Discussions regarding a school calendar for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year became heated and lengthy at the recent Dodge County school board meeting held on Thursday, February 9, 2012.
While reviewing and approving the minutes from the January 12 board meeting, school board member Chuck Parkerson requested that the January 12 minutes be amended to include statements he made regarding the planning and implementation of the school calendar for the school system. Parkerson, clearly upset and outspoken about the calendar, questioned why the minutes did not reflect his concerns regarding his comments made in the January board meeting about energy ratings and school operational costs, holiday scheduling and his views on school start dates and end dates. He also made recommendations for the board to set the calendar versus having a team of staff spending unnecessary time on the school calendar. Parkerson made verbal comments towards Grenade, who was in attendance at the board meeting, to report on behalf of The Dodge County News. Parkerson questioned why the newspaper did not write about his comments in the prior board article written by Grenade. Parkerson stated he could not understand why the minutes and the newspaper articles did not reflect his comments. He stated he wanted the public to know about his statements and concerns regarding the school calendar.
Discussion was held and it was agreed by the board to have the January 12 minutes rewritten and presented at the March 2012 board meeting for review and approval.
Dr. Melinda Dennis provided an update on the school calendar situation. Dr. Dennis and a team of faculty have been working on the school calendar for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. Dr. Dennis reported that two calendars would be presented to the board for discussion at the March 2012 board meeting.
John Battle, representing the Dodge County NAACP, spoke to the board concerning the hiring of minority principals and coaches in the school system and provided information regarding a diversity education fair that was planned in Dublin. Battle commended the board for the work they were doing and have done but requested the board hire more males in the elementary schools to be role models and to help with discipline. He stated the community was tired of the board “rubber stamping” the coach situation at the high school. He asked the board to hire minority coaches including head coach positions.
The board approved the bus shop, fuel, maintenance, school food service and school financial reports.
The special local option sales tax (SPLOST) collected for November 2011 totaled $199,831.05 and the estimated SPLOST fund balance was $2,316,139.00. Expenditures for SPLOST projects for the month of January totaled $2,120.00 and it was spent for technology items.
Dr. Dennis informed the board the letters of intent for all school staff will be submitted to them this month and she has asked for them to be returned by the end of the month.
In old business, the naming facilities request that was submitted by the cross county booster club was approved unanimously. The cross county trail has officially been named “Maddox Trail” in honor of the hard work and positive influence coach Shirley Maddox has contributed to the school system and students.
Athletic handbooks were submitted to the board for review for the Dodge County Middle School (DCMS) and the Dodge County High School (DCHS). These handbooks will lie on the table for thirty days. The board also approved a local facilities plan resolution, which will allow the Georgia Department of Education to assist with a comprehensive educational facilities survey and develop a new local facilities plan to be completed by March 15, 2013.
A school-wide field trips schedule for the months of February and March were submitted to the board as information.
Susan Underwood, DCHS math department chair, and principal Dr. Susan Long submitted a letter dated October 20, 2011 to the board requesting approval to count math support classes as core classes only for students who entered ninth grade in one of the qualifying years and only for those students who cannot graduate within four years without core credit for one or more math support classes. The letter further stated the students would not be offered this option unless it is evident that the student will not have enough math credits to graduate without using a support class as a core class. This option will only be used on an as-needed/individual basis. Discussion was held and the board voted to approve the request.
The board accepted the resignations of Carla Bohannon, DCMS cheerleading; Selena Ray Hall, DCHS special education and Dawn Evans, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
The board accepted recommendations to hire Chad Smith as central copy clerk. Coaching changes/additions were Matt Starley, DCHS assistant baseball; Amanda Hill, DCHS tennis and Tony Taylor, DCMS golf.
Additions to the substitute teacher list include Ryan Floyd, Kortnee Loving and Glen Smith.
Additions to the substitute custodian list include Tammy Williamson.
Medical leave of absences were approved for Kaye Trevarthen, DCHS food service and Elizabeth Batchelor, DCMS.
