By Jamie Gardner
The Appling County Board of Education voted to move forward with the construction of a new track facility adjacent to the high school baseball/softball fields at its Monday, June 27 meeting. In addition to approving the track, board members also approved a request to go ahead and build restroom and concession facilities at the new track. Maintenance and Operations Director Winton Herrin explained that he had received requests from the administration at the high school as well as a number of citizens to build the additional facilities, adding that they were a part of the original design. Herrin estimated that the cost to build the additional facilities would cost approximately $100,000.00. He also explained that there would be no cost added back to the overall project since the board had saved in a number of other areas, including saving approximately $800,000.00 in site prep for the new Pre-K facility.
High school track facility approved
Board Member Scottie Ammons expressed that, to the general public, it looks like the board is just spending money at every meeting and also added that it would be good if people could know the overall scope of the entire ESPLOST projects.
Herrin stated to the board for them to consider that some of the projects were planned out in stages. He added that due to changes in leadership, some of the plans have changed course throughout the years such as the Pre-K facility, which was originally planned to be a separate facility, not attached to the Appling County Primary. Herrin assured board members that he and the construction management are continually looking for ways to reduce costs.
Other business
The board approved a contract agreement for the one call communication system for the school system’s emergency telephone messaging system at a price of $6,300.00.
On a split vote board members approved a state waiver request for Fourth District Elementary School calling for a lead teacher to be used in place of having a full-time principal at the school. Superintendent Scarlett Copeland explained that Greg Williams would serve as the lead teacher at the school and also the physical education (PE) teacher for two days per week teaching the course for two hours on the days assigned. Board Members Randy Sellers and Ammons expressed concern that the students of the school would not be served the same as students at other schools. Ammons stated that he wanted to make sure the children at Fourth District are not being disenfranchised. Copeland explained that children at Fourth District would receive PE for two hours per week. She compared that to Altamaha at one and one half hours per student, Appling Primary at two and one half hours, and Appling Elementary at two to three hours per week. It was also explained that teachers, during their planning periods, would cover the office while Williams is teaching PE. Copeland stated that this decision was based on current enrollment of the school and economic conditions. The vote to approve the request passed with Sellers, Minnie Barnes and M.C. Barlow voting in favor. Ammons opposed the measure. District Four Board Member Randy Crawford was absent as he and his wife, Christy, welcomed a new baby boy to their family on the day of the meeting.
The board approved a request to open a part time credit recovery teacher for the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. Funding for this position will come from Title I.
The board approved to open two special education positions at Appling County Middle School. Copeland explained that these positions are being opened due to recent transfers.
The board opened bids for a new lawnmower for the system maintenance and operations department. There were a total of three companies that submitted bids for the equipment. Miles Tractor submitted a bid of $7,500.00 for a new 2005 Woods mower. Appling Motors submitted multiple bids at $7,700.00, $8,700.00 and $11,255.00 for various 2011 Kubota models. Knights Saw submitted two bids on different 2011 Scag mowers at $7,629.60 and $8,559.00. The board approved a recommendation from Copeland to send the bids to committee for review and submit a recommendation back to the board at its next meeting.
Under information items, the board received information on installing a privacy fence behind the Appling County Primary/Elementary Schools, School Council summaries and minutes from meetings held during the 2010 - 2011 school year, and representatives from each school shared system data information. (Editor’s note: There will be more information in upcoming issues of The News-Banner as test results and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports become available from the Georgia Department of Education concerning the system data information that was presented.)
Following a closed-door session for personnel and litigation, the board approved the following personnel recommendations.
- Hired Susan Courson and Karrie Carter as paraprofessionals at Altamaha.
- Approved Lori Bryant as the secretary for Fourth District.
- Hired Kyle Wilson as the ISS/defensive coordinator for football at Appling High School.
- Approved Pam Thomas as the career technical instructor coordinator at Appling High School.
- The board tabled a decision on hiring an administrative assistant for Title I.
Following the personnel approvals, board members announced that they had failed to announce prior to the closed-door session that the board needed to discuss a potential real estate acquisition matter in the session. The board voted to enter into a second closed session to discuss real estate. No action was taken following the session.
Herrin stated to the board for them to consider that some of the projects were planned out in stages. He added that due to changes in leadership, some of the plans have changed course throughout the years such as the Pre-K facility, which was originally planned to be a separate facility, not attached to the Appling County Primary. Herrin assured board members that he and the construction management are continually looking for ways to reduce costs.
Other business
The board approved a contract agreement for the one call communication system for the school system’s emergency telephone messaging system at a price of $6,300.00.
On a split vote board members approved a state waiver request for Fourth District Elementary School calling for a lead teacher to be used in place of having a full-time principal at the school. Superintendent Scarlett Copeland explained that Greg Williams would serve as the lead teacher at the school and also the physical education (PE) teacher for two days per week teaching the course for two hours on the days assigned. Board Members Randy Sellers and Ammons expressed concern that the students of the school would not be served the same as students at other schools. Ammons stated that he wanted to make sure the children at Fourth District are not being disenfranchised. Copeland explained that children at Fourth District would receive PE for two hours per week. She compared that to Altamaha at one and one half hours per student, Appling Primary at two and one half hours, and Appling Elementary at two to three hours per week. It was also explained that teachers, during their planning periods, would cover the office while Williams is teaching PE. Copeland stated that this decision was based on current enrollment of the school and economic conditions. The vote to approve the request passed with Sellers, Minnie Barnes and M.C. Barlow voting in favor. Ammons opposed the measure. District Four Board Member Randy Crawford was absent as he and his wife, Christy, welcomed a new baby boy to their family on the day of the meeting.
The board approved a request to open a part time credit recovery teacher for the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. Funding for this position will come from Title I.
The board approved to open two special education positions at Appling County Middle School. Copeland explained that these positions are being opened due to recent transfers.
The board opened bids for a new lawnmower for the system maintenance and operations department. There were a total of three companies that submitted bids for the equipment. Miles Tractor submitted a bid of $7,500.00 for a new 2005 Woods mower. Appling Motors submitted multiple bids at $7,700.00, $8,700.00 and $11,255.00 for various 2011 Kubota models. Knights Saw submitted two bids on different 2011 Scag mowers at $7,629.60 and $8,559.00. The board approved a recommendation from Copeland to send the bids to committee for review and submit a recommendation back to the board at its next meeting.
Under information items, the board received information on installing a privacy fence behind the Appling County Primary/Elementary Schools, School Council summaries and minutes from meetings held during the 2010 - 2011 school year, and representatives from each school shared system data information. (Editor’s note: There will be more information in upcoming issues of The News-Banner as test results and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports become available from the Georgia Department of Education concerning the system data information that was presented.)
Following a closed-door session for personnel and litigation, the board approved the following personnel recommendations.
- Hired Susan Courson and Karrie Carter as paraprofessionals at Altamaha.
- Approved Lori Bryant as the secretary for Fourth District.
- Hired Kyle Wilson as the ISS/defensive coordinator for football at Appling High School.
- Approved Pam Thomas as the career technical instructor coordinator at Appling High School.
- The board tabled a decision on hiring an administrative assistant for Title I.
Following the personnel approvals, board members announced that they had failed to announce prior to the closed-door session that the board needed to discuss a potential real estate acquisition matter in the session. The board voted to enter into a second closed session to discuss real estate. No action was taken following the session.
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