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

September 12, 2006

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
There was no public participation at this Board meeting.

BOARD ITEMS:
The Board designated Mike Sleeper as the Legislative Liaison for the Georgia School Boards Association. The Board also discussed the Superintendent Search By-laws.

NEXT MEETING:
The next scheduled Board meeting will be a Study Session -on September 26 at the Board of Education Office in Evans 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 7/25/06, 7/28/06, 8/4/06, and 8/8/06, June and July financials, employee travel, fundraisers, athletic camps, 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. 4 -Matching grant funds for North Columbia Elementary (Monsanto-$3,500); Budget Amendment No. 5 -Funds to purchase 5 portable classrooms ($108,130); Budget Amendment No. 6 -  Adjust instructional supplies for schools whose enrollment exceeded budgeted estimate ($38,923); Budget Amendment No. 7 -Transfer funds from general fund to building fund for future building projects ($4,000,000); Budget Amendment No. 8 -  Budget the Pupil Transportation State Grant to purchase 8 school buses ($400,000); Budget Transfer No. 1 - Transfer funds for Riverside Elementary Special Board Grant.
BOE Policies.   The Board gave final approval for Policy GBA (1) - Compensation Guidelines.
 

BUILDING PROGRAM
Project Update.   Mr. Price updated the Board on the various building projects going on within the county: painting at LHS/HMS; Consumer science lab upgrades at CMS/HMS; Evans Middle (delay to gym and bleachers-Oct);  New Administration Building (3rd floor completed 10/16/06);  the New Elementary School in Grovetown (view progress); and  the New Middle School #3 on Blackstone Camp Road (view progress). 
Approval-Bid Result.  The Board approved the bid results and awarded contract for construction of middle school #3 (122,000 sq ft and 2-story) to H.G. Reynolds at a price of $15,300,000 completed by July 1, 2008. 
Approval-Capital Outlay Application.  The Board approved the capital outlay application for construction of the New Columbia County High School (87 classrooms).  The application will allow advance of state funds ($15,719,398) to begin project and the balance ($30,000,000) will be covered out of SPLOST and other local funds.
Approval-Architectural Contracts. The Board approved the architectural contracts for 12-classroom additions to: 1) Studio 3 Design Group - Lewiston Elementary, and 2) Hughes, Beattie, O'Neal, Law and Associates - River Ridge Elementary.
 

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Industry Partnership. Gordon Renshaw, Director of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, provided an update to the Board on the Industry Partnership between our System, the Manufacturer's Council, and the National Science Center.  As part of the Industry Partnership, Lakeside High students, with the guidance of their instructor, Jason Stark, prepared a video on John Deere.  The videos will be made by our students and used by industry to help with recruiting and promoting specific job fields in our county.
Update on Opening of School.  Mr. Price updated the Board on the opening of school as it relates to enrollment, (+730)  transportation (delays at NCE due to GHS traffic), personnel vacancies (7 certified/16 auxiliary), and textbooks (additional high school textbooks ordered).  No major problems to report with the opening of school. 
Waiver of SDOE 160-5-19.  This waiver from the state will allow an option to postpone athletic events and/or extra curricular activities due to weather up to 9:00pm.
Teacher of the Year Banquet - September 28, 6:30pm, Westlake Country Club.

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