By Jamie Gardner
At a work session meeting of the Appling County Board of Education, held on Aug. 22, Maintenance and Operations Director Winton Herrin updated board members on finances in relation to Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) projects. Herrin reported the anticipated revenue for the 2007 ESPLOST was originally projected to bring in $17,000,000.00 and had a cap of $20,000,000.00. As of July 31, 2011 the one-cent sales tax has brought in approximately $13,942,361.64. Herrin also stated that the tax collection is scheduled to run through June 30, 2012. He added that if it stays at the current level of collection, the tax would bring in approximately $16.4 million.
Update given on ESPLOST
The 2007 projects included roads and infrastructure (high school and complex) - $1,600,000.00, athletics/Title IX - $1,500,000.00, Pre-K Center - $3,500,000.00, Appling Middle School - $2,200,000.00, Appling Elementary Complex - $3,800,000.00, Fourth District - $1,500,000.00, transportation/maintenance facility - $500,000.00 and a new wing at Altamaha to include a new media center - $2,400,000.00.
Herrin noted that projects have changed, had modifications or additions (examples are the addition of the elementary track, band practice lights, covering of a ditch, addition of tennis courts, purchase of textbooks and buses, property etc.) which were recommended/approved by previous superintendent(s) and board members or by incorporating parts of one project into another for cost savings.
To date the school system has expended $5,446,712.10 on ESPLOST projects. Herrin reported that the total expenditures and encumbrances (contracts in place) as of August 18, 2011 are $12,919,054.00 and includes purchases for buses, technology, textbooks and other expenses at a cost of $1,095,190.86.
Personnel
Prior to the approval of personnel, the board entered into a closed-door session to discuss personnel. Following the session the board voted on several positions.
The board accepted a recommendation from Superintendent Scarlett Copeland to terminate Cheryl Griffin, a bus driver for the system.
Board members approved a recommendation to open two bus driver positions for the system.
Copeland recommended hiring Toni Bowers as a Pre-K teacher at Appling County Primary School. The board approved the recommendation unanimously.
A recommendation to hire Camilla Weaver as a paraprofessional at Appling Primary was approved unanimously.
Other business
Chairperson Minnie Barnes recognized Leigh Herndon and allowed her to address the board for a few minutes. Herndon stated there are nine children at Fourth District Elementary School in special education, including her child, and added that she feels the children are not being served by the school system. A tearful Herndon said that she was tired of fighting with the school system, but added that something has got to be done about this situation. Herndon asked how a teacher could arrive at the school between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and serve nine children during the remainder of time during a school day. Superintendent Copeland stated she had talked with the special education director about this situation and added that the system is meeting the required amount of time per student as required by law. Copeland also added that the special education director is to schedule a conference with Herndon to discuss the issue further.
The board approved a waiver request for the Fourth District cafeteria, which allows the cafeteria manager of Appling Middle School to also manage the cafeteria at Fourth District.
Board members approved fundraiser requests for Appling County High School.
On a split vote the board approved a recommendation from Copeland to purchase wetland mitigation. The total cost for purchasing the mitigation is $8,276.40. Board member Scottie Ammons opposed the measure. Board members Barnes, Randy Crawford, Randy Sellers and M.C. Barlow voted in favor.
Under discussion the board talked about changing the dates/times of work session meetings to make the meeting a little closer to the board’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting. One of the recommendations was to move the work meeting to the Monday prior to the regular monthly meeting.
Other items that were discussed by board members included attendance at the 15th Annual Community-wide Planning Retreat, school board training, GSBA Flood Insurance for system property, student enrollment, lunchroom participation, a SACS QAR review and a shelter agreement between the school system and the American Red Cross.
Herrin noted that projects have changed, had modifications or additions (examples are the addition of the elementary track, band practice lights, covering of a ditch, addition of tennis courts, purchase of textbooks and buses, property etc.) which were recommended/approved by previous superintendent(s) and board members or by incorporating parts of one project into another for cost savings.
To date the school system has expended $5,446,712.10 on ESPLOST projects. Herrin reported that the total expenditures and encumbrances (contracts in place) as of August 18, 2011 are $12,919,054.00 and includes purchases for buses, technology, textbooks and other expenses at a cost of $1,095,190.86.
Personnel
Prior to the approval of personnel, the board entered into a closed-door session to discuss personnel. Following the session the board voted on several positions.
The board accepted a recommendation from Superintendent Scarlett Copeland to terminate Cheryl Griffin, a bus driver for the system.
Board members approved a recommendation to open two bus driver positions for the system.
Copeland recommended hiring Toni Bowers as a Pre-K teacher at Appling County Primary School. The board approved the recommendation unanimously.
A recommendation to hire Camilla Weaver as a paraprofessional at Appling Primary was approved unanimously.
Other business
Chairperson Minnie Barnes recognized Leigh Herndon and allowed her to address the board for a few minutes. Herndon stated there are nine children at Fourth District Elementary School in special education, including her child, and added that she feels the children are not being served by the school system. A tearful Herndon said that she was tired of fighting with the school system, but added that something has got to be done about this situation. Herndon asked how a teacher could arrive at the school between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and serve nine children during the remainder of time during a school day. Superintendent Copeland stated she had talked with the special education director about this situation and added that the system is meeting the required amount of time per student as required by law. Copeland also added that the special education director is to schedule a conference with Herndon to discuss the issue further.
The board approved a waiver request for the Fourth District cafeteria, which allows the cafeteria manager of Appling Middle School to also manage the cafeteria at Fourth District.
Board members approved fundraiser requests for Appling County High School.
On a split vote the board approved a recommendation from Copeland to purchase wetland mitigation. The total cost for purchasing the mitigation is $8,276.40. Board member Scottie Ammons opposed the measure. Board members Barnes, Randy Crawford, Randy Sellers and M.C. Barlow voted in favor.
Under discussion the board talked about changing the dates/times of work session meetings to make the meeting a little closer to the board’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting. One of the recommendations was to move the work meeting to the Monday prior to the regular monthly meeting.
Other items that were discussed by board members included attendance at the 15th Annual Community-wide Planning Retreat, school board training, GSBA Flood Insurance for system property, student enrollment, lunchroom participation, a SACS QAR review and a shelter agreement between the school system and the American Red Cross.
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