Jones County’s newest school principal was introduced at July’s Board of Education meeting, which was the last meeting before the beginning of a new school year.
The July 9 meeting was called to order by Board Chairman Ginger Bailey. All board members were present except Dr. Nancy Nash.
The chairman gave her report first, referencing a June 29 conference at First Baptist Church of Gray. The topic of the conference was Save Our Students. She said there was a good crowd, and the focus of the event was suicide prevention.
“It was an interesting day,” she said.
Bailey said Joy Carr was interested in having a presentation for the board about how to help students. She said the state has promised mental health counselors for students, but those funds have not been seen.
“Parents don’t know what to do to help their children,” she said.
The chairman asked for a time to be set up for the training to help students in need.
“Losing one child is too many,” she added.
Board Member Alfred Pitts also gave a report. He said he is praying for teachers and all school officials.
“This is an exciting time but also stressful,” he said.
Pitts thanked The Jones County News for printing information about how the county and city work together to solve problems.
“I appreciate all who work together to take care of our children. In Jones County when a problem comes up, someone is going to find a solution,” he said.
Pitts said board members cannot go into classrooms, but that does not mean they cannot help. He then directed his comments to teachers.
“What we do in this room can make sure you have what you need in the classroom,” he said.
Superintendent Charles Lundy began his report by talking about the active shooter training conducted by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office last month at the Califf Middle School complex.
“I appreciate how the sheriff’s department works with us,” he said.
Lundy presented several important dates, beginning with the Jones County Back to School Bash that will take place July 22 at Clifton Ridge Middle School. He said new teacher orientation would take place July 23, and preplanning and convocation would take place at Gray Station Middle School July 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The superintendent gave the dates of open houses beginning with Jones County High and the middle schools July 29. He said pre-K and elementary schools would have their open houses July 30, and the first day of school is Aug. 1.
Lundy introduced Jennifer Holland as the new principal of Gray Elementary School.
Holland said she had received a heart-warming welcome in the new position. She said she planned to continue the programs at the school and strive for the emotional well-being of the whole child.
“We have been working diligently over the summer. We want an atmosphere where every student can thrive,” the principal said.
Holland said she fell in love with Gray Elementary School when she started there three years ago, and now she calls it home.
Next Lundy introduced Melody Nebel as the new assistant principal of the school.
Nebel said she did her student teaching at GES and feels like she has come full circle.
“I want to continue the awesome work at Gray Elementary,” she said.
Board members got their first look at the proposed fundraisers planned for the next school year. The fundraisers include book fairs, candy and pecan sales, ice cream sales, shirt sales, a cornhole tournament, Boston butt sales and car washes.
Reports
Literacy Specialist Kristen Beaver gave board members an update about the Georgia Early Literacy Act. She said she was back as promised with recommendations.
Beaver said the curriculum team recommended the adoption of a bundle of supplemental programs for K-3 schools to create a principal course of study to meet the rubric put out by the Georgia Department of Education.
The specialist said the state is recommending screening three times a year, but Jones County has been doing that for years.
“This year we’ll just have to submit the information to the state,” Beaver said.
Lundy presented the financial report in the absence of CFO Tonya Merritt. He said the June 30 report represented 100 percent of the school year. The total revenues are $61,633,129 and total expenditures $59,263,466.
The superintendent pointed out that revenues were over the budgeted amount for the year, 104 percent, and expenditures under the budgeted amount, 93.12 percent. He noted that was due to Merritt being conservative on the estimation of revenues and aggressive in estimating expenditures to ensure the school system has a secure budget.
Lundy said monthly education sales tax collections for June was $345,066, making the average monthly ESPLOST collections $303,492.
Bailey said she could not say enough about community support for the sales tax.
“We have a community that believes in children’s education and buys local,” she said.
Action items
The following items were recommended for approval by the superintendent and unanimously approved by board members.
• Policyforpaidparental leave to be increased from 120 hours per 12-month period to 240 hours for all eligible employees. The policy was reviewed for 30 days prior to its adoption.
• GeorgiaLiteracyAct HB538 Curriculum Bundle for K-3 schools
• ContractwithPlayground Creations to purchase a sunshade for Gray Station Middle School for the estimated amount of $199,805 utilizing ESSER III funds
• GSBAExemplaryBoard Application
• ContractwithGlobal Industrial to purchase classroom furniture for Clifton Ridge Middle School for the estimated cost of $11,771 utilizing funds from ESSER III
• GSBAFY25 membership dues renewal in the total amount of $31,787 utilizing funds from the General Fund Budget
• ContractwithHeat Transfer System of Georgia to purchase a plate heat exchanger and to refurbish the existing plate exchanger for Jones County High School for a total cost of $31,007 utilizing funds from maintenance of operations budget
• ContractwiththeSign Store Inc to purchase a digital school sign for Mattie Wells Elementary School and Dames Ferry Elementary School for an estimated cost of $102,850 utilizing funds from the school accounts of Dames Ferry and Mattie Wells
• ContractwithPreferred Mulch LLC to purchase mulch for Turner Woods Elementary School for the estimated cost of $10,205 utilizing funds from the maintenance of operations budget The meeting was adjourned to enter closed session. The next meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled Aug 13.
