MINUTES FOR

WORTH COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

BOARD MEETING

HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2004

AT WORTH COUNTY BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM

AT 7:00 P.M.

The Worth County Board of Education met on Thursday, January 8, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. at Worth County Board Conference Room.

Chairman, Grady Morey called the meeting to order, gave the invocation, and led the pledge to the flag.

Members present were: Mr. Grady Morey, Mr. Randy Bacon, Mr. Melvin Jefferson, Mr. Jerry Jones, Ms. Sarah McCrary, Dr. Gary Russell-Superintendent of Schools, and Clarence Miller-Board Attorney.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Randy Bacon made a motion to approve the agenda for January 8, 2004 with no changes or additions. Sarah McCrary seconded and the vote carries unanimously

(5-0).

BOARD ITEMS

A. Approval to continue with the second Thursday of each month except for April 15 (which is the third Thursday) at 7:00 p.m. as the regular board meeting date and time for the Worth County Board of Education. Meetings will be held in the Board Meeting room at 504 East Price Street.

Sarah McCrary made a motion to approve. Melvin Jefferson seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0)

B. Approval of the election of Melvin Jefferson as the Vice Chairman of the Board for 2004.

Jerry Jones made a motion to approve. Randy Bacon seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0)

C. Approval to continue the employment of Clarence Miller, Esq. as the Board’s Attorney for 2004.

Sarah McCrary made a motion to approve. Melvin Jefferson seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0)

D. Approval of the Chairman’s Board committee appointments for 2004. Title I Advisory Committee – Melvin Jefferson, Media Committee - Grady Morey, Regional Library Board - Sarah McCrary, Special Education Advisory Board – Jerry Jones, Vocational Education Advisory Board – Sarah McCrary and Randy Bacon.

Randy Bacon made a motion to approve. Sarah McCrary seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0)

RECONGNITIONS—Dr. Russell

Dr. Barbara Thomas recognized Grady Dassie, a graduate of Worth County High School has been chosen as the Sunbelt Consortia Tech Prep Student Hero. The Sunbelt Tech Prep Consortia is comprised of business and educational representative from Colquitt County, Tift County, Turner County and Worth County.

Mr. Dassie completed the Technical Career Metals program under the direction of Mr. Bill Fricks. While a high school student he was a Youth Apprenticeship student and he was the first Youth Apprenticeship completer from Worth County High School. During his senior year he was a Post-Secondary Option student. Grady overcame numerous personal obstacles as a high school student including the loss of his mother and accepting responsibilities to help rear his younger sister. Grady completed the Metals Program as a honor graduate from Moultrie Area Technical College Tifton Campus under the direction of Mr. Bill Giles. He is now employed at Specialty Sales in Sumner, Georgia.

Grady will be featured in a “Heros” publication recognizing all Georgia Consortia Heros. This publication will be presented at the Georgia Tech Prep Conference in Atlanta in February.

Dr. Russell recognized Dr. Barbara Thomas, Technical Career Director of Worth County Schools, has been chosen as the Sunbelt Consortia Adult Tech Prep Hero. Dr. Thomas will also be featured in the “Heros” publication recognizing all Georgia Consortia Heros at the Georgia Tech Prep Conference in Atlanta in February.

OPENING OF BIDS

Board members opened bids for the construction of a 6-classroom addition at Worth County High School and a Choral Room at Worth County Middle School. Note: bid will be reviewed and tabulated by Mr. Bruce Richards, Architect, and awarded to the lowest responsible bidder meeting bid specs on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. in a Special Called Board Meeting.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT—Dr. Russell

Dr. Russell reviewed the monthly Maintenance Report as follows:

HES

Projects complete:

1. Repair 2 water leaks on main line to building

2. Changed old plumbing line from existing urinals to new line

3. Extended 3 sewer vents through roof

4. Repaired several door locks

5. Replaced door on north side of cafeteria

Projects not complete:

1. Roof leaks (SPLOST)

2. Plastic panels in bathroom

WCHS

Projects complete:

1. Repaired fire doors

2. Installed new electrical system in Metal Arts Lab

3. Installed new eye wash station in Auto Lab

Projects not complete:

1. New make up air fans for kitchen hood

WCMS

Projects complete:

1. Repaired intercom panel (ESS)

Projects not complete:

1. A/C installation for kitchen

2. Roof leaks (SPLOST)

WCPS

Projects complete:

1. Repaired hot water heater controls (7)

Projects not complete:

1. New floor tile (Start 1/17/04)

2. Hand rails for new ramp

SES

Projects complete:

1. Repaired several doors

2. Repaired shorted wire servicing A/C unit on B wing

3. Changed A/C filters

Projects not complete:

1. Roof leaks (SPLOST)

2. Hand rails for new ramp

Maintenance Department received 44 work orders, of these 43 has been completed.

