Editor’s note: The following article is a summary of the November, December, and January meetings of the Worth County Board of Education.
On Thursday November 13, 2014 the Board of Education met to discuss a number of items. After the agenda was approved, Mrs. LaShawanna Leonard spoke to the Board in regards to her son and the punishment he was given after fighting off a bully. Leonard was told that this incident could not be considered bullying since the acts against her son had not been reported repeatedly. However, the student told that they were having issues a few days before the incident. The student was given four days of Out of School Suspension and 3 days of In School Suspension.
Leonard asked the board to review its policy on punishing first time offenders. Chairman Jenkins reported that Public Hearings on the Code of Conduct will happen in the spring, and parents are invited to show up to discuss any issues they may have. Mr. Dwight Leonard felt that the rule about what defines bullying may be unfair. He asked for the Board to further examine the rule for the following school year.
Mrs. Matthews reported that Worth County High School’s Writing Test results had come in and 95 % of students passed the test. The numbers are up 4% from last year’s test.
William Oliver was appointed at the boards GSBA Legislative Liasion for 2015.
The Webb Brothers received the Propane Bid in the amount of $1.50+. Brownlee Bozeman Agency was awarded the Insurance Broker Bid in the amount of $135,911.00.
The Worth County School District Organizational Chart and the amended budget for fiscal year 2014 were approved.
Regina K. Fulton resigned from the Maintenance Department. Martha Hanson was recommended for assistant teacher and Johnny Wilcher was recommended for the Maintenance Department.
Then, for their final meeting of the 2014 calendar year, the Board of Education met on Thursday, December 11 to discuss field trips and personnel. Worth County Middle School’s Chorus class need permission to go on a field trip to attend a Broadway show called “Wicked” in Atlanta on February 2nd or March 7th, 2015. Randy Bacon made a motion to approve the consent agenda and it passed unanimously.
The board acknowledge the resignation of bus driver Willie B. Jackson effective December 5, 2014. Brenda Ann Boggan and Jeanette Young were recommended for the job.
In their most recent meeting on Thursday, January 8th, 2015 the Board of Education met in Board Conference Room. Mr. Jerry Jones began the meeting with a prayer. Mr. William Jenkins welcomed all the visitors. All Board members were present and the agenda was approved. Superintendent Kay Matthews spoke on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requirements. The schools are tested by IDEA every year and Worth County was given a passing grade on the inspection.
Assistant Manager of the Cafeteria, Rene Wynn, was honored for saving a student from choking by using the Heimlich maneuver. Wynn said, “Everyone in the school system should have some kind of training. Whether formal or informal. So, if it ever happens somebody can help somebody.”
The Board then approved Resolution 15-1 to set regular monthly meetings at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the Board room of the Worth County School System Administrative Building at 103 Eldridge Street.
After Mr. Randy Bacon was made Vice Chairman of the Board for the year, the next item on the agenda was the Chairman’s Board Committee appointments for 2015. Title I Advisory is William Oliver. Media Committee is William Jenkins. Special Education Advisory Board is William Oliver. Vocational Education Advisory is Randy Bacon and Jerry Jones. Maintenance & Facilities Committee is Melvin Jefferson.
Finally, Lisa Deariso spoke on finances by saying the Board has spent 39% of the budget so far for this fiscal year. According to Deariso, the Board’s revenues are up almost $121,000 compared to this time last year. Their cash on hand is almost 4.2 million dollars.
The next meeting is scheduled for February 12 in the board room off of Isabella Street.