E.O. Foundation Blames School Board for Closure of Toccoa Center; BOE Responds

The Stephens County Board of Education is responding to concerns raised after the E.O. Foundation announced it was closing its center in Toccoa later this year.

In a Facebook post released this week, Toccoa native and former NFL player Evan Oglesby announced he would be closing his E.O. Foundation Center in Toccoa in June.

In the post, Oglesby pointed the finger at the school board, citing a lack of support from the board.

Oglesby has rented the old Toccoa High School gym from the Stephens County school system since the beginning of 2012.

At a work session Thursday, Board of Education Chair Rod Moore responded to Oglesby’s post and corresponding questions and criticisms on social media and elsewhere.

Reading a statement, Moore first outlined the negotiations between the Board of Education and Oglesby regarding a renewal of that original five-year lease, which expired in December 2016.

According to Moore, the E.O. Foundation was offered a new, identical five-year lease for the property in June 2015.

However, Moore said a request was made for a longer lease term by the E.O. Foundation due to concerns of receiving potential grants.

Then in July 2015, the Board of Education approved a revised lease term for the E.O. Foundation to use the facility of 30 years with a fee of $1 a year, which was the same as the original lease, and a longer termination clause of 90 days, instead of the original 60 days.

However, Oglesby came back to the Board in January 2016 and requested a lease that would require the consent of both parties to terminate it.

“On January 19, 2016, there was no action concerning Mr. Oglesby’s request on the lease contract,” said Moore. “Members reviewed both lease options and included the lease including the lease offered (in 2015) by the BOE. Mr. Oglesby stated he did not intend to sign the lease that was offered at this time (in January 2016).”

Then in April 2016, Oglesby and supporters again appeared before the school board and Oglesby again asked for a termination clause that could only be enacted by the agreement of both parties, while also suggesting he could buy the facility.

However, Moore said the board had not heard from Oglesby since April 2016 until last month.

“Through the end of the current lease term, December 31, 2016, there were no formal discussions,” said Moore. “On February 23, 2017, the board received a proposal to purchase the building with no monetary offer and a 30-year lease on Boyd Field and the land adjacent to the gymnasium.”

Regarding Oglesby’s request on the termination clause, the school board said it can not legally have an agreement that does not provide the board with a way to terminate it because one board can not legally bind or obligate a future board.

As for selling the property to Oglesby, the school board said state law stated that in most cases, selling the property would require a public bid process or auction, with School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey adding the school system attorney called that the “most appropriate” method.

Moore said that the Board of Education is committed to helping where it can, but must abide by legal requirements set forth in state law.

“The Board offered a 30-year lease (in July 2015) that was not accepted by the EO Foundation,” said Moore. “We must move forward and wish only the best for the EO Foundation. We felt it is important the citizens of our county know that we have followed due diligence and devoted significant time and effort to reach an agreement. We do listen and we do care about our students and their education. It is the mission of this local Board of Education to utilize our resources to provide the best education to the children of this county.”

As for the future of the old Toccoa High gym, Dorsey said that the school system has no plans right now, adding it would have to look at options once Oglesby was no longer in the facility.

Read the entire BOE statement at the following link: BOE Statement on EO Foundation Lease