(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, June 4 and at their regular monthly meeting Monday, June 8.)
Guaranteed Maximum Price for additions at Patterson Elementary and Pierce County Middle Schools: The board approved the guaranteed maximum price of $5,065,183.93 from R.H. Tyson Construction of Blackshear for additions of classrooms and bathrooms at Patterson Elementary and Pierce County Middle School. (See related story.) Budget: The board approved the final budget for 2027. (See related story.)
Superintendent’s evaluation: The board adjourned into a 10-minute closed session Thursday morning to discuss personnel. School Superintendent Dara Bennett exited the board room during the closed session, but was later called back in to the board room. After the session, Board Chairman Duward Boatright announced the board had conducted Bennett’s annual evaluation. Under state law, the evaluation is confidential, however Boatright and all board members present expressed their satisfaction with Bennett’s job performance.
Closed session: The board adjourned into a three minute closed session to discuss personnel at Monday night’s meeting. Following the closed session, the board approved the hire of Edurne Clough, migrant services coordinator and Christopher Cordes as a bus driver. The board also approved Taylor Owens as boys head soccer coach at the middle school and Natalie Herrin as community coach for girls basketball at the high school. The board also accepted the resignations of Rebecca Howard in school nutrition and Pamela Stewart as bus driver and Landon Spencer as boys head soccer coach at the middle school.
Classified and certified salary schedule: Salary schedules were approved for all classified and certified positions for the 2026-27 school year.
Career, Technical, Agricultural Education grant: The board approved the renewal of grants for the Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program. The grant amount is to be determined. Last year, the system received approximately $50,000 in grant funds and paid a local match of about $28,000. The grant provides supplements and needed funds for equipment and supplies for the CTAE program.
Literacy position: The board approved a 49% literacy intervention specialist position at Midway Elementary. Blackshear and Patterson will also have literacy intervention specialists which will be filled by someone already on staff at those two schools.
Mental health position: The board approved a part-time mental health professional to serve students at the middle school and high school. The position will be funded by a state mental health grant.
Air conditioning for buses: The board approved repairs to air conditioning systems on two school buses in the amount of $26,575.
Student handbooks: The board approved student handbooks for all system schools for the coming year.
Surplus bids: No bids were received for a 2001 Ford Econoline van assigned to school nutrition that was declared as surplus at last month’s meeting. The board agreed to re-advertise for bids for next month. The van has 51,000 miles on it, but hasn’t been driven in over a year and currently won’t start. The maintenance department will work on it to get it running before it is sold.
Consent agenda: Four items were approved under the consent agenda. They include:
• approval of the testing calendar for the 2026-27 school year was approved by the board.
• approved 14 non-resident tuition applications. All but three are returning students for the 2026-2027 school year. They include three kindergartners at Blackshear, one second, fourth and fifth grader, one sixth, seventh and eighth grader at the middle school and one freshman, two sophomores and two seniors at the high school. Non-resident students have to have administrator approval, no discipline referrals and have to pay non-resident tuition.
• approval of a list of fundraising projects for all schools for the coming school year.
• approval of a field trip request for the second grade at Midway Elementary to go to the zoo in November. All out-of-state field trips must receive board approval.
Exemplary board items: The board reviewed and approved the exemplary board requirements through the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) including reviewing the code of ethics, board norms and protocols, governance team assessment and action plan, self assessment and annual training report and strategic plan and balanced scorecard.
Reports: Finance Director Melanie Helms gave the system’s financial report. Total year-to-date revenue was at $39.29 million for April, while expenses were $38.9 million. The school system has a reserve of about $20.03 million. Helms reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $291,760 in April, up more than $22,000 from March. The board approved the financial report.
Facilities Director Harbin Farr announced plans to replace the air conditioning at the Patterson Elementary cafeteria this summer. The 21 year old system in place there went out the last week of school and can no longer be repaired.
Information: Superintendent Dara Bennett announced the central office and the school system will be closed June 29-July 3 for Independence Day holidays. She also announced preplanning and professional development will take place July 28-August 4. First day of school will be Wednesday, August 5.
