The governing board for the Dodge County school system held it regular monthly meeting on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the administrative offices. Board member Kim Sheffield was absent for this meeting.
The lengthy agenda contained approval of minutes for the August and September regular and special called meetings, examples of excellence, reports from the bus shop, fuel bids and school food services departments, approval of financials for June, July and August, SPLOST reports for September, superintendent’s update, instructional update, old business, new business and personnel.
School board covers lengthy agenda
The meeting was called to order with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. A motion to approve the agenda was made by board member Chuck Parkerson and was seconded by board member Ricky Hargrove. Motion carried 5-0.
The draft minutes for board meetings dated August 11, 2011, August 29, 2011, September 8, 2011 and September 26, 2011 were accepted and approved. Parkerson made the motion to accept all minutes and was seconded by board member Mark Driggers. Motion carried 5-0.
Superintendent Dr. Melinda Dennis presented examples of excellence certificates to four student artists of the month from Dodge County Middle School. Recipients were Kenan Strutchen, 6th grade, Seth Kitchens, 6th grade, Kimberly Renfroe, 8th grade and Elizabeth Massingill, 8th grade. Dr. Dennis highlighted their art to the board and the audience in attendance and the art will be displayed in Dr. Dennis’ office over the next 30-days.
Dr. Dennis recognized Blayre Durden, a 10th grader at Dodge County High School for winning the Area 3 Senior Division Future Farmers of America floral design career event. Durden placed first in the event and will compete at the state level on December 3, 2011 at Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton. Durden’s FFA advisor, Tom Cranford, was on-hand to congratulate Durden for her achievement.
Dr. Dennis recognized The Dodge County High School JROTC cadets and Commander Sergeant Major Steve Greer for their planning and oversight of the 9/11 Memorial Service 5k run/walk benefiting the Wounded Warrior project. Greer and the cadets raised $5,147.19. Cadets receiving the examples of excellence certificates were: Rashida Roberson, Tamara Tharpe, Michael Asbell, Portia Batten, Korissa Breummer, Marion Bryant, Michala Mahan, Paul Coogle, Tyshawnda Facsion, Tonja Green, Ashley Jackson, Monica Kilpatrick and Micah Level.
Dr. Dennis recognized long-time employee JoEllen Harden. Harden recently received the Phil Pickens Parent Mentor Award, which is a statewide honor.
Fuel South of Waycross and Walthall Oil Company of Macon submitted fuel bids for the month of September. The bid was for 500 gallons of gas and 7,000 gallons of diesel. The bid from Fuel South of Waycross was accepted at $3.3010 for diesel and $3.1848 for gas. Fuel South of Waycross and Walthall Oil Company of Macon submitted fuel bids for the month of October. The bid was for 7,500 gallons of diesel. The bid from Walthall Oil Company of Macon was accepted at $3.10670 for diesel.
The monthly bus expenses for September 2011 totaled $4,887.89. The maintenance report dated October 11, 2011 for cleaning supplies, paper goods, copy paper and wax and stripper totaled $14,248.27 for the entire school system. The school food and nutrition report for August 2011 indicated an 87% participation rate and 41,952 lunches provided. The school system reported 72% of students receive free and reduced price meals.Wendy Dennis presented the board financials for the months of June 2011, July 2011 and August 2011. The special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) report for the month of July 2011 was presented. The SPLOST tax for July 2011 generated $189,806.50 in taxes. The fund balance as of September 30, 2011 totaled $1,933,289.46. Disbursements from SPLOST for the month of September totaled $66,985.00.
Dr. Dennis provided information to the board regarding ethics in government and more specifically the upcoming SPLOST referendum election. Dr. Dennis shared a brief outline of the laws and shared some “dos and don’ts” for SPLOST campaigning.
The superintendent’s update included the school activities calendars for the month of October 2011.
