(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, May 1 and their regular monthly meeting has been delayed until Monday, May 5.)
Budget: The school board approved a tentative $44.1 million budget for fiscal year 2026 and set public hearings to receive input on the budget. (See related story.)
Closed session and personnel: The board adjourned into a 24 minute closed session Thursday morning to discuss personnel. After the closed session, the board voted to hire Jaidyn Lowe as a paraprofessional at Blackshear Elementary, Mary Wall as attendance clerk at the middle school and Christine Rowell as a school nutrition food assistant. The board also approved the resignations of Sabrina Ranee Lynn, custodian at Midway Elementary, Christine Rowell as custodian at the middle school, Thad Williams as a teacher at the high school and Randy Ard as a bus driver in the transportation department. The board also approved the retirements of Raymond Pate as a custodian at the high school and Molly Sue Tatum as a school nutrition assistant.
The board also approved all coaching recommendations for the high school and middle school. The board adjourned into a three minute closed session Monday night to discuss personnel. After Monday’s closed session, the board voted to accept the resignations of Christine Blackmon, teacher at Patterson Elementary, Elizabeth Yarbrough, paraprofessional at Midway Elementary and Shelly Hyers, special education paraprofessional. The board also voted to accept the resignation of James Cox and Rebecca Insalaco, community wrestling coaches at the high school.
Middle school and Patterson Elementary additions: The board approved asking its architect, SP Design Group of Macon, to prepare architectural plans for additional classrooms and conference space at Patterson Elementary and the additional classrooms and bathrooms at the middle school. Board chairman Duward Boatright said the request is part of the system’s five year plan and does not mean that construction will begin in the
near future.
Blackshear Elementary gifted teacher: The board approved adding a full-time gifted teacher to Blackshear Elementary beginning next school year.
Middle School classroom to be divided:
Bids are being sought for dividing a technology classroom at the middle school into two regular size class rooms. Estimated cost of the project will be $50,000. A public notice is included in this week's edition.
Midway Elementary pre-k playground: The board approved paying half the cost of a pre-k playground at Midway Elementary. The board’s share is $11,544.50 of the $23,089 total cost of the playground.
Metal buildings: The board approved seeking bids for metal storage buildings for Blackshear and Midway Elementary Schools. Superintendent Dara Bennett said the buildings are needed for storage space at both campuses.
Recognition: The board recognized system retirees, young authors for the school and the Okefenokee Regional Education Services Agency (RESA) and Midway Elementary as a national distinguished model school.
Consent agenda: Several items were approved under the consent agenda. They include:
• the approval of a new athletic booster club to support the Pierce County High School Wrestling Team. (See related story.)
• approval of the annual contract with the Okefenokee RESA. The contract will be for $32,248, the same amount as last year. The school system receives instruction, training and bulk buying discounts as part of the contract.
• approval of 23 nonresident applications including two kindergarten and one first grade student at Blackshear Elementary, one student each in the first, third and fourth grades at Midway, two fifth grade students at Patterson, three sixth, two seventh and one eighth grader at the middle school and four freshmen, four juniors and one senior at the high school.
• approval of a field trip request for eighth graders at PCMS to go to Universal Studios in Orlando, FL May 9. All out-of-state field trips require board approval.
Reports: Finance Director Melanie Helms gave the system’s financial report. The school system reported revenue of $36.5 million and expenses of $31.8 million through March. The system had almost $20 million in reserves. She noted the reserve will start falling now that local tax revenues have reached their max.
Helms reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $254,424 in March up $20,000 from February. She also reviewed school activity account reports.
The board approved the financial reports as presented. Facilities director Harbin Farr progress at the high school’s new indoor sports complex, formerly known as the “new, old gym” at PCHS. (See related story.) Farr also told members maintenance will be securing and installing cypress mulch on the playground at Blackshear Elementary. Public participation:
There was no public participation.
Minutes: The board approved minutes for April’s meetings.
Information:
Superintendent Bennett reminded board members graduation will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Bear Stadium. Last day of school and early release day will be Tuesday, May 20.
Post planning will take place May 21-23 and will be completed before the Memorial Day holiday May 26.
The central office and all school campuses will be closed May 26 for Memorial Day and June 19 for Juneteenth.
Next meetings: The June work session will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 5. The June regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 9. All meetings will be at the BOE central office 0n Main Street.
