BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board of Education members held their December meeting in the Community Room of Jones County High School to avoid being in the middle of the Gray Christmas Parade traffic.
The Dec. 12 meeting was called to order by Board Chairman Ginger Bailey. In her chairman’s report, Bailey said she had been having fun being out and about visiting schools.
“Christmas is about seeing children’s faces.
It’s the fun part of my job, and we have a lot of good stuff going on,” she said.
Board member Dr. Nancy Nash talked about the Georgia School Board Association meeting the members recently attended in Atlanta.
“I really enjoyed it; the speakers were really good,” she said.
Nash said one speaker talked about artificial intelligence and what students could do with it. She added that the information was “a little scary.”
Lundy said the Jones County Board of Education received its award at the Atlanta conference as an Exemplary Board, the highest level recognized by the GSBA.
Bailey commented about the receipt of the award later in the meeting.
“The award goes to the Board of Education, but it stands for everyone who touches a child’s life. We need to appreciate all those who touch the lives of our children,” she said.
During his report, the superintendent said winter sports are in full swing, and he added that the Jones County High School Wrestling Team had its first outdoor match Nov. 25 with more than 500 people in attendance.
“That shows the growth of our wrestling program,” he commented.
Lundy said last week was the Teacher of the Year tour that celebrated the Teacher of the Year at each school.
He said the Jones County Board of Health held its first meeting in its renovated facility Dec. 6, and the school system was glad to be able to house the Health Department at the pre-K complex during the renovations.
Lundy also noted that Dec. 14 would be the final day for face-to-face classes for students in 2023, and Friday evening would be the first winter graduation for JCHS. He said seven students would be graduating.
“We look forward to the next semester when we come back after the holiday,” he said.
Finance report
Jones County School System CFO Tonya Merritt gave the finance report for the month ending Nov. 30, which she said marked 41.67 percent of the school year.
She said total revenues were $23,356,011 and total expenditures were $24,071,518. The ending bank balance was $21,600,099.
Collections for Jones County’s Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax remains strong with November collections $289,760. The average monthly collections for this school year are $306,766.
Bailey once again thanked the community for buying local, which she said results in a healthy ESPLOST.
Action items
Lundy recommended approval of the following items. Each was approved with a unanimous vote by Board members.
• Retentionstipendfor all full-time employees of the Jones County School System for an estimated cost of $1,009,219, utilizing funds from ESSER III
• ContractwithFlyleaf Publishing to purchase Emergent Reader Series and Reading Series One – Three Classroom sets for Turner Woods Elementary School for the estimated amount of $12,412, utilizing funds from Title I
• ContractwithStudio Design Printing Company to purchase printing serves for the new Math K-12 curriculum units for JCSS for an estimated cost of $17,355, utilizing funds from ESSER III
• ContractwithSteve Weiss Music Inc. to purchase band percussion equipment for JCHS for the estimated amount of $38,927, utilizing funds from ESPOLST 2019
• ContractwithThe Sign Store to replace the sign at JCHS for an estimated cost of $44,991, utilizing funds from the Maintenance and Operations budget. Lundy said the insurance company, Liberty Mutual, will reimburse the district minus the $10,000 deductable.
• Requesttotablethe school calendar for 2024 – 2025
• ContractwithSolutionz Inc. to purchase and install Viewsonic Interactive Panels throughout JCSS for an estimated cost of $69,951, utilizing funds from the technology budget
• ContractwithRLRto purchase architectural services for JCHS air conditioning project for an estimated cost of $37,831, utilizing funds from the Maintenance and Operations budget The meeting was adjourned to enter into closed session. The next scheduled meetings of the Board are a work session at 5 p.m. Jan. 4 and regular Board meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 9.
