The Appling County Board of Education (BOE) held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, July 6 at the board office starting at 7:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were BOE Chairperson Janie Carter, vice chairman M.C. Barlow, members Minnie Barnes, Joyce Tillman and H.F. Johnson (via telephone), Superintendent Sam Herndon and Secretary Dereta Kent.

During the meeting the BOE heard concerns from two citizens about the recent cutting of the Art and ROTC programs. The first to voice concern was Eunice Martin, President of the Appling County Arts Council. Martin informed the BOE that she understood that balancing a budget is an enormous task but that it is the responsibility of the whole community to raise a child and to take art out of the schools would be harmful to each child in the community.

Also coming before the BOE was Walter Marlowe who stated that he was there to have a chat to help them get back on track. Marlowe stated that they could not cut the ROTC program because that would be doing a disservice to the young people of the county. Marlowe also stated that there has been a ROTC program for as long as he can remember and that it has helped many young people throughout the years.

Other business

The BOE has been able to receive grant money through the ARRA stimulus money to purchase a walk in freezer and walk in cooler for Appling County High School. The price of the freezer and cooler are $10,000.00 each.

The BOE voted to extend the STAR Program for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. There has been a decrease in the program cost of $20,000.00 from last year’s annual fee.

The BOE approved a spending resolution that is not to exceed one twelfth of the current budget due to the upcoming year’s budget not being complete.

The board went into a closed-door session for approximately 90 minutes. Following the closed session, no action was taken. Also following the closed session local citizen Raven Waters questioned why board members had not responded to any inquiries about art and ROTC presented by citizens. Waters also questioned why other citizens that had signed up for public participation were not allowed to speak during the meeting. The board offered no response.

Called Meeting on July 10

The following personnel decisions were approved at a called meeting on Friday, July 10 at 8:30 a.m: Stephanie Starr was approved to be the band director at Appling County Middle School (ACMS); Jarred Crumpton approved to be a science teacher at ACMS; and Tyler Cason selected to be special education teacher at Altamaha School pending the completion of certification.