By Jamie Gardner
After two votes and tremendous debate between board members, Superintendent Scarlett Copeland, system staff and members of the public, the Appling County Board of Education voted to keep Fourth District Elementary School’s cafeteria open. The board and the community have been in discussion for several months about changing the cafeteria from a full service kitchen (which it was at the end of the 2010-2011 school year) to a warming/serving kitchen (for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year), with food being prepared at Appling County Middle School and then transferred to Fourth District as a cost-saving measure. Board member Randy Crawford made a motion to maintain the “status quo” for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year meaning that the cafeteria will remain in full operation like it was at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Board member Randy Sellers seconded the motion. Sellers and Crawford as well as Scottie Ammons voted in favor of the motion. Board members M.C. Barlow and Minnie Barnes voted against the measure.
Cafeteria to remain open
Prior to this vote, Copeland explained that she believed that the board had already approved to move forward with making the cafeteria a warming/serving facility at a board meeting held in April when the board voted to move forward with renovation plans to the facility as part of an overall plan. However, Ammons, Sellers and Crawford stated that this was not their understanding citing that they felt they were simply moving forward in the planning phase of the renovations or either did not believe that the cafeteria was part of the overall plan. Copeland also shared that the Community Stakeholder Group/Committee had been consulted about the cafeteria at the school. Copeland also reminded board members that a second stakeholder group from Fourth District had been consulted concerning the change.
A member of the Community Stakeholders, Dr. Esco Hall, Jr., talked to board members regarding the school cafeteria and information that was presented to the group. Hall stated that he was glad that the system had come up with a way to save money and added that school officials did a good job presenting information about the change. He urged board members to move forward with the change.
Copeland stated that she and Maintenance and Operations Director Winton Herrin had talked to Georgia Department of Education Facilities Consultant Dr. Mickey Shuber and Architect Larry Pope and they stated that if the board voted to not go ahead with the renovations as previously discussed, which both thought included the cafeteria warming/serving kitchen, then it would result in a change order of approximately $325,000.00 to upgrade the kitchen at the school to meet state requirements and code.
Crawford questioned what had changed since last year citing that the cafeteria was fine at the end of this past school year receiving high scores from the Appling County Health Department.
Copeland stated that it really had nothing to do with health inspections and reported that the architect had told her and Herrin that if 40 percent of the buildings at the school were brought up to current state standards then the rest, including the kitchen, would have to be brought up to current standards with items such as fire safety equipment, handicap accessibility, etc.
Sellers stated that $325,000.00 seemed like a lot of money just to bring the cafeteria up to standards considering that the overall school renovation project, to be covered with Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) funds, would cost around $1.6 million. He asked Copeland if they had received justification from the architect for the cost of the cafeteria and Herrin stated they did receive a letter from Pope just prior to the meeting, but he explained that he did not have enough time to get the information prepared for board members. Sellers stated that he would like to see the information.
At prior meetings it had been discussed that if the serving kitchen did not work out at the school, the system could possibly go back to preparing meals at Fourth District. After discussion, it was reported that the kitchen would have to be upgraded if 40 percent of the school is renovated. Copeland stated that she and Herrin were unaware of this rule until Pope reported this information to them recently.
The first vote was based on Copeland’s recommendation to proceed with making the kitchen a warming/serving kitchen only. Barlow made a motion to proceed with the superintendent’s recommendation and Ammons gave the second. Following discussion, Barlow and Barnes voted in favor of the motion. Ammons, Sellers and Crawford opposed the motion.
Other business
Board members approved minutes from the June 13 and June 27 meetings unanimously.
The board approved a recommendation from Copeland to open a part-time alternative night school position.
Board members approved to open a special education teacher position at Appling County Middle School based on the superintendent’s recommendation.
The board adopted a spending resolution for the month of July and also approved to go ahead and advertise the tentative budget in order to approve the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year Budget at the next meeting. (See tentative budget in this week’s print issue.)
Superintendent Copeland presented a lunch price increase to board members for approval. The superintendent explained that School Food Service is seeking to increase the cost for meals by a dime for the upcoming school year. Copeland showed a chart comparing what neighboring systems charge for meals. The cost for school meals in Appling County were lower than neighboring school systems. The board approved the increase.
Board members were given information on School Food Service bids submitted for milk and bread. The only company that bid to supply milk for the system was Mayfield Milk at a cost of approximately $154,000.00. There was only one bid submitted for bread for the system and it was for $62,905.39 from Derst Baking Company.
The board approved Policy BHB that deals with nepotism and policy JGCD that deals with medications.
The board approved a recommendation from the superintendent to approve the purchase of a new Kubota ZG2700 lawn mower from Appling Motors at a cost of $7,700.00. The board opened bids at a prior meeting and referred the bids to committee to make a recommendation back to the board for approval of the lowest bid that met bid specifications.
Information was presented to the board concerning Summer School updates and a new privacy fence behind Appling County Elementary School.
