SCBOE May 16 meeting review

By Jessica Waters

Stephens County Board of Education members moved quickly through a busy agenda during the Tuesday, May 16 regular meeting of the board. School superintendent Dr. Connie Franklin introduced each agenda item scheduled for action – all of which had been introduced at the work session on May 11. Little discussion was initiated on the agenda items, and all votes were unanimous votes. All SCBOE members – Tripp Arrowwood, Jim Bellamy, Chair Wendy Dawkins, Travis Dobbs, Kay Reed, Mark Smith and Len Stovall – were present.

Board members approved the April finance report and the E-SPLOST activity report, which had been detailed for them by Chief Financial Officer Lauren Anderson. Upcoming school field trips, an FFA camp field trip and fundraisers were also approved as presented.

Board members approved three facilities expenditures: $36,000 for replacement of a projector and screen at the Tugaloo Performing Arts Center;  $32,000 for completion of a video surveillance project at Eastanollee Elementary; and $14,500 for a refrigerator for Stephens County Middle School.

FY2024 payroll dates, pay scales and supplements were unanimously approved. The FY2023 salary schedule can be viewed here, The FY2024 document has not yet been provided. WNEG will follow up on this agenda item and provide the 2024 salary schedule(s) when they are released by the school system. 

2023-24 school year code of conduct and approved club lists for each school in the district were approved as follows:

2022-23 versions of these documents can be viewed here.

The CTAE Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment for FY24 was approved for submission to the state. According to CTAE Director Pam Hill, “The ultimate goal (of the annual assessment) is to improve the quality of local CTAE decisions made about the programs, expenses and plans so that students have better career outcomes preparing them for high-skill, high-wage or in-demand careers.”

A change to the Purchasing Policy was approved, changing all instances of “ten thousand” or “$10,000” to “fifty thousand” or “$50,000” in the following passage:

“The Superintendent or designee is authorized to approve any and all purchases or services from budgeted funds of less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00). All purchases or services over ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), but not in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), shall be decided upon from at least three (3) quotations or prices from the open market. All single services and single-item purchases over ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) must be approved by the board of education.”

A change to the school system tuition policy was tabled for 30 days to allow for public comment prior to adoption.

Board members adjourned the meeting and entered an executive session to discuss personnel matters. Following the executive session, the board adopted the Human Resources Report, which included, among other new hires or reassignments, the announcement of Emily Bennett as Chief Financial Officer, effective May 17. 

The next regular meeting of the SCBOE will be held Tuesday, June 20. A called meeting of the SCBOE has been announced for 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 25. The only item on the agenda for the called meeting is an executive session to discuss personnel matters.