The Jones County Board of Education celebrated board member Alfred Pitts’ 16 years of service on the board and his decades of service to education at their December meeting.
The Dec. 3 meeting began with a report from Chairman Ginger Bailey, thanking every Jones County School for providing the school board members with gifts for the holiday season.
“I want to say how much I appreciate each school. It is a very warm and heartfelt thank you. The most important thing is we [the school board] want to ensure we thank our teachers, principals, administrators and faculty for their hard work each year,” Bailey said.
The chairman went on to wish the school system a happy holiday.
“This is a season of blessings and giving, so I hope everyone will have a great Christmas, be safe, and come back ready to work in January,” Bailey concluded.
Board Members Mike Gordon, Kimbrell Washburn, Nancy Nash, and Superintendent Charles E. Lundy also expressed gratitude to the schools for their gifts and dedication to uplifting the school community.
Washburn continued his report by thanking Pitts for his service to the Jones County Board of Education, as he is retiring from the school board after 16 years of dedication, with this meeting being his last.
“I appreciate Mr. Pitts and his service, hard work, and dedication to this county. I only remember about three teachers from when I was in middle school. Mr. Pitts is one of them. Our county is better because of Mr. Pitts. More than anything, I appreciate that he is my friend,” Washburn said.
Nash also thanked Pitts.
“I cannot say enough about you. I appreciate you very much. You have been a wonderful mentor for me,” Nash expressed.
Pitts thanked everyone for their kindness and asked if his son, Jonathan Pitts, who was present at the meeting, would speak on his behalf.
“I want to thank all the board members and the entire school district for the love and support they have shown my father and mother for over 40-plus years they have served this community. It means a lot,” Jonathan said.
The son continued by thanking his father.
“Thank you so much for being a great role model, mentor, and servant for this community. I am excited to see you being home with us, maybe traveling, and spending time with the grandkids,” he concluded.
Alfred Pitts thanked everyone for their kindness and left the school board with some departing words of wisdom.
“This is not about me. It is the beginning of a new chapter with Mr. (Brady) Skinner, and I know he will do well. I know we already do a lot for our school community, but we have to do more if we possibly can,” Pitts said.
Superintendent Charles Lundy concluded the reports by offering Pitts a token of appreciation to thank him for his dedicated service as a Jones County School System employee for 34 years as a Board of Education member for 16 years. Pitts humbly accepted with a final expression of his gratitude.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. I enjoy doing this and serving on the board, but this was not mine. It belongs to the people. It is like borrowing a shirt or a jacket. When you give it to use, you give it back. I am just trying to give it back better than I found it,” Pitts concluded.
Former School District Superintendent Chuck Gibson attended the meeting and commented to thank Pitts for his service.
“We were fortunate enough to be at Mr. Pitts’ first board meeting and fortunate enough to attend his last. Alfred Pitts is a pillar of this community. He is a giver, a visionary, and prophetic in a lot of ways. He is family. I thank you for your service,” Gibson said.
Finance report
The meeting continued with the financial report from November delivered by the school system’s chief financial officer, Tonya Merrit.
The Jones County School System is at 41.67 percent of its fiscal year. In local revenue, it received $3,773,479, which is 24.70 percent of its budgeted local revenue. In state revenue, it received $19,761,267 or 42.03 percent of its budgeted state revenue. Total revenues received are $23,534,746 or 37.78 percent of its total budgeted revenue. The school system’s total expenditures are $24,844,487, 38.25 percent of its budget. The ending cash balance at the end of November was $22,558,522.
For the school system’s breakdown by function, the school system spent $16,288,779 for instruction, $2,163,345 for maintenance and operations and $1,232,572 for student transportation.
Action items
Lundy recommended and received unanimous approval of the following items.
Contract with Trafera to purchase seventy-five Chromebooks and Google Chrome licenses for Clifton Ridge Middle School for an estimated cost of $18,450, utilizing Title I funds
Contract with IXL Learning to purchase the annual site license renewal for Clifton Ridge Middle School for an estimated cost of $12,600.00, utilizing Title I funds
One-year contract with Newsela to purchase digital subscriptions for ELA, Science, and Social Studies for Clifton Ridge Middle School for an estimated cost of $14,437.50, utilizing funds from Title I
The purchase of Chromebooks and Chromebook licenses for Gray Elementary and Mattie Wells Elementary, utilizing Title I funds
2025-2026 school academic calendar
The purchasing of sunshades at Clifton Ridge and Gray Station Middle Schools and the purchasing of a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox for the Technology Department
At the conclusion of the agenda items, the board adjourned to enter into closed session.
The next board meetings will be a Work Session/Special Meeting on Jan. 9 and a Regular Board Meeting on Jan. 14.
