(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, October 2 and their regular monthly meeting Monday, October 6.)
Bus driver pay increase: The board approved increasing pay for bus drivers. (See related story.)
Closed session and personnel: The board adjourned into a 10 minute closed session to discuss personnel. After the session, the board voted to hire Landon Carter as technology specialist, April Altman as a school nutrition food assistant and Joey Chancey as a bus driver. Dde Jordan was approved as girls soccer assistant coach at the middle school. The board also voted to accept the resignations of Mariah Crowe as girls soccer assistant coach at the middle school, Madison Hodges as receptionist at the high school and Angela Daniels as food assistant in school nutrition. The board also approved the retirement of Diane Griffis, teacher at the high school, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Unused sick leave payout plan: The board approved a plan for payout of unused sick leave on retirement or resignation for custodians, bus drivers and food service workers. The change would allow these employees to receive the same type benefit as certified employees. The plan would pay $500 up to 3049 accrued hours of sick leave and would max out at $5,000 for 110 or more accrued hours of sick leave.
School nutrition attendance incentive: The board approved a new incentive program for Pierce County School Nutrition Program (SNP) employees. The program will pay a $500 incentive at the end of each semester to employees who don’t miss any work during the semester. The incentive program is designed to promote consistent SNP employee attendance and reduce absenteeism.
Handicap bus replacement: The board approved seeking bids for a 2026 model handicap bus to replace the current 2017 model. Transportation director Jamie Henderson said the current handicap bus is a 2017 model and has over 220,000 miles on it.
PCHS field house: The board approved seeking bids to paint the high school field house to match all other buildings on campus. The field house currently features the old gray color of the old high school.
Contracted services for special education: The board approved contracting with the Speech Clinic of Waycross to provide occupational and speech therapy services to students with individual education plans (IEPs).
Millage rate approved: The school board approved a resolution setting its millage rate at 13.951 mills, down slightly from the current rate of 14 mills. Reducing the millage will avoid state requirements on holding public hearings due since there won’t be a tax increase.
Policy changes: The board approved the final readings for transfer and withdrawals policy and revisions to the charter schools, absences and excuses, suicide prevention and student records and parents’ bill of rights policies.
Student information specialist: The board approved hiring Amy Evors for up to 20 days of needed support for the system’s student information specialist. Evors is retired, but will provide training for the new student information specialist.
Non resident student: The board approved a non resident student application for a junior at the high school.
Consent agenda: Several items were approved under the consent agenda. They include:
• approval of the final readings for transfer and withdrawals, charter schools, absences and excuses, suicide prevention and student records and parents’ bill of rights policies.
• approval for second graders at Patterson Elementary to go to the Jacksonville Zoo in November and for the seventh and eighth grade band at PCMS to travel to Dollywood, The Island, Ripley’s Aquarium and Sky Park in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN, April 6-8, 2026, for the eighth grade at PCMS to go to Universal Studios in Orlando May 8, 2026 and for FFA students at the high school to travel to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN Oct. 28Nov. 1. The board also approved theatre and chorus students at the high school to go to the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville, FL Nov. 20 and approved fourth graders at Blackshear Elementary to go to the Jacksonville Zoo Nov. 19. All out-of-state field trips must have board approval.
Reports: Finance Director Melanie Helms gave the system’s financial report. Revenue was at $2.72 million, while expenses were $3.53 million. The school system has a reserve of about $17.26 million. Helms reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $259,833 in August up about $3,000 from July. Helms also provided board members with a list of capital asset listing removals, mostly from surplus computers, copiers and switches. However, this year, the removal list included the old Pierce County High School. Listed as an asset since 1981, the old facility was torn down last year. Facilities director Harbin Farr reported on efforts to find and repair a leak at the high school field house that will include an infrared scan of the roof. A rooftop air conditioning unit might have to be moved to repair the leak.
Public participation: There was no public participation.
Minutes: The board approved minutes for its September meetings.
Information: Superintendent Dara Bennett announced the school system will be on fall break Oct. 1315. Students will have a holiday all three days. Staff will have professional development Oct. 15. Report cards will be issued Oct. 16. Bennett alsoannouncedNov.will be an early release day. The school system will be closed for students and staff Nov. 24-28 for Thanksgiving.
Next meetings: The next work session will be at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6. The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10.