Dr. Russell reported on:

A. No Child Left Behind (Update)

1. Supplemental Services

2. Child Study Team

B. Learning Focused Training (Update)

All teachers and administrators completed training on January 5 and 5, 2004 in- service days

C. Reading First Grant Application (Attachment #1)

1. Ms. Carol Saunders, District Office Chairperson

2. Ms. Marilyn Herring, Holley Elementary School

3. Ms. Jan Taylor, Sylvester Elementary School

4. Ms. Gerry Sutton, Worth County Primary School

5. Ms. Kristin Sickling, Worth County Primary School

6. Dr. Alan Grimsley, Proof Reader

7. Mr. Stacey Rutledge, Sylvester and Holley Elementary Schools

8. Ms. Nita Popham, Sylvester Elementary School

9. Ms. Jean Wingate, District Office Secretary

Special thanks to Ms. Thomas, Ms. Williams, and Mr. Turner for temporarily reassigning their staff to help in putting the grant together.

D. Austerity Reduction of 2.5% ($463,840) from State Allotment Sheet in addition to an

Additional 2.5% ($465,434) from the 2003-2004 budget

Reviewed Administration Agenda Items

Reviewed Consent Agenda Items

ADMINISTRATION

A. Approval of eight (8) Work Experience Agreements with the Georgia Department of Human Resources/Worth County Department of Family and Children Services to provide Worth County community participants who are in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (T-A-N-F) program with an opportunity to develop basic work habits in various positions in the district. They will be used primarily to clean tables in the lunch room and pickup paper in and around the buildings. Note: There will be no cost to the Worth County Board of Education, and the participants shall provide the personnel office with the required criminal background check prior to participating in the program. Additionally, participants will go through an induction program with Mr. McMickin.

Melvin Jefferson made a motion to approve contingent on the Workman’s Compensation terms and other liability issues being met. Sarah McCrary seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0)

EXECUTIVE SESSION (8:48 P.M. – 9:55 P.M.)

At 8:00 p.m. Jerry Jones made motion to enter into executive session to consider personnel, student issues, and attorney/client issues. Randy Bacon seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0).

At 9:01 p.m. Jerry Jones made the motion to enter back in open session. Sarah McCrary seconded the motion and the vote passes unanimously (5-0).

CONSENT AGENDA- Dr. Russell

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Approval of December 11, 2003 Board Minutes

B. FINANCE

1. Approval of District Expenditure Reports for December

2. Approval of Food Service Financial Report for December

C. RE-APPROVAL OF IDENTI-A-KID program to run in Schools at the Principals discretion. Note: Sylvester and Holley Elementary Schools plan to attend and Worth County Primary School does not.

D. FIELD TRIPS

1. Approval of Holley Elementary Life Lab Students participation in an overnight Environmental Workshop to Cayo Costa in Pineland, Florida April 22, 2004 through April 23, 2004. A bus will be chartered for transportation. There will be a minimum of one parent chaperone for every four students. All costs incurred will be paid by the group.

2. Approval of Holley Elementary Life Lab Students participation in an overnight Tech Trek Seminar held at Zoo Atlanta, in Atlanta, Georgia February 13, 2004 through February 14, 2004. There will be a minimum of one parent chaperone for every five students. Parent chaperones will provide transportation by personal vans and cars. All costs incurred will be paid by the group

Melvin Jefferson made the motion to approve the consent agenda items listed. Sarah McCrary seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0)

B. FINANCE

3. Approval of the proposed increases to the insurance coverages from the district’s broker, The Bozeman Agency, Note: Second year of a 3-year insurance broker contract with The Bozeman Agency.

Melvin Jefferson made a motion to approve. Randy Bacon seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0)

PERSONNEL ITEMS

A. EXENDED LEAVE

1. Kerri McMillian, Speech Language Pathologist, HES, beginning December 19, 2003, expected date to return February 2, 2004

2. Holly A. Boyd, Teacher, WCPS, beginning December 22, 2003, expected date to return February 11, 2004.

NOTE: As per Georgia State Code Section 20-2-211 all employees hired after July 1, 2000, shall be fingerprinted and have a criminal record check. Employees listed above are recommended for employment subject to verification of a clean record.

B. BUDGET REDUCTIONS

Approve the 2003-2004 budget reductions as presented by the Superintendent and authorize him to implement them prior to Friday, January 16, 2004.

Jerry Jones made the motion to approve the Personnel Items as listed. Sarah McCrary seconded the motion and it passes unanimously (5-0)

ADJOURN

At 9:15p.m., Randy Bacon made a motion to adjourn. Sarah McCrary seconded the motion and it carried unanimously (5-0)

SIGNED: APPROVED:

_________________________ _______________________

Gary L. Russell, Ph.D Grady Morey

Superintendent Board Chairman