School curriculum director Lawanda Gillis provided an instructional update. Gillis updated the board regarding the status of AYP for the middle school. Gillis informed the board that Dodge County Middle School would make AYP status. Gillis gave updates on various curriculum committees and asked that they be allowed to present information to the board at the next meeting.
In old business, the board approved a Fund Balance Policy that is a new state requirement. The fund balance policy will affect the way funds are reported as equity on the board financials.
Awning bids lingered on the old business agenda for several months and Dr. Dennis recommended to the board that this item be removed, as those are conveniences and asked that they be reviewed again in December 2011.
New business items included an athletics handbook. Dr. Dennis informed the board that she and athletic director Rex Hodges would be sharing a new athletics handbook by Spring 2012. This would be an additional handbook to students that participate in athletics.
Fund raising requests were submitted by the DCHS Anchor Club for a powder puff football game, the DCHS FFA Club for a fruit sale, the
Dodge County Middle School for a change drive to buy coats, shoes and basic needs for students and photo books and collages to be sold by the music department at North Dodge Elementary. All fund raisiing request were approved.
The Dodge County High School band submitted a field trip request to travel to New York City on April 1 through 5, 2012. An itinerary was submitted for board review. Driggers made a motion to accept the request and second was by Parkerson. Motion carried 6-0.
Information was submitted to the board regarding a promotion/retention policy change for the student handbooks for North and South Dodge Elementary schools. The policy was discussed and the recommendation was to change the policy effective immediately with notices being sent to all parents of students at both schools. Yearty made a motion to accept the policy change and second was by Driggers. Motion carried 6-0.
Recommendations regarding personnel were presented. Resignation included June Jones from North Dodge. New hires included Andrea Lynn Fruitrail, Heather Nicole Winkler and Kenneth Thomas as bus drivers, and Joann Ryan for Pre-K food service.
Substitute teacher list include Shelly Butler and Angie Parker. The board accepted all the recommendations and resignations.
Catherine Harrington was approved to fill the 49% position of June Jones for the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year. Discussion was held. Bennett stressed the importance of opening all positions to first-time applicants who were seeking employment rather than allowing retired educators to fill the position. Driggers made the motion to approve Harrington and second was by Yearty. Motion carried 4-1 and 1 abstained. Bennett voted against and Hargrove abstained.
The meeting adjourned with no other business.
The draft minutes for board meetings dated August 11, 2011, August 29, 2011, September 8, 2011 and September 26, 2011 were accepted and approved. Parkerson made the motion to accept all minutes and was seconded by board member Mark Driggers. Motion carried 5-0.
Superintendent Dr. Melinda Dennis presented examples of excellence certificates to four student artists of the month from Dodge County Middle School. Recipients were Kenan Strutchen, 6th grade, Seth Kitchens, 6th grade, Kimberly Renfroe, 8th grade and Elizabeth Massingill, 8th grade. Dr. Dennis highlighted their art to the board and the audience in attendance and the art will be displayed in Dr. Dennis’ office over the next 30-days.
Dr. Dennis recognized Blayre Durden, a 10th grader at Dodge County High School for winning the Area 3 Senior Division Future Farmers of America floral design career event. Durden placed first in the event and will compete at the state level on December 3, 2011 at Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton. Durden’s FFA advisor, Tom Cranford, was on-hand to congratulate Durden for her achievement.
Dr. Dennis recognized The Dodge County High School JROTC cadets and Commander Sergeant Major Steve Greer for their planning and oversight of the 9/11 Memorial Service 5k run/walk benefiting the Wounded Warrior project. Greer and the cadets raised $5,147.19. Cadets receiving the examples of excellence certificates were: Rashida Roberson, Tamara Tharpe, Michael Asbell, Portia Batten, Korissa Breummer, Marion Bryant, Michala Mahan, Paul Coogle, Tyshawnda Facsion, Tonja Green, Ashley Jackson, Monica Kilpatrick and Micah Level.
