BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Jones County Board of Education took a huge step in the building of the school system’s JROTC program with the approval of a Raider Challenge Obstacle Course that should be ready to host competitions by the next school year.
The Feb. 14 meeting was called to order by Board Chairman Ginger Bailey, who wished everyone a happy Valentine’s Day and expressed her appreciation of employees of the Jones County School System.
In his school board member remarks, Alfred Pitts said he is truly blessed to live and work in Jones County.
“We are not having the problems others are having,” he said.
Pitts said he was excited about what is happening for education in the General Assembly and asked for continued support of teachers.
“As board members, we need to stay on top of it,” he said.
Pitts said he is proud of what is being done in Jones County and proud of the Jones County College and Career Academy.
Superintendent Charles Lundy began his report by congratulating the Turner Woods Elementary Robomonkeys Robotics Team for winning region and making it to the top eight in the state out of 480 teams. He added that most of the other teams were older.
Lundy said it was the highest-ever finish for the TWE team.
The superintendent said recent substitute teacher training was a plus for the school system, and virtual recruitment had gone smoothly. He also reported that the teams working on the Dames Ferry Elementary renovation project met earlier this month to discuss a timeline for the project.
Lundy announced March 30 as the date of the Jones County School System Teacher of the Year program, which he said would be held this year at Butler Hall in Gray.
Finance report
JCSS Chief Financial Officer Tonya Merritt presented the finance report for the month ending Jan. 31, which represents 58.33 percent of the school year. Merritt said the total revenues were $57,606,111 and total expenditures $32,218,226.
The ending cash balance in the bank was $15,424,206. That amount does not include a $9,963,677 Treasury note.
Merritt said January collections of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax totaled $299,418, and the monthly average ESPOST collection is $282,426.
JROTC Obstacle Course
Two of the action items presented to the board were for the JROTC Raiders Obstacle Course at JCHS. The request was brought to board members at a Sept. 8 work session, during which the purpose and need for the course was explained by JCHS JROTC Senior Army Instructor Capt. Michael McMillan with the aid of two sets of cadets who were in the program.
McMillan explained that Raider competition is an athletic competition within JROTC programs around the United States. He said the events are designed for a small group of physically fit, mentally tough and committed group of cadets to compete against other teams in athletic events. The competition season starts in August.
The captain said other high schools would be invited to compete. Cadets in the program also spoke to board members about the benefits of the challenges of the course, including being a way to teach leadership, build confidence and teach team-building.
McMillan said the obstacle course would promote a positive school culture and increase family and student engagement. He said it was his belief that the obstacle course would become a premier course in the state.
The captain said the last competition he attended brought an estimated 1,000 people to the community, which would have a positive economic development impact for Gray and Jones County.
McMillan said the Raider Challenge Course would feature eight events: the Obstacle Course, Raider Fitness Challenge, Cross County Rescue, Raider Fitness Test, Tire Flip, Team Run, One Rope Bridge and Team Relay Run.
Action items
Lundy recommended approval of purchases for the school system:
• Next Step Guided Reading Assessments for Mattie Wells Elementary School grades K-5 for the estimated cost of $15,990 funded from Title 1
• 90 Chromebooks and Google License for Jones County High School under the State of Georgia contract for an estimated cost of $23,557 funded from ESSER III
• 100 Chromebooks and Google Licenses for Clifton Ridge Middle School under state contract for the estimated cost of $26,175 funded from ESSER III
• 11 Latitude Laptops for JCHS under state contract for an estimated cost of $10,953 funded from L4GA
• 17-month contract with Dreambox Learning to purchase Reading Plus Licenses and Professional Development for Clifton Ridge Middle School for an estimated cost of $25,882 utilizing funds from Title 1
• Purchase 200 EZ Color Graphing Calculators for JCHS for the estimate cost of $25,993 utilizing funds from Title 1
• Purchase of My Books Summer Sets for Turner Woods Elementary School grades K-5 for an estimated cost of $16,546 utilizing funds from L4GA
• Purchase Playbooster Playground for Dames Ferry Elementary School for an estimated amount of $58,040 utilizing funds from 2019 ESPOST
• Contract with Challenge Design Innovations Inc. to build a JROTC Raider Challenge Obstacle course for JCHS JROTC Program for the estimated cost of $246,574 utilizing funds from 2019 ESPLOST
• Contract with Lanier Plans Inc. KORKAT to purchase bleachers with overhead cover for the JCHS JROTC Raider Challenge Obstacle Course for the estimated cost of $66,549 utilizing funds from 2019 ESPLOST
• Five-year contract with Howard Technology Solutions to purchase District Firewall and Support Services for the JCSS for an estimated cost of $30,305 utilizing funds form the technology budget
• Contract with AiOS Group to purchase fiber and network equipment for JCHS for an estimated cost of $8,349 utilizing funds from the technology budget
• Contract with Air Conditioning Specialist Inc. to replace the HVAC unit with a Carrier 15-ton HVAC unit for the Clifton Ridge Middle School kitchen for an estimated cost of $30,385 utilizing funds from the maintenance and operations budget.
• 12-month lease with Williams Scotsman Inc. for four portable classrooms to be used at Dames Ferry Elementary School during renovations for an estimated cost of $118,751 utilizing funds from 2019 ESPLOST
• Purchase of 2023 Chevy Express Van from Hardy Chevrolet for the maintenance department under state contract for the estimated cost of $31,943 utilizing funds from the maintenance and operations budget.
