.  The school grant was received from Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association-FT Gordon ($500); Budget Amendment No. 31 - Budget the difference in the estimated Vocational Extended Day Grant and the actual allocation received ($-3,937);  Budget Transfer No. 6 - Transfer funds for Blue Ridge Elementary K-8 Reading & Math Grant; Budget Transfer No. 7 - Transfer funds to reimburse Greenbrier High School for band and athletic trips.
BOE Policies. The Board approved Policy IHF(5) - High School Graduation Requirements; Policy IED (2) - Scheduling for Instruction; Policy IDCH - Dual and Joint Enrollment Programs; Policy AF - School Day for Students; Policy JBC (2) - Acceptance of Transfer Credit and/or Grades; Policy JGCD - Medicines. All BOE policies can be viewed by going to: http://www.ccboe.net/boe/policies/home.html
Instructional. The Board approved a resolution for waiver by the Georgia State Board of Education of reciprocity rule for gifted education.  The Board approved the K-5 Social Studies Textbook/Instructional/Materials Adoption (Houghton Mifflin Company).

BUILDING PROGRAM
Project Update.   Mr. Price updated the Board on the various building projects going on within the county: painting at  EHS; stage additions at NHE; Evans Middle (projected completion date of 7/1/06) and the New Administration Building (projected completion date 5/17/06).
Approval of Resolution Certifying Project Completion of River Ridge Elementary. The Board received architectural certification for River Ridge Elementary and approved the resolution to the state to receive final building funds.  Total project cost=$6,109,033.
Approval of Change Order/Addendum. The Board approved Change Order No. 1.- Evans Middle School for change in county policy by Columbia County Engineering Department for pipe installation ($10,507). 
Approval of New Middle School Facade. The Board approved the changes to the new middle school facade to be more compatible with the architecture of River Island subdivision.  Mr. Price shared his concern with the Board over the increased cost of this project due to inflation in the industry from over a year ago. 
Approval of Proposed Five Year Facility Plan. The Board approved the proposed organization for the Columbia County School System Five Year Facility Plan.  The Five Year Facility Plan, produced by the Georgia State Department of Education, reflects the projected enrollment and classrooms earned through 2011.  The five year facility plan only shows 25 classrooms at the high school level, two new middle schools, additional classrooms at Lewiston and River Ridge Elementary and a new elementary school.  Mr. Price pointed out to the Board that the state figures a new high school should have a minimum of 50 classrooms. We will not be able to build the next high school without local funds.


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
2005-2006 Summer School Schedules. Mr. Price reviewed the summer school schedules for grades 3, 5, 8, and 9-12.  View the dates.
Proposed Professional Personnel Allocations for 06-07.  Mr. Price presented to the Board the projected professional personnel allocations based on projected enrollment and the Governor's proposals to reduce classroom size. Addition of 61 teachers will be needed for grades K-8 based on changes in class size and growth. Forty-four out of the 61 teachers are needed in grades 3-5.
Supreme Court Decision in the R.D. Brown Case.  Mr. Price shared the findings of the supreme court case of R.D. Brown vs. Columbia County Board of Education.  The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Board's decision to award the contact to build Evans Middle School to McKnight Construction. Read the news release.
Special Called Board Meeting, 2/15/06 - presentation of exit report for SACS Accreditation.

PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS
On the recommendations of Superintendent Price, the personnel recommendations were approved as presented. 

This newsletter is produced by the Superintendent's Office.  Any questions can be directed to Karen Ribble at karen.ribble@ccboe.net

Columbia County Board of Education,
6430 Pollards Pond, Appling, GA 30802, (706) 541-0650