(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, August 7 and their regular monthly meeting Monday, August 11.)
Education sales tax referendum: The board approved calling for a referendum on renewing the education special local option sales tax (ESPLOST).
(See related story).
Closed session and personnel: Theboard adjourned into a seven minute closed session Thursday morning to discuss personnel. After the session, the board voted to hire Haley Rigdon as central office school psychologist assistant, Jessica Johnson as paraprofessional and Kristin Nelson as school nurse, both at Blackshear Elementary, Christina Lee as paraprofessional at the middle school, Raymond Pate as custodian at the high school and Courtney Grant and April Smith as school nutrition program food assistants. A personnel change for Erik Thumann was approved, putting him as a teacher at the high school and Patterson Elementary as an athletic trainer. The board also approved the resignations of Jessica Bennett, school nurse at Blackshear Elementary, Payton Turner, receptionist at Midway Elementary, Angela Linton, teacher and Jamie Tippins, school nurse both at Patterson Elementary, Miranda White as paraprofessional at the middle school and Suzanne Campbell and Jeanette Robinson, both school nutrition food assistants. John Hilton resigned as soccer coach, but not from his teaching position.
Recognitions: The board recognized members of the PCHS 2025 GHSA AA Girls Golf State Champions. (See related item.)
High school driver education program:
The board approved a proposal for the driver's education program at the high school for the coming school year.
Policy changes: The board approved the first reading of revisions to the internet acceptable use policy.
Consent agenda:
Several items were approved under the consent agenda. They include:
• approval of memorandums of understanding with College of Coastal Georgia for teacher education for three years, Keiser University for the allied health program for one year and the University of St. Augustine for health sciences for five years to provide college level classes on the high school campus.
• approval of an agreement with Action Pact to provide nutrition services to the Head Start program in Pierce County.
• approval of a compliance checklist for all school councils in the system from the past school
year.
• approval of non resident student applications for a fourth grade student at Midway Elementary and a senior at the high school.
• approval of renewing the contract with Sonya Mixon for monitoring of federal programs.
• approval for the wrestling team to attend competition in Mobile, AL Nov. 21. All out-of-state field trips must have board approval.
Reports: Superintendent Dara Bennett shared enrollment figures for all campuses and for the system for the first week of school. Enrollment was down by 123 students opening day, to 3,495 students. Last year's enrollment was 3,618. Enrollment is 1,012 at PCHS, 787 at the middle school, 715 at Blackshear Elementary, 475 at Midway Elementary and 456 at Patterson Elementary. Finance Director Melanie Helms gave the system’s financial report. The school system reported revenue of $52.7 million and expenses of $50.7 million through June. The system had $17.9 million in reserves. Helms reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $254,577 in June up about $5,000 from May. The board approved the financial reports as presented.
Facilities director Harbin Farr updated the board on various projects underway in the schools. An expansion project for Patterson and the middle school should be ready for presentation at next month’s meetings. Farr reported issues with air conditioning currently.
Flooring is completed.
The storage buildings will be in place soon and improvements to the tennis courts at the high school will be done soon. Shade canopies will be installed at the softball fields at the high school. The indoor sports arena will kick off with volleyball.
Public participation: There was no public
participation.
Minutes: Theboard approved minutes for July meetings.
Information: Superintendent Bennett announced that Pierce County Schools and the central office will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, for Labor Day.
Next meetings: The next work session will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept.
8. Both meetings will be held at the central office.