Dr. Dennis recognized long-time employee JoEllen Harden. Harden recently received the Phil Pickens Parent Mentor Award, which is a statewide honor.
Fuel South of Waycross and Walthall Oil Company of Macon submitted fuel bids for the month of September. The bid was for 500 gallons of gas and 7,000 gallons of diesel. The bid from Fuel South of Waycross was accepted at $3.3010 for diesel and $3.1848 for gas. Fuel South of Waycross and Walthall Oil Company of Macon submitted fuel bids for the month of October. The bid was for 7,500 gallons of diesel. The bid from Walthall Oil Company of Macon was accepted at $3.10670 for diesel.
The monthly bus expenses for September 2011 totaled $4,887.89. The maintenance report dated October 11, 2011 for cleaning supplies, paper goods, copy paper and wax and stripper totaled $14,248.27 for the entire school system. The school food and nutrition report for August 2011 indicated an 87% participation rate and 41,952 lunches provided. The school system reported 72% of students receive free and reduced price meals.Wendy Dennis presented the board financials for the months of June 2011, July 2011 and August 2011. The special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) report for the month of July 2011 was presented. The SPLOST tax for July 2011 generated $189,806.50 in taxes. The fund balance as of September 30, 2011 totaled $1,933,289.46. Disbursements from SPLOST for the month of September totaled $66,985.00.
Dr. Dennis provided information to the board regarding ethics in government and more specifically the upcoming SPLOST referendum election. Dr. Dennis shared a brief outline of the laws and shared some “dos and don’ts” for SPLOST campaigning.
The superintendent’s update included the school activities calendars for the month of October 2011.
School curriculum director Lawanda Gillis provided an instructional update. Gillis updated the board regarding the status of AYP for the middle school. Gillis informed the board that Dodge County Middle School would make AYP status. Gillis gave updates on various curriculum committees and asked that they be allowed to present information to the board at the next meeting.
In old business, the board approved a Fund Balance Policy that is a new state requirement. The fund balance policy will affect the way funds are reported as equity on the board financials.
Awning bids lingered on the old business agenda for several months and Dr. Dennis recommended to the board that this item be removed, as those are conveniences and asked that they be reviewed again in December 2011.
New business items included an athletics handbook. Dr. Dennis informed the board that she and athletic director Rex Hodges would be sharing a new athletics handbook by Spring 2012. This would be an additional handbook to students that participate in athletics.
Fund raising requests were submitted by the DCHS Anchor Club for a powder puff football game, the DCHS FFA Club for a fruit sale, the
Dodge County Middle School for a change drive to buy coats, shoes and basic needs for students and photo books and collages to be sold by the music department at North Dodge Elementary. All fund raisiing request were approved.
The Dodge County High School band submitted a field trip request to travel to New York City on April 1 through 5, 2012. An itinerary was submitted for board review. Driggers made a motion to accept the request and second was by Parkerson. Motion carried 6-0.
Information was submitted to the board regarding a promotion/retention policy change for the student handbooks for North and South Dodge Elementary schools. The policy was discussed and the recommendation was to change the policy effective immediately with notices being sent to all parents of students at both schools. Yearty made a motion to accept the policy change and second was by Driggers. Motion carried 6-0.
Recommendations regarding personnel were presented. Resignation included June Jones from North Dodge. New hires included Andrea Lynn Fruitrail, Heather Nicole Winkler and Kenneth Thomas as bus drivers, and Joann Ryan for Pre-K food service.
Substitute teacher list include Shelly Butler and Angie Parker. The board accepted all the recommendations and resignations.
Catherine Harrington was approved to fill the 49% position of June Jones for the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year. Discussion was held. Bennett stressed the importance of opening all positions to first-time applicants who were seeking employment rather than allowing retired educators to fill the position. Driggers made the motion to approve Harrington and second was by Yearty. Motion carried 4-1 and 1 abstained. Bennett voted against and Hargrove abstained.
The meeting adjourned with no other business.
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