On May 24 Acting Superintendent Debra Brantley recommended to Appling County Board of Education members putting a freeze on all hiring including teachers and paraprofessionals until the budget process is finished. The board approved the recommendation unanimously. It was also stated in the recommendation that any transfers that are required where a highly qualified person is needed, including any administrative changes, the board will look within the system to save money.

Other business

During her report, Brantley commended Appling County High School Pam Williams for being named the Georgia Teacher of the Year and reported that a special reception was held for Williams. State Superintendent Kathy Cox attended the reception.

Brantley also gave a report on Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) results for the system. She reported to the board that the system had worked hard on the math portion of the tests, but needed to put even more focus in this area. (See page 6a for a chart of how each school performed on the tests. The chart shows how each school (students) did in each category including reading, English/language arts, math, science and social studies and whether the school exceeded the state level, passed the tests or failed the tests.)

Supt. Brantley stated that the system had received a letter from the Governor’s Office of Accountability stating that CRCT testing errors at Appling County Middle School were in the moderate range. That meant that there were more erasures than typically considered appropriate. Brantley stated that there was a committee formed at the county office that investigated and provided a report. The system received a letter on May 7 clearing the school of all charges. The report didn’t show anything inappropriate. As far as erasures, Brantley stated there were as many right answers changed to wrong as wrong answers changed to right. (The News-Banner will have more on CRCT at Appling Middle in an upcoming issue.)

Brantley reported that the Georgia Department of Education would be meeting on May 24 to waive the maximum class size waiver. She stated that because of the economy the state is in a “state of emergency” and intends to relax class sizes next year. Brantley added that even if the state waives the maximum class size, the local system needed to keep the class as small as possible for the sake of the children.

Field trip requests for the ACHS Wrestling Team to attend a camp in Camden County on June 13-17 and the ACHS Girls Basketball Team to attend a camp in Morrow on June 25-26 were approved by board members.

Under information items, COO Winton Herrin told board members that he had received a request from a local insurance company to bid on the board’s insurance and asked if the board wanted to seek bids or keep the insurance it currently has. The board said they would discuss this item at its next meeting.

Other items presented to board members, for information only, included the Georgia School Absenteeism Reporting, and Canning Plant times of operation. (The Canning Plant will be open beginning June 7 at 7:00 a.m. For more information, call 367-8617.)

Personnel

The board approved the following personnel recommendations:

-A resignation from Flora Cathy Snooks, effective June 1.

-A medical leave request from Elvira Russell from May 19 - June 15.

-A medical leave request for Teresa Smith from May 15 - May 24.

-Following a closed-door session for personnel and litigation purposes, the board accepted a recommendation from Brantley to hire Jimmy Dubberly and Glenn Williams at 49 percent contracts for the upcoming school year. Brantley stated that the board would look at all 49 percent positions following the budget process.

Under board member comments, Joyce Tillman stated that she, Minnie Barnes, Janie Carter and Brantley toured the Baxley Wilderness facility and were pleased with what they saw at the facility.