Another concerned parent addressed the Dodge County Board of Education at Thursday night’s school board meeting with concerns regarding discipline at Dodge County High School (DCHS). Barbie Jamison read a written statement during public participation. Jamison spoke to the board regarding her son, a high school student now housed at Dodge Achievement Center (DAC). She thought there was an amendment made to allow students to attend teacher hours in order to participate in the graduation exercises at the end of school year. Jamison pointed out that DAC students are still the school system’s students whether or not they had admitted guilt and were enrolled in alternative school. She noted to the board that she understood that a new policy was being considered for next school term that would remove the issue of whether or not a student would participate in graduation exercises. She asked the board to consider allowing four students currently at DAC to walk with their graduating class this year. Jamison requested the school board to consider adding programs to DAC such as speakers and work programs in order to fill the student’s time after academic work has been completed. She requested students not be treated differently because they have made mistakes but to help them obtain a goal of getting back on track.
The school board approved the capitalization policy for fixed assets was recommended and accepted.
The 2013-2014 school calendar was approved. The first day of school will be August 16, 2013 and the last day of school will be May 30, 2014.
The school board was given a bullying update. The school system has a student bullying policy in place at all schools.
Pruett Air Conditioning of Eastman was approved to provide new heating and cooling systems at North Dodge Elementary School (NDES) and South Dodge Elementary School (SDES) at a price of $1,212,000.00. Pruett Air was the low bid of three that were considered.
A legislative and grant update was provided to the board.
Dodge County School System Maintenance Director Jack Taylor presented an energy report to the school board. Taylor provided a cost avoidance summary, which reflected a 22.29% savings to the school system.
Special local option sales tax (SPLOST) income for December 2012 totaled $129,158.80. The SPLOST fund balance as of February 28,2013 is $3,959,231.00. SPLOST expenditures during February 2013 for technology, DCHS auto building, architect fees, bus, bus radios, textbooks and copier totaled $137,965.00.
The school board accepted the retirements and resignations of Chris Davis, Jimmy Frost, Carol Smith, Marie Wiggins and Lajoy Willis.
Katherine Taylor and Ryan Ridgely were approved as new social studies teachers and Debra Mitchell was approved as a math teacher, all at DCHS.
Kristy Callier was approved as SDES special education paraprofessional.
Additions to the substitute teacher list include Bridgett Brown, Grace Floyd, Teresa Liggin, Silas Lucas, Laura Maddox, Veronica McCrae and Teresa Taylor.
Additions to the substitute custodian list include Angela Austin, Aaron “Miguel” Bray, Deloris Butler, Janice Jones, Jennifer Lockett, Ta’Garyan McDuffie, Willie Ruth Underwood and Joel Wilcox.
Leave was approved for Danyle Burnette, Albertha Charles and Lillie Pitts.
The next regular scheduled meeting of the school board will be Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.