The board voted to enter into a closed-door session for personnel discussion. Following the session the board took the following action with regard to personnel:
- Copeland recommended the board approve three Pre-K Teachers at ACPS. Recommendations included Laney Barth, Karen Tillman and Jennifer Matthews. On a split vote, the board approved the recommendation. Barlow abstained from voting.
- Copeland recommended the board approve the recommendations of Jason Anthony as paraprofessional at Appling County High School, Grier Sikes as a Pre-K Teacher at Altamaha Elementary School, Randy Hodges as a Community Coach, and Karen Tharpe as the Administrative Assistant for Title I at the Central Office. The board unanimously approved the recommendations.
- The board tabled a decision on three paraprofessional positions at Appling County Middle School until the proper paperwork can be obtained.
A member of the Community Stakeholders, Dr. Esco Hall, Jr., talked to board members regarding the school cafeteria and information that was presented to the group. Hall stated that he was glad that the system had come up with a way to save money and added that school officials did a good job presenting information about the change. He urged board members to move forward with the change.
Copeland stated that she and Maintenance and Operations Director Winton Herrin had talked to Georgia Department of Education Facilities Consultant Dr. Mickey Shuber and Architect Larry Pope and they stated that if the board voted to not go ahead with the renovations as previously discussed, which both thought included the cafeteria warming/serving kitchen, then it would result in a change order of approximately $325,000.00 to upgrade the kitchen at the school to meet state requirements and code.
Crawford questioned what had changed since last year citing that the cafeteria was fine at the end of this past school year receiving high scores from the Appling County Health Department.
Copeland stated that it really had nothing to do with health inspections and reported that the architect had told her and Herrin that if 40 percent of the buildings at the school were brought up to current state standards then the rest, including the kitchen, would have to be brought up to current standards with items such as fire safety equipment, handicap accessibility, etc.
Sellers stated that $325,000.00 seemed like a lot of money just to bring the cafeteria up to standards considering that the overall school renovation project, to be covered with Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) funds, would cost around $1.6 million. He asked Copeland if they had received justification from the architect for the cost of the cafeteria and Herrin stated they did receive a letter from Pope just prior to the meeting, but he explained that he did not have enough time to get the information prepared for board members. Sellers stated that he would like to see the information.
At prior meetings it had been discussed that if the serving kitchen did not work out at the school, the system could possibly go back to preparing meals at Fourth District. After discussion, it was reported that the kitchen would have to be upgraded if 40 percent of the school is renovated. Copeland stated that she and Herrin were unaware of this rule until Pope reported this information to them recently.
The first vote was based on Copeland’s recommendation to proceed with making the kitchen a warming/serving kitchen only. Barlow made a motion to proceed with the superintendent’s recommendation and Ammons gave the second. Following discussion, Barlow and Barnes voted in favor of the motion. Ammons, Sellers and Crawford opposed the motion.
Other business
Board members approved minutes from the June 13 and June 27 meetings unanimously.
The board approved a recommendation from Copeland to open a part-time alternative night school position.
Board members approved to open a special education teacher position at Appling County Middle School based on the superintendent’s recommendation.
The board adopted a spending resolution for the month of July and also approved to go ahead and advertise the tentative budget in order to approve the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year Budget at the next meeting. (See tentative budget in this week’s print issue.)
Superintendent Copeland presented a lunch price increase to board members for approval. The superintendent explained that School Food Service is seeking to increase the cost for meals by a dime for the upcoming school year. Copeland showed a chart comparing what neighboring systems charge for meals. The cost for school meals in Appling County were lower than neighboring school systems. The board approved the increase.
Board members were given information on School Food Service bids submitted for milk and bread. The only company that bid to supply milk for the system was Mayfield Milk at a cost of approximately $154,000.00. There was only one bid submitted for bread for the system and it was for $62,905.39 from Derst Baking Company.
The board approved Policy BHB that deals with nepotism and policy JGCD that deals with medications.
The board approved a recommendation from the superintendent to approve the purchase of a new Kubota ZG2700 lawn mower from Appling Motors at a cost of $7,700.00. The board opened bids at a prior meeting and referred the bids to committee to make a recommendation back to the board for approval of the lowest bid that met bid specifications.
Information was presented to the board concerning Summer School updates and a new privacy fence behind Appling County Elementary School.
The board voted to enter into a closed-door session for personnel discussion. Following the session the board took the following action with regard to personnel:
- Copeland recommended the board approve three Pre-K Teachers at ACPS. Recommendations included Laney Barth, Karen Tillman and Jennifer Matthews. On a split vote, the board approved the recommendation. Barlow abstained from voting.
- Copeland recommended the board approve the recommendations of Jason Anthony as paraprofessional at Appling County High School, Grier Sikes as a Pre-K Teacher at Altamaha Elementary School, Randy Hodges as a Community Coach, and Karen Tharpe as the Administrative Assistant for Title I at the Central Office. The board unanimously approved the recommendations.
- The board tabled a decision on three paraprofessional positions at Appling County Middle School until the proper paperwork can be obtained.
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