The Ware County Board of Education approved the following agenda items during the June 24 meeting. Present were Superintendent Lynn Barber, Chairman Barry Deas, Vice-Chair Alisa Nelson, and board members Rusty Ganas, Edward Tyre, Karen Ethridge and Brandi Waters.
• Payroll and disbursements: Supt. Lynn Barber presented payroll and disbursements as of May 30, 2025 totaling $6,727,983.86.
• Superintendent’s Report: Barber informed the board the End of the Year Enrollment report reflecting the enrollment of 5,849 students. Last year’s number was 5918.
Barber shared significant calendar dates:
• July 3: Staff Holiday Observe July 4th
• July 31-August 1: Professional Learning Days/Pre-Planning
• August 4-7: Professional Learning Days/Pre-Planning
• August 8: First Day of School For Students
• GSBA Risk Management Insurance: The board unanimously approved the renewal proposal from Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) Risk Management Services. The policy runs from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026.
• Intergovernmental Agreement with Ware County Board of Commission: Members of the board unanimously approved the request of the Ware County Board of Commissioners to renew the Intergovernmental Agreement to govern the use of school-owned athletic fields and facilities by the Ware County Recreation Department.
This longstanding partnership allows both entities to share recreational spaces to support youth development and community engagement.
• Contracts and MOUs from Special Ed Department: The board unanimously approved various contracts and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) from the Special Ed Department.
‡ Contract with Action Pact for teacher assistant support with the Ware County School District covering costs associated with one teacher assistant at Head Start for 2025-26.
The remaining teacher assistants will be paid from Action Pact. The total costs for FY26 is anticipated to be $20,279.71 and will be funded through the Federal Preschool Disabilities Services grant.
‡ MOU with Unsion Behavioral Health to continue for the 2025-26 school year. This is for the provision of behavioral health services for the system.
‡ MOU with Ware Children’s Initiative during the 2025-26 school year for the provision of the established partnership between Ware Children’s Initiative and Ware County Schools to serve the children and families of the Ware County School system.
‡ Agreement the Department of Juvenile Justice during 2025-26 school year for the provision of a school-based probation program for youths under court supervision.
• Non-resident application: The board unanimously approved the request to approve one non-resident student to attend Ware County High.
• Alternative School Student Handbook: Board members unanimously approved the student handbook for the Alternative School program.
• Assessment testing schedule: The board unanimously approved the Ware County School Assessment Schedule for the 2025-26 school year.
• Rules of Conduct for public participation and input: Members unanimously approved the annual adoption of the Rules of Conduct for Public Participation and Input.
• Change in meeting dates: The board unanimously approved the superintendent’s request to change the October 2025 and December 2025 work session and regular meeting dates.
The October 13 and 14 will be moved up a week to October 6 and 7 due to Fall Break and Fall Bootstrap dates with the December 8 and 9 delayed a week to December 15 and 16 due to the GSBA Winter Conference.
• We Tip Anonymous reporting system: Board members unanimously approved a request to purchase the WeTip Anonymous Reporting System at a cost of $8,888 in year one and $6,500 in years two and three to fulfill the requirements of House Bill 268.
HB268 requires all school districts in Georgia to implement an anonymous reporting mechanism to help ensure student and campus safety. The purchase will be funded in the Safety budget.
• Georgia School Board Association invoices: Members of the board unanimously approved invoices for the renewal of the Simbli subscription, GSBA (Georgia School Board Association) membership and GSBA Policy Maintenance Service from General Funds.
The Simbli subscription invoice was for $15,150. Simbli is the program used for Board Meetings, Policy, and Evaluations. The GSBA membership dues invoice was for $16,236. The funding source is General funds. GSBA Policy Maintena nce Service cost was $2,750.
• Maintenance bids: Board members unanimously approved the bids Pro Tech Pest Solutions for pest control services in the amount of $18,000 annually for the 2025-2026 school year.
They also approved a bid submitted by Republic Services for trash pick-up for the 2025-26 school year. The board approved the $13,500 for all extinguishers and $225 per hood from ABC Fire Equipment Company.
