BOARD BULLETIN

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


January 2007

INVOCATION:
Reverend Bill Hilley from Grace Baptist Church prepared the invocation.

BOARD COMMENTS:
Board members wished everyone a Happy New Year.  Mr. Nagle and his staff were recognized for the rezoning meetings.  Board members also expressed pride in the basketball games and tournaments held over the break.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
 Mr. Richard Bing made a request to the Board that the exchange student living with his family be allowed to return to GHS as a student next year but without paying any tuition fees and repeating a grade.

BOARD ITEMS:
The Board discussed the status of the Superintendent's Search narrowed down to two candidates.

The Board Chair  proposed community forums and for the Board members to consider times/dates (weekday evening vs. Saturday morning) at next meeting.

NEXT MEETING:
The next scheduled Board meeting will be a Study Session on January 23 at the Board of Education in Evans at 5:30pm.


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

 Present were Superintendent Thomas A. Price, Chairman Regina Buccafusco, Vice-Chair Mildred Blackburn, Wayne Bridges, Mike Sleeper, and Roxanne Whitaker.

BOARD APPROVALS
Consent Items.  The Board gave final approval of consent items: minutes of 11/20/06, 11/28/06, 11/29/06, 12/4/06, 12/12/06-Special Meeting and 12/12/06-Regular Session, November financials, employee travel, fundraisers, gifts and donations, camps, and partnerships.
Budget Amendments/Transfers. The Board gave final approval to the following General Fund or Special Revenue Amendments/Transfers: Budget Amendment No. 39 - Budget  matching grant funds for Grovetown Middle School.  The school grant was received from AIG Valic Teacher Grant  ($500).
Banking Services. Mr. Price reviewed proposals submitted from various banking institutions.  The Board gave final approval for banking services to Suntrust.
2007 Summer School Calendar. The Board gave final approval for the 2007 Summer School Calendar.  Summer School will be held at Greenbrier High School and start on 5/30/07 (click here for schedule).
2007-2008 Projected Enrollment.  The Board gave final approval for the projected enrollment for 2007-2008 (click here for report).
Tentative Approval of Rezoning for Elementary No. 6.  Mr. Price presented the rezoning proposal with projected enrollment figures.  The Board approved the rezoning proposal as presented by Mr. Price to include areas in Grovetown Elementary, Euchee Creek Elementary, Lewiston Elementary and Brookwood Elementary (click here for report).

BUILDING PROGRAM
Project Update.   Mr. Price updated the Board on the various building projects going on within the county: painting at LHS;  Twelve Classroom Additions at Lewiston and River Ridge; the New Elementary School in Grovetown (view progress);  the New Middle School #3 on Blackstone Camp Road (view progress); and the New High School #1 on Chamblin Road.
Approval of Bid Results. The Board approved bid results and awarded contract for 12-classroom addition at River Ridge Elementary to RCN Contracting.


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
 Course Catalog. Mr. Price presented to the Board the 2007 Course Catalog and noted that information on the new bible literature course has not been received by the State Board and is not included in the 2007 Course Catalog. (Click here)
Preliminary Certified Personnel Allocations.  Mr. Price  presented to the Board the preliminary certified allocations based on the student enrollment projections.  The allocations include an increase of 24 teachers for grades K-5.  The allocations may be modified if there are changes in legislation related to high school class sizes.
Proposal for High School Credit Recovery.  Mr. Price notified the Board of a joint venture between Columbia County High Schools and Family Connections for a 7th period for grade recovery.  Ms. Julie Miller of Family Connections,  provided background information about the $60,000 grant that will fund the program for students.  (Click here)
Offer to Purchase 2.4 acres at North Harlem Campus.  The Board authorized Mr. Price to advertise for the sale of  2.4 acres on North Harlem Campus. This property is not near the facility and cannot be used for expansion
 

SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS:

None this evening



 

 

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
4781 Hereford Farm Rd. Evans, GA 30809
(706) 541-0650