NAHUNTA — Retiring Superintendent Dr. Kim Morgan provided an update to Board of Education members as the 2026-27 school year nears in her final meeting.
The Monday, June 29 called meeting was to formally adopt the FY26-27 $42,667,131 budget.
The superintendent told the board custodians at each school were working hard in getting the buildings ready for the Thursday, July 30 open house at Brantley County Middle School and Brantley County High School, and Friday, July 31 at the elementary and primary schools, as well as the Tuesday, August 4 first day of school.
Dr. Morgan added the new building project at the high school is nearing completion, several buildings are being torn down and the work on the parking lot is near completion She then went over the proposed budget before its adoption by the board.
Dr. Morgan said the school system is receiving $34,629,523 from the state before Equalization, which help low wealth property school systems.
“There are a number of variables used to calculate Equalization,” stated the superintendent. “You’ve got your millage rate that’s in there, and you also have our FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) number that’s in there that goes up and down.
“The biggest factor which helped us climb up was the reassessment which was done statewide. When the state feels like your houses, your property is not assessed at the number of true value of that, they will, I guess, penalize you with a ratio that hurts your Equalization.”
As for the state allocation, Dr. Morgan said the reasoning for the continued growth is two different things — raises and health insurance.
“Governor Brian Kemp has been very good to education,” she said. “There’s been times he’s done raises. The state sends you the money for the certified positions raises. The other one has been that health insurance climb.”
The superintendent referenced back to when the school system once payed $945 a month per employee.
“It’s now $2,000 a month for our certified employees,” said Dr. Morgan. “That’s $24,000 a year per certified employee we get from the state.”
She thanked Director of Finance/Federal Programs Blake Johns and the finance department for the work done to prepare the budget.
Board member Teresa Lairsey made the motion. Kathy Hendrix gave the second. The motion passed unanimously with board members Teri Gibson and David Herring (via photo), along with Chairman Mike Kersey voting for approval.
Following a near 20minute executive session and a return to the called meeting, the board unanimously approved five personnel matters on the recommendation of Dr. Morgan.
They accepted the resignation of Arica Ribbon, custodian at Brantley County High School.
The board approved the hire of Damien Salazar, teacher at Waynesville Primary, pending the release of contract from Long County, and Kelsie Iselin, paraprofessional at Hoboken Elementary School.
Board members approved Athletic Addendums for Rusty Bryan, Brantley County Middle School head volleyball coach, and Mattie Hickox, Brantley County Middle School assistant volleyball coach.
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