(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, April 3 and their regular monthly meeting Monday, April 14.
The regular meeting was delayed a week owing to spring break.)
Weapons detection system: The board approved the purchase of the OPENGATE Weapons Detection System for all schools in the amount of $235,910.74. The system will be in place beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. (See related story in the April 9 edition.)
Budget: Board members got their first look at the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 at the work session. Finance director Melanie Helms presented the first draft of the projected $42.9 million spending plan. The budget is balanced and is similar to the current year, with the exception of new spending to cover the costs of health insurance and retirement increases. The budget anticipates about $9.4 million from local ad valorem taxes with the remainder to be funded from state and federal resources.
Helms said she anticipates having a draft copy of the budget ready for review in May, with final approval in June and the millage rate set in August or September.
Closed session and personnel: The board adjourned into a 11 minute closed session Thursday, April 3, to discuss personnel. After the closed session, the board voted to accept the resignation of Jamison Williams, head basketball coach and teacher at the high school.
(See related story.) In additional personnel decisions, the board voted to hire Deighton Bryant as assistant school psychologist at the central office, Morgan Cook, Maria Lacot and Sue Neal, as paraprofessionals at Blackshear Elementary, Caroline Higginson as a teacher and Haley Crews, Brittani Crosby and Brittney Hitchner, all as paraprofessionals at Patterson Elementary, Holly Ratliff as a teacher and Kesha Miles as a paraprofessional, both at the middle school, Katelynn Carter as a teacher and Madison Sports as a mental health counselor, both at the high school and Rebecca Howard and Jeanette Robinson as school nutrition food assistants at the high school, Cintia Childs, Rubie Mitchell and Mandy Strickland, all as school nutrition food assistants at Blackshear Elementary. The board also changed Julie Allen to administrative secretary at the middle school, approved Cameron Moore for extended day teaching four blocks at the high school and changed the effective date on La'Charles Pringle's resignation to April 4. His resignation was originally approved for the end of the school year. The board also approved the resignations of Anna Kay Boatright, Faith Griffis, Mallory Meeks and Haley Studstill, all as paraprofessionals at Blackshear Elementary, Ashley Barber as administrative secretary at the middle school, LeighAnne Hersey and Jamison Williams as teachers at the high school and Brandy Roland as a school nutrition food assistant at Blackshear Elementary and Tracey Williams as a school nutrition food assistant at the high school. The board also approved the retirement of Denise Brown, a teacher at the middle school. The board also adjourned into a five minute closed session Monday, April 14. Following the closed session, the board approved the hire of Sada Brown as a paraprofessional at Blackshear Elementary, Lisa Simmington and Thad Williams, both as teachers at the high school, Karla Harris, Christopher Paszko and Dana Tatro as bus drivers, Kayla Davis as a school nutrition assistant at Blackshear Elementary and Priscilla Walsh as math department head at the middle school.
Bids for intercom system at Pierce County Middle School:
The board approved the low bid from Cox Telephone of Waycross for a new intercom system at the middle school. Cox bid $65,170.66 for the new system. The current intercom system is original to the school when it was constructed in 1995 and is nearing end of life. Three other bids were received including Rutland of Valdosta in the amount of $68,217, IDS of Kingsland in the amount of $72,973 and Advent Solutions of Hoover, AL in the amount of $102,057.
Midway Elementary flooring bids: The board awarded the bid for bath rooms and kitchen to Grainger Contracting and Services of Marietta in the amount of $53,390.
Grainger was the low bid der on the work by about $27,000 when bids were opened at the March meet ing, but board members wanted to make sure the pricing was correct and that Grainger could do the work on the bathrooms and kitchens, even though they were not the low bid der on other phases of the project. Facilities director Harbin Farr said he had contacted Grainger and the company’s references and recommended they be approved at the bidder for the work. Grainger will use to do this work is HDZ Flooring of Fitzgerald. Spires of Waycross bid a total of $290,912 and Dan Spires of Waycross bid a total of $83,195 as low bidder on other phases of the project, which will also include replacing flooring in the halls, classrooms, office and library, cafeteria and the multi-purpose room.
Recognitions: The board recognized retirees at the middle school and high school. (See related photos.)
Consent agenda:
Several items were approved under the consent agenda. They include:
• approval of an agreement with Head Start/action pact for students with disabilities transition into the school system. According to Superintendent Dara Bennett, this is a routine agreement that allows the two entities to share information.
• approval of 13 nonresident applications including two kindergarten students at Midway Elementary, a third grader and fourth grader at Patterson Elementary, one sixth, one seventh and two eight graders at the middle school and two ninth graders and one 10th, one 11th and two 12th graders at the high school.
Reports: Finance Director Helms gave the system’s financial report. The school system reported revenue of $31.98 million and expenses of $27.6 million through February.
The system had almost $19.9 million in reserves. Helms reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $232,525, down $65,000 from last month’s record high but close to the annual average. The board approved the financial reports as presented. Facilities director Harbin Farr gave an update on plans for flooring repairs at Midway Elementary both during spring break and over the summer. He also told the board renovations to the old high school gym are nearing completion with mainly touch up work underway. Plans are for the board to tour the new facility when it is completed and the board will host a public open house for the new facility after that time.
Public participation: There was no public participation at the meeting.
Minutes: The board approved minutes for last month’s meetings.
Information: Superintendent Dara Bennett announced graduation will be held a week earlier than usual, at 8 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Bear Stadium. Last day of school and early release day will be Tuesday, May 20. Post planning will take place May 21-23 and will be completed before the Memorial Day holiday May 26. The central office and all school campuses will be closed May 26 for Memorial Day and June 19 for Juneteenth.
Next meetings: The next work session will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 1. The May regular meeting held at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, May 5. All meetings will be at the BOE office.
High school retirees recognized
Pierce County Board of Education recognized Pierce County High School employees who will be retiring at the end of this school year. The retirees were recognized at the April 14 school board meeting. Shown l-r are Rhonda Bennett, Emily Crosby and Danna Pearce. PCHS principal Kelly Murray gave remarks about each individual staff member. The retirees were presented with a plaque and were given a round of applause and a standing ovation during the meeting.
