The Jones County Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting Nov. 12 to discuss various purchases for the benefit of the Jones County School System.
The meeting began with a report from Chairman Ginger Bailey, who thanked all Jones County School System employees for their contributions.
“We want to make sure that people on the front lines doing the work understand that this board honors them because our positive results come from them,” the chairman said. “Yes, we make decisions, but the people who do the actual work are in classrooms, administrators, lunchroom workers, custodians - it takes the whole gamut to make it happen.”
The meeting continued with school board reports from Nancy Nash, Alfred Pitts, and Superintendent Charles E. Lundy.
Nash reported on Jones County High School’s “Reality Check” event, where students learned how to be financially responsible beyond high school, noting the event’s significance for students entering young adulthood.
Pitts congratulated students and teachers for their hard work and accomplishments this school year. He also thanked the school system’s Nutrition Department for its new breakfast initiative, which provides students with grab-and-go meals in addition to daily breakfast at various stations throughout the schools, including gyms, hallways, and main entry points.
“It’s very exciting to hear about the lunchroom staff’s new implementation for our students. It’s a great chance for students to take advantage, offering them an opportunity to have more options to eat breakfast,” Pitts said.
Lundy shared recent academic achievements in the Jones County School System, including positive CCRPI reports from all schools.
“Every one of our schools in the past one to two years has received some type of significant academic achievement. For teachers, students, and administrators, those academics are certainly to be celebrated,” he said.
Lundy also mentioned that Gray Station Middle School and Clifton Ridge Middle School held their $10,000 REACH signing day, with one student from each school receiving a scholarship, noting the event was a success.
Finance report
After the school board reports, Lundy gave the school financial report. The Jones County School System is 33 percent of the way through its budget, tracking nicely with a total revenue of $17,487,487.
“We are tracking closely there and right where we need to be. A very good financial situation,” the superintendent said.
The school system’s total expenditures are $19,879,534, 30 percent of the budget. Lundy says the school system is in good shape, with an ending cash balance of $487,571.
Action items
Lundy recommended and board members approved each of the items presented.
• ContractwithCodeHSIncorporated to purchase teacher licenses and virtual training for 6-12 CTAE teachers, at an estimated cost of $10,710, utilizing funds from the professional learning budget.
• Serviceagreementwith Studio Designs Printing Company to purchase printing services for the new K-12 math curriculum units, at an estimated cost of $11,206, utilizing ESSER 3 funds.
• ContractwithIXLLearning to renew the purchase of the annual IXL Site License for grades 6-8 in the subjects of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies for Gray Station Middle School, at an estimated cost of $16,087.50, utilizing Title I funds.
• Serviceagreementto purchase services for selling the old school buses and cars of the Jones County School System.
• ContractwithValdosta Commercial Doors Incorporated to purchase re-keying services for exterior doors at Jones County High School, at an estimated cost of $23,787, utilizing funds from the Maintenance and Operations budget.
• Revisedpolicyonemployee leaves and absences, benefiting teachers.
• ContractwithWilsonBryant to purchase services to finish and install new equipment for the cooler at Mattie Wells Elementary School for an estimated cost of $12,850, utilizing funds from Maintenance and Operations, to convert the outside coolers to freezers.
• Purchaseoftwo2024integrated 72-passenger propane buses for the transportation department, at an estimated cost of $250,000 from the transportation budget. After approval of the action items, the meeting moved to a closed session and concluded. The next Regular Session Board Meeting is Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.
