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

February 13, 2007

BOARD COMMENTS:
Congratulations were in order for a few of our schools (BWD, BES, GTE, NHE, SCE) at being recognized by the state DOE for "Distinguished" Title I Schools and also for new principals named for the 2007-2008 School Year.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

Barry Paschal, editor of Columbia County News-Times and Bridget Gorta, senior at GHS,  presented to all school libraries a copy of  "CC News-Times: from past to present " compiled by Bridget Gorta as part of her Senior Project.

BOARD ITEMS:
Ms. Buccafusco suggested to the Board that since 130 school boards across GA have passed standards that CCBOE should begin the process for Board Standards that will be linked to the goals of Superintendent.

Mr. Sleeper will meet with our legislators in Atlanta next week and will express concerns for HB 199 and SB 10 for any possible modifications.

NEXT MEETING:
The next scheduled Board meeting will be a Study Session on February 27 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.

BOARD APPROVALS
Consent Items.  The Board gave tentative approval of items: minutes of the 01/03/07- called meeting and 01/09/07- Regular meeting, December financials, employee travel, fundraisers, and gifts and donations which include a storage building for Greenbrier High School. Also under consent items was the resolution for the amendment of CCBOE Flexible Benefits Plan; request to State BOE for waivers/variances of the Georgia High School Graduation Requirements; and waiver from CCBOE Policy IED(2).
Budget Amendments/Transfers. The Board gave tentative approval to the following General Fund or Special Revenue Amendments/Transfers: Budget Amendment No. 40 - Budget matching grant funds for Martinez Elementary.  The school grant was received from Junior League ($500); Budget Amendment No. 41 - Transfer funds from general fund to building fund for future projects ($1,900,000); Budget Amendment No. 42 - Budget the cost of advertising for the Superintendent's Search Committee ($1,370); Budget Transfer No. 3 - Transfer funds for Riverside Elementary, K-8 Reading and Math Grant. The funds will be used to purchase kindergarten intervention materials.
BOE Policies.  The Board gave final approval to the following policies: ABCA - School Board Member Number, ABCC - School Board Member Term of Office, ABCD - School Board Member Election, BBA - Officers of the Board, BBBA - Duties of School Board Member, BBF (2) Board Advisory Committees, BCAB - Regular Board Meetings, BCBA - Time and Place of Board Meeting, GBM - Transfer of Professional Personnel, and GCM - Transfer of Auxiliary Personnel.  The Board gave tentative approval to Policy ABCDA- Board Member Unexpired Terms and Policy BCBH - Minutes. The Board had discussion only on Policy GBRIC - Family Medical Leave and Policy GBRIB - Sick Leave. Any change to this policy must give 60 days notice to employees.  All BOE policies can be viewed by going to: http://www.ccboe.net/boe/policies/home.html.


BUILDING PROGRAM
Project Update.   Mr. Price updated the Board on the various building projects going on within the county: painting at GMS;  Twelve classroom additions at Lewiston (view progress and River Ridge (view progress); 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.
Change Order No. 2 Evans Middle.  The Board approved Change Order No. 2 for Evans Middle (-$99,452.38).
Request from Riverwood Plantation.  The Board approved the request from Riverwood Plantation for a 30 foot easement for water and sewer installation at the Greenbrier High School site.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Instructional-Elementary Gifted Education Program.  Mr. Price presented the recommendations from the Elementary Gifted Education Review Committee.  For the 2007-2008 the recommendations were to: 1) modify the present Horizons program and offer a hybrid pilot for gifted students at GBE, LES, RRE, and STC; 2) create a mini-center at ECE to serve gifted students from ECE, GTE, New Elem. and NHE; and 3) relieve space at WES by serving gifted students from the other elementary schools not mentioned in 1 and 2. A total of nine gifted teachers will be allocated to this program.  The Board authorized Mr. Price to move forward with recommendations.
Certified Personnel Allocations.  Mr. Price  presented to the Board the certified personnel allocations that indicate an additional 60 classroom teachers.
Special Events.  Mr. Price reminded the Board of the Teacher Screening Interviews on 3/2/07 at First Baptist Church of Augusta.

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

New Principals Named for 2007-2008.  The Board approved the following new principals for 2007-2008 School Year: Sharon Carson, an assistant principal at Riverside Middle, was named principal at Greenbrier Middle and will replace Jackie Creasy; Carla Shelton, and assistant principal at Harlem High, was named principal at Harlem Middle and will replace Walker Davis; Dr. Sarah Walls, an assistant principal at Lewiston Elementary, was named principal at the new elementary school opening up in Grovetown, near Grovetown Middle; Lisa Reeder, an assistant principal at South Columbia Elementary, was named principal at South Columbia Elementary and will replace Susan Gilbert.

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