The Ware County Board of Education discussed/voted on the following agenda items during the Tuesday, May 11 regular meeting.
Chairman Barry Deas called the meeting to order, followed by an opening prayer from board member Wendell Bagley and the Pledge of Allegiance led by board member Rusty Ganas. In addition, all remaining board members were present, including Brandi Waters, Buster Tyre, Toni Nelson and Karen Ethridge, along with School Superintendent Lynn Barber.
• ESOL Exemplary Student and Teacher recognized: The district honored its annual ESOL award recipients. Hillary Doan was recognized as the Exemplary English Learner and Carol Reed was named the Exemplary ESOL Teacher for her leadership and service to English learners.
• Financial reports and enrollment update: The board unanimously approved the following items: ∞ Payroll and Disbursements totaling $9,033,430.91 as of April 30.
∞ The Enrollment Report presented showed 5,759 students as of May 8, compared to 5,848 at the same time last year.
∞ Significant dates, including the last day of school is today (Wednesday, May 20) with graduation Saturday, May 23.
Minutes from the April 20 work session and April 21 regular meeting were approved.
• Contracts and Agreements: The board approved a series of major contracts and agreements for the 2026-27 school year, each addressing instructional, operational, or community-support needs.
∞ Allied Instructional Services contract: The district renewed its contract with Allied Instructional Services to provide specialized support for students with visual impairments.
Services include Orientation and Mobility training, Braille instruction, and other supports required by students’ IEPs.
Funding is fully covered by the IDEA ( Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) federal special education flow-through grant, resulting in no cost to local taxpayers.
∞ Behavior Analytic Services contract: Board members approved the continuation of services with Behavior Management Consultants, Inc. (BMC).
This contract provides behavior analysts and intervention specialists to assist schools with serious or recurring behavioral and emotional challenges. The FY27 contract runs July 1, 2026-May 30, 2027.
∞ Georgia Family Connection Partnership contract: The board renewed the FY27 contract with the Georgia Family Connection Partnership, a statewide initiative supporting children and families.
Ware County Schools will again serve as the fiscal agent, managing funds and compliance for the local Family Connection collaborative from July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.
∞ Leader in Me agreement: Board members approved a major multi-school implementation of the Leader in Me program at: § Center Elementary § Wacona Elementary § Waresboro Elementary
§ Williams Heights Elementary
§ Ware Middle § Waycross Middle The agreement totals $493,530.11, covering training, coaching and implementation materials. All six schools received full grant funding, with half provided through GaDOE pass-through funds and the remainder through FranklinCovey foundation support — resulting in no cost to the district.
∞ Okefenokee RESA contract: The Board approved the FY27 membership contract with Okefenokee RESA (Regional Education Service Agencies) in the amount of $54,838.
RESA provides professional learning, instructional support, and shared services to member districts. Funding comes from the General Fund.
∞ Wiregrass Auction Group proposal: Board members finalized approval of a proposal from Wiregrass Auction Group to sell surplus equipment from Waycross Middle School.
The move is intended to ensure timely removal, reduce staff workload, and address storage limits.
∞ Facilities and Operations: Additional operational approvals by the board included: § A resolution requesting state assistance for the district’s Five-Year Facility Plan § A lawn care contract not to exceed $76,800 for nine district sites § Replacement of heat pumps at Wacona Elementary ($6,395) and Ware Middle ($7,861), both sole-source purchases
§ YMCA facility use of Center Elementary for summer day camp § Authorization to seek up to $25,000 in Student Vaping Mini-Grant funding
§ Field trips for Center Elementary and Ware County WINGS were approved, along with fundraisers for Center, Waresboro, Waycross Middle, and Ware County High.
Personnel actions The board approved a comprehensive set of personnel recommendations across classified, certified, coaching, and summer worker categories.
∞ Classified Personnel transfers (SY 2026-27): Amber Cornelius — School Nurse transferring from Wacona to Ruskin; Bailey Thomas — Special Education paraprofessional transferring from Williams Heights to Paraprofessional, Daffodil ∞ Resignations: Tiffany Davis — SpEd paraprofessional at Wacona; Charles Gobbi — School Resource Officer at Williams Heights; Makenna Grobsmith — paraprofessional at Daffodil; Bonnie Hite — custodian at Waycross Middle; Adam Taylor — School Resource Officer, at Wacona; Cannon White — SpEd paraprofessional at Waresboro; Nashadriana Wimbley — SpEd paraprofessional at Ware Middle ∞ Retirement: Judy Cox — bus driver ∞ Certified Personnel employment (SY 2026-27): Cheryl Bennett — 49% Future Center Coach at Ware High; Jesse Lynch — Health & PE teacher, at Waycross Middle; Nicki McCullough — math teacher at Ware Middle; Madison Novak — elementary teacher at Williams Heights ∞ Internal recommendations (SY 202627): Julie Augustine — principal at Ware High; Gary Edholm — assistant principal at Ware Middle: Linsey Hayman — assistant principal at Ruskin; Emily Jaime — Business Ed teacher at Ware High; Aalia Reed — elementary teacher at Williams Heights; Kayla Wilson — Business Ed teacher at Ware High ∞ Transfers (SY 2026-27): Peggy Jones — 49% assistant principal transferring from Wacona to Waycross Middle; Alvin Thrift — athletic coordinator at Waycross Middle ∞ Resignations: Rebekah Long — ELA teacher at Ware Middle; Colbi Sellers — elementary teacher at Wacona; Katelyn Sullivan — elementary teacher at Williams Heights; Madelyn G. Tanner — elementary teacher at Wacona; Jason Wicker — Health & PE teacher at Ware High ∞ Retirements: Deba “Shelly” Cox — Gifted elementary teacher at Center; Tyrone Kellogg — principal at Ware High ∞ Coaching recommendations (SY 202627): Jennifer Cox — head Gameday cheer coach at Ware High; Bryce Johnson — assistant 9th grade football coach at Ware High; Jesse Lynch — assistant varsity football coach, assistant girls’ and boys’ track coach at Ware High; Madison Novak — head softball coach at Ware Middle; Heather Thomas — assistant Gameday cheer coach at Ware High ∞ School Nutrition: Kimberly Hall — substitute school nutrition assistant at Central ∞ Summer workers: (Transportation) Debra Taft, Lisa Boatright, Brian Morehouse, Skylar Norman, Jimmy Hall, Sarah Turner ∞ Student workers: Ella Beth Cox — Print Shop at Central; Clary Kinnon — Maintenance at Central ∞ Separate personnel vote: A separate vote was required for a Boardmember relative: § Erin Harvey — transfer from assistant principal at Waycross Middle to principal at Ruskin The motion passed with six yes votes; Karen Ethridge abstained.
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