The board approved to extend its Lawn Care service bid with a five percent increase for Central Office and the Harrell Center. The cost to service Wacona, Waresboro and Center is $31,920. The cost for Memorial Drive, Ruskin, Daffodil, Central Office and Harrell Learning Center is $36,720. Funding source is General Budget.
• Ware County High School Chorus field trip request: The board unanimously approved the field trip request.
• Fundraiser request: Board members unanimously approved fundraisers for Memorial Drive, Ruskin , Wacona, Williams Heights, Ware County Middle, Waycross Middle, Ware County High School an the system-wide Wings Program.
• Bus Request By R.I.V.E.R.S. Foundation: The board unanimously approved the request for the use of a bus and driver by the RIVERS Foundation and the Okefenokee Heritage Center for a local tour Saturday, June 28, 2025 with a waiver of fees.
The request was made by Dr. Yolanda Rivers.
• Half-time assistant principal position: Board members unanimously approved the request for a halftime assistant principal position at Ware Middle School. This position is essential to provide additional support for safety and operations.
• Staffing positions for alternative school: The board approved the request for four positions for the alternative school.
The position are content teacher, paraprofessional, paraprofessional (Special Ed) and a 49 percent counselor position.
The funding source is QBE for all positions except the Special Ed parapro position, which will be funded through IDEA.
• Personnel: Board members approved the Classified hires of Lacie Cavagnaro as SpEd Parapro at Wacona, Kasie Jones as SpEd parapro at Daffodil, Tasita Lewis as Reflection parapro at Center (pending fingerprints), Teaia Morgan as parapro at Daffodil, Rebecca Richards as Kindergarten parapro at Center, Kayce Waters as SpEd parapro at Waycross Middle (pending fingerprints), and the internal recommendation of Dana Taylor as SpEd parapro at Waycross Middle.
The board approved the Classified transfer of Lisa Hallfrom School Nutrition Assistant at Williams Heights to Wacona, Wanda Howell from School Nutrition Assistant at Ware High to Daffodil, Denise Justice from School Nutrition Assistant at Ware Middle to Williams Heights, Ali Lanjani Nejad from School Nutrition Assistant at Ware High to Williams Heights, and Linda Wilkins from School Nutrition Assistant at Ware Middle to Center.
Board members accepted the Classified resignations of Jean Davis, School Nutrition Assistant at Williams Heights effective May 23, 2025, and Rachael Boyd, Facilities & Maintenance Administrative Assistant at the Central Office effective June 18.
The board approved Addie Hall and June Nelson, sub School Nutrition Assistants at the Central Office. Jennifer Murray was approved as parttime Sub Maintenance secretary at the Central Office.
The board approved the hiring of Jon-Michael Deen, science teacher at Waycross Middle (pending fingerprints and certification), Brittany Smith, science teacher at Ware Middle (pending graduation and certification) and Tabitha Paulk, Credit Recovery teacher at Ware High for Certified employment.
Board members approved the Certified transfers of Katarzyna Bray, Speech Language Pathologist at Wacona to Ruskin, Aaron Lindsey, from math teacher at Ware Middle to elementary teacher at Wacona, and Jason Smith to 50% assistant principal at Ware Middle.
The board accepted the Certified resignations of Shanna Johnson, SpEd co-teacher at Memorial Drive effective May 23, Mary Kathryn Thrift, science teacher at Waycross Middle effective May 23, and Kelsey Wade, elementary teacher at Wacona effective June 3.
Board members approved coaching recommendations for Alicia Grant, cheerleading assistant Community Coach, Ware Middle (pending fingerprints), Bradley Hood, cross-country community coach at Ware High, Brittany Hood, assistant soccer community coach at Ware High, and Calvin Johnson, assistant middle school football community coach at Waycross Middle.
The board approved the contract services of Sharon Coleman, Test Proctoring and Administrative Services, Special Education/Student Services and Brenda G. Miles, Test Proctoring Services, Special Education/ Student Services.
