E.O. Foundation Supporters Speak to BOE on Lease

The E.O. Foundation is continuing to ask the Stephens County Board of Education to work with it on a new lease agreement for the old Toccoa High School gym and surrounding property.

Oglesby, a Toccoa native and former NFL player, currently leases the gym on Pond Street in Toccoa and uses it for his E.O. Foundation Center.

His current, original lease for the gym and property runs through December 31 of this year.

Last July, the Stephens County Board of Education approved a 30-year lease agreement for the old Toccoa High School gym on Pond Street and surrounding fields, including Boyd Field at the cost of $1 per year.

However, Oglesby and his foundation have never signed the lease.

In January, Oglesby presented proposed changes to the lease approved by the school board, including one that would require the consent of both parties before the lease is terminated, instead of a simple 90-day notice to terminate the lease that is in what the Board approved.

Oglesby said he needs that in the lease to protect his investment in the property, but the Board of Education did not agree to that proposed change and the two sides appear to remain at a stalemate.

On Tuesday, Oglesby spoke to the board.

He said he wants to remain at the gym and use it and the surrounding property to grow his efforts and help the community.

“We have serviced over 15,000 students and adults in our community between our programs and our facility use,” said Oglesby.

Also speaking on Oglesby’s behalf on Tuesday was Misty Hawks, who works for the firm that handles Oglesby’s accounting.

She said that Oglesby has opportunities for grants and other funds to use to improve the gym and surrounding fields, including Boyd Field, but cannot get them because of the lack of commitment in the form of a long-term lease.

Hawks said that Oglesby is not interested in buying just the gym, as has been offered, nor is he currently interested in purchasing other space in the county, as was suggested.

She said that he wants to grow at his current spot and complement other area programs, not compete with them.

“This is just a step above,” said Hawks. “It is not going to be for everybody, but it is going to be for the kids that are going to be at the next level and that is only a handful of kids that are going to be that way.”

The school board also heard from Art Jimenez with the non-profit Cornerstone Foundation, which serves children and meets at Oglesby’s facility.

Following the meeting, School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey said there was no change in the Board’s offer to Oglesby at